Volunteers Help Make High School Musical Possible

Tickets go on sale today for Upper St. Clair High School's spring musical South Pacific and everyone involved is working hard to make it the school's best.

The 10-15 volunteers who create the costumes patrons see on stage are some of the people who help make the musical a success every year.

"Most folks do not realize that everything our kids wear on stage comes from our own costume department," said Liz Williard, costume designer.

Rarely does the school rent or buy costumes. The department does all it can to repurpose old costumes in storage or sew new ones.

Most of the volunteers have or have had children involved in the musical. They meet five days a week from the beginning of January until the end the production.

"These ladies are incredible. They give up all their free time," Williard said. "They're very devoted; it's a great group."

Behind stage in a room they affectionately call the "sweatshop," the ladies sew and meet with the young actors and actresses to make sure the costumes fit well.

"We're big on making sure the kids like it and feel comfortable in it," Williard said. "We try as hard as we can."

The "sweatshop" is also a safe and nurturing place where students can go to take a break.

"If someone's having a bad day, they can come back and they know we always have water and snacks for them," Williard said.

And don't think the ladies just sit back and watch when the performances begin.

"We have a full staff during every performance. We're frantically sewing torn seems and broken zippers. Hopefully the audience will never know about it," Williard said. "We never stop tweaking things; we're a little obsessive."

Student volunteers also help out in the costume deparment. The student head is senior Laura Rubino.

However, the women are always looking for more people who love to sew or would like to help out in any capacity. Email Williard at ewilliard@uscsd.k12.pa.us for more information.

Shows will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights March 2, 3, 9 and 10. Additionally, there will be a Sunday matinee performance at 2 p.m. on March 4 and a family night at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 8.

Upper St. Clair High School Box Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon and Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The cost of admission is $10 for adults (advance purchase), $5 for children ages 12 and under, and $5 for non-Upper St. Clair senior citizen residents. Senior citizens with proof of Upper St. Clair residence and school staff members can receive up to two complimentary admissions. However, since all seats are reserved and tickets are limited, sell-out shows are likely. For more information, please call the USC Music Activity Hotline 412-851-2060.

Share your thanks with the musical volunteers. Tell them in the comments!