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Lights, Camera, Mr. Sevens!
- Julie Reuter
- Apr 18
- 2 min read
Written by Fisher E., Everett S., and Clark S.
Have you ever wondered who works behind the scenes? The answer is Mr. Sevens! Not only is he the director of the Matilda play, but he is also a behind-the-scenes leader who helps bring things together. Mr. Sevens has been working for Pewaukee Schools since 2012 as the Technical Facilities Manager in charge of the auditorium and has been a leader of the drama club ever since. It is time to showcase his hard work and creativity through an exciting interview. Let’s get started!
What is the most enjoyable part of putting on a play? What is the most difficult part?
My favorite part of working with the drama program is seeing our students' growth over time. Whether it's over the course of a show or throughout their school career, helping students find their passion, their voice, and their confidence is the best part of this job. The joy and pride that our students bring to the show is the most difficult part by far. We have so many talented students at this school that putting together the cast list is very challenging.
How did you first get involved in drama? Can you share your journey?
My first time performing on stage started in elementary school with class performances and summer school classes. I was an active participant in my school’s theater program through my senior year and then became active in community theater and my college’s theater program. It was there that I learned to build my future around theater education and found my passion for teaching and sharing theatrical experiences with students.
Can you tell us about Ethel and any other special “Easter eggs” in the play?
Ethel has been a hidden gem in our theater program ever since we first featured her character in Laughing Stock in 2018. Ever since that production, we have had a lot of fun finding ways to work Ethel (a skull) into every PHS production. As for other easter eggs, keep your eyes peeled for some hidden ducks in our summer school shows.
What is your favorite play that you have been a part of and why?
My usual answer is that my favorite show is whichever show I am currently working on. If I had to pick only one, though, I would have to choose “The Lightning Thief." It was a lot of fun bringing Percy Jackson to the stage, and I enjoyed directing the show and working with the students to solve the many technical challenges. This show featured complex choreography, aerial effects, and a strong balance of drama and comedy.
What is your hope for every student you work with?
My hope for every student I work with is that they find some place at PHS where they feel they belong and can explore subjects they are passionate about. While I hope to provide those opportunities through our drama program, I also love seeing my students explore their other interests in the many different classes, clubs, and sports programs we offer.
This title immediately brought to mind a time a few years back when my friend and I decided to try our hand at filmmaking. We were so ambitious, thinking we'd make this epic short film, but in reality, we mostly just ran around our neighborhood with a shaky camcorder. We had this one scene planned where our protagonist was supposed to dramatically enter a dimly lit, smoky room – the idea being it would be super mysterious and cool. We ended up filming it in my dad's garage with the lights off and a fog machine we borrowed from a local theater group https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingo_(U.S.) It looked nothing like we envisioned, more like we were trying to find a lost sock…
This title immediately brought to mind a time my uncle decided to put on a whole elaborate production for his family's annual talent show. He'd always been a bit of a showman, but this year he really went all out. He rigged up a spotlight using a desk lamp and a colander, had my cousins hold up a giant hand-painted backdrop of a cityscape, and even convinced my aunt to play dramatic intro music on a kazoo. He called himself "The Maestro" and performed a surprisingly heartfelt spoken-word poem about his love for gardening https://www.bpay.com.au/faqs It was utterly ridiculous and completely charming, and everyone was roaring with laughter and applause. Your "Lights, Camera, Mr. Sevens!" title totally captured that same…