by Mairead Poulin ’13

The latest reason for that ever-present coffee cup in my hand is this year’s spring theatre performance, Fiddler on the Roof.
Now, I’m no stranger to the Williston theater program; I’ve been onstage and off, working a variety of jobs. In what has become an apparent quest to try every role in the house, I’ve gone from quick changer to sound board operator, assistant to head stage manager, one-line actress to leading role. Most recently, I’ve stepped into a new pair of shoes: those of the assistant director.
When I agreed to take on this role, I’ll admit I had no idea what I was getting myself into. This being my 8th show, I did know, however, how much effort goes into even the smallest role. Each requires complete dedication, focus, and love. Each time I take a new job, I find myself more in love with it than the last, and this year was no exception.
Directing is all about projecting your vision onto onstage. It’s so different from acting, where your focus is on everything your character does. Directors have to think about this but for everyone onstage. With forty actors, this is no small feat. I’ve been working with Theater Director Emily Ditkovski these past few months to home in on all these little details and capture the message and spirit of this show.
This job has been good for me in so many ways. If you know me, you know I like to be in control. Thus, this job is fitting. As a director, you have complete control over what should happen onstage, yet you have absolutely no control over what inevitably does happens onstage. You have to work through all the little problems that arise, figure out why things that look good in your head don’t translate onto the stage, and get everyone on the same page. It’s messy. It’s also incredilby rewarding.
For Williston’s bigger spring performances, you often get cast members who have never acted before. This year is no exception; even our Tevye, who is at the heart of the show, has never acted at Williston. But that’s what assistant directing is for me, helping the actors, experienced and inexperienced alike, get where they need to be then watching them develop their notes into believable characters onstage. It has proven different than any of my other jobs because I have to play with skills from all departments, incorporate acting notes into my plan, keep track of the technical coordination, and get the moment onstage to match the sound and lighting. It’s a whirlwind, one that I will be forever grateful to have been a part of. In fact, I think I’ve found my place in the theatre because it encompasses a little piece of every role in the house.
Final plug? Fiddler on the Roof, directed by Emily Ditkovski, runs April 26 through April 28th and May 3rd through May 5th. Comprised of music by Cathy Kay, choreography by Debra Vega and Alex Jeffway ’10, technical direction by Charles Rafetto, and stage management by Brian Hendery ’13, the show features acting by Williston students, from freshmen to seniors, and two faculty kids. There are surprises in every scene, and the excitement never stops. Come see the show! If you need me, I’ll be in the back row taking notes, coffee cup in hand and nervous-yet-elated smile on my face.