The West High Little Theatre was pitch dark except for the bright glow emitted from the stage. Two students, caught in a haughty and aggressive argument, passionately declared their lines. However, the day before the first performance meant solidifying every little detail; as one of the four Student Produced Innovative Theater student directors, Grace Bartlett ’25 was attentive and encouraging in every scene.
“Let’s try that again,” Bartlett often said.
The annual SPIT show features two one-act comedies: Bartlett and Maile Kruse ’25, directed “Help Desk” by Don Zolidis, which tells the story of
customers seeking help from the help desk staff. Each individual scene features different laughable scenarios or situations. Oliver Miller ’25 and Eva Esch ’25 directed “Feed the Whales” by Don Zolidis, which tells the forming of a boyband and how they fell apart.
Bartlett’s extensive SPIT planning began in late August 2024 and involved script searching, props planning and holding director meetings. By early October, Bartlett and the other directors held auditions to cast the crew. Then the real work began with holding two-hour rehearsals three times a week. Because it was completely student-produced, Bartlett was responsible for designing the set, assembling it and picking up costume pieces.
“It’s different than what would happen in a Theatre West show because usually, you have crews to take care of those things. Maile and I had sound people and light people, who are very wonderful, work with us the last two weeks before the show,” Bartlett said. “But other than that, we do most of the behind-the-scenes work ourselves.”
Despite acting and managing behind-the-scenes work in shows her whole life, Bartlett was surprised to find this role more demanding than expected.
“A lot of really picky work [surprised me] because to me, it has always seemed kind of intuitive. But sitting back and just watching a show, and taking notes on all those small things, like, ‘I want you to look out here. I want you to say your line louder here. I need you to enunciate this like there’s just lots of little tiny things that when I’m in a show, and I’m just acting on stage, I’m not thinking about,” Bartlett said. “But when I’m sitting in the audience watching, there are things that I have to think about, understand and point out so people can perform as well as they can possibly perform.”
Bartlett’s favorite aspect of directing a student-led play is the freedom and self-interpretation of the script. With many possible directions, Bartlett believes that SPIT is the perfect introduction to acting and achieving growth in stage skills.
“It’s not a super common thing where it’s only just you and your peers at rehearsal in one place, coming together and creating all this art at the same time,” Bartlett said. “Spit is really collaborative, and the show doesn’t get done alone. Maile and I are not the only people doing the work…in a community theater show, or even in the Theatre West show, you don’t always get to go to the director and say, ‘Hey, I think this would be a really cool thing to do.’”
Fast forward to Tech week and rehearsing from 4 p.m.- 7 p.m., sometimes even longer, Bartlett and her crew were ready for an audience. She poured every second of her day into SPIT from October 2024 to Jan. 17, even working while she was performing for Theatre West’s fall 2024 musical “Chicago”. Bartlett wouldn’t have it any other way; every moment was memorable and exciting.
“Getting to work with my friends and the other seniors made us all really close. I always say SPIT is ‘by theater people, for theater people.’ It’s kind of like the subset of people who come together and make really cool stuff.” Bartlett said.
Watching her last SPIT show from the audience instead of performing on stage, Bartlett was sentimental reflecting on her past years. However, she is honored to have directed a story for her peers to bring to life.
“[In the last two days before show day] I let my cast take over and said, ‘Hey, this is your show. Now I’ve done all I can for you, but it’s time to make it yours and show everybody all the work you’ve been doing’” Bartlett said. “It was such a proud moment for me. It was really good and I’m so amazed with what [the crew] did with it.”
Bartlett will finish her high school theater career with Theatre West’s Sound of Music production. Come to watch Bartlett acting as Liesl von Trapp, one of Captain Georg von Trapp’s seven children, April 10-12.