Folsom High School’s theater program has focused this semester on student-focused innovations – and the students in the program are taking things to a new level. 

The theater program has always prioritized being active in the community, such as showing set models at art shows, hosting theater showcases or organizing performances for local middle schools – but this fall marked an important shift in backstage dynamics.

“Our major goals and focus in the theater program is to give students as many different experiences and opportunities as possible,” said theater arts teacher Tamara Mosier. “This vision drives our show choices, how we cast and how we include students in the production experience.”

FHS offers drama classes focused on acting as well as on tech theater – teaching students how to create sets with immersive lighting, sound, sets and efficient management. Mosier teaches four levels of drama and her husband Michael Mosier teaches Intro Tech and Teach Theatre. 

Melanie Huber and Bryan Cooper, who have won awards for their work, serve as the musical’s vocal director and technical director, respectively. 

While learning from these mentors, students can audition for roles throughout the year and apply their skills to real productions. In this year’s fall musical “Descendants,” the student set designer, dance captain, social media assistant and co-choreographer positions were created to expand the leadership and training opportunities available to actors and technicians.

“We hoped that these student leaders demonstrated to others in the program what is possible and what they can strive for. It was a fulfilling experience watching these students grow and learn in their craft,” Tamara Mosier said.

Working alongside their teachers and classmates, “Descendants” gave students the unique opportunity to have more extensive creative control over the musical while still receiving support from their teachers. 

“It would be a lot harder if I didn’t have the support of Mr. Mosier and Bryan Cooper, our technical director, who have been so helpful in coaching me through this process,” said student set designer Jovie Carr. “And it would be a lot harder if I didn’t have as many eager hands ready to help me out.”

The creation of these positions not only fostered independent decision making and leadership, it also brought the student team members closer together as they relied on each other for input and assistance.

“They have been such a wonderful help, they have been so patient and so hardworking,” said student stage manager Andrew Warren about his fellow technicians. “They have been such good people, and I can’t have asked for a better crew. … There’re no problems going on backstage – it’s been running like a well-oiled machine from start to finish.”

Student leaders such as Carr were responsible for designing and honing every element of the show, from the lights to the dances, making the night even more special and personal for the crew.

Students were backstage executing scene transitions and special effects; on stage performing every number; in the dressing room adjusting costumes and makeup; in the booth adjusting lighting and haze (or mist effects), soundtracks and microphones; and in the front row photographing scenes for social media. Their involvement in every aspect of the production was what made the musical such a comprehensive and multi-layered experience for the audience. 

As a team, students had to focus on assembling the major components of the production as well as pursuing their own individual projects, such as 2023 Folsom High graduate Keelan Christensen’s work with color as the lighting designer for the show.

“It’s really just about what’s enhancing what’s already there and elevating what the actors on stage are already doing,” Christensen said. “I do a lot of color motifs, so there’s a lot of characters that have certain colors that I associate with them, and those colors will show up when they’re singing or talking a lot.”

Leadership positions allowed them to make a bigger, lasting impact on the production, such as incorporating small but meaningful details and “Easter eggs” into the “Descendants” stage. 

Carr described how her team had added “a ton of Easter eggs … that I would be really, really shocked if I met someone who could catch them all. You’ve got Cheshire cat’s socks, Dr. Finklestein’s gloves and goggles from ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ – and you also have Anastasia and Drizella’s beads and ribbon from ‘Cinderella.’ ” 

The technical team shared how these additions were a unique way for students to showcase their talents in a real-life setting, giving them the chance to explore their skillsets and see the audience react to their unorthodox creative ideas.

After the student leaders’ success in “Descendants,” the theater program will continue to integrate student voices and talent in upcoming projects such as the Lenaea competition. Until the next curtain call, the team will be working backstage to continue raising the standards for high school theater and exploring stagecraft.

“The show truly comes together,” said senior Delaney Serrano, who played Princess Aubrey. “We get to see all of the lighting and the sets and the costumes and then everyone by then has just completely honed in on their craft, and so everyone’s polished, everyone’s ready to go on and do their best.  You can see the puzzle pieces come together, and everything just falls into place.”

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Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly attributed a quote to student lightboard operator Kierstyn Thompson. The source of the quote — which has been corrected in this updated version of the story — was Folsom High graduate Keelan Christensen. SacSchoolBeat.com regrets the error.