The drama department at PN would be a mess behind the stage due to all the moving parts that live theatre brings. However, there is someone who brings organization to the backstage area. Behind the organization of all of that is crew head Carrie Phillips, who, for the production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ co-directed with English teacher and musical director, Cece Weeks.
Phillips has been at Portage Schools since about 2012, doing lighting jobs for productions at the high schools, saying, “When I was in my early 20s, I started doing shows for Portage schools in 2012, and they would just bring me in to do lighting for one show at a time, both at PC and at PN.” Phillips worked at PN part-time before getting a full-time position, she shares, saying, “I ended up working here part-time, I think starting in 2018.”
Phillips actually didn’t study technical theatre in college; she studied engineering, sharing, “I actually did not study theater in college. I studied engineering. So it’s not like I never use those skills. [But] I ended up making some professional theater connections.
It was around 2020 when Phillips got the job at PN as auditorium manager, “And then, when a third full-time Auditorium staff position opened up, and I think in 2020 or 2021, my boss must sent me a message and said, ‘Hey, got a third position open full-time. It’s yours if you want it.’ And I said, ‘Absolutely.’” Phillips shares.
Since Phillips took the job at PN, she has made many connections with students and staff alike. Sophomore Katie Alleman, who was in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ shares the testimony, saying, “I appreciate that she’s [Phillips] respectful, but she says what she needs to say.”
Junior Nolan Howe also likes Phillips’ connection with the students, sharing, “Phillips is kind of like a goofball, but like a stern goofball. She always makes you smile.”
Lots of people have noted how organized Phillips makes the productions. Phillips shares, “I love spreadsheets, which is a big part of my job.” Students also take note of the organization. Costume crew member Maddy Sloucum notes, “She[Phillips] has done it for so long. She just knows like everything about, like, how to make a show run smoothly.”
In the end, everyone appreciates everything that Phillips does for the PN Drama Department. Howe shares his gratitude by saying, “She’s very helpful with a lot of stuff. She’s a good director. I like everything that she does for the show[s].”