After working on more than 60 shows with Mayo Stage Door, technical director Mr. Christopher Smith has decided that it is finally time to retire from set building.
During his final show with Mayo Stage Door, Smith designs the forest scenery for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
In college, Smith majored in theater and later worked in broadcasting while being involved in theater on the side. His first set design was in 1985 when he built the set for Fiddler on the Roof at John Marshall High School alongside his wife, Mara Smith. The following year, he built his first set at Mayo High School for the production of Play On! Mara directed while Smith designed and built the set. These productions were what brought Smith into the district.
In 1987, Smith joined Mayo High School as a teacher for TV Production, a class that produced a daily live news show called the Spartan Scene. He was also the Gifted and Talented Education Coordinator, all while working with Mayo’s theater program. For over three decades, he has worked on every fall and spring show.
After retiring from teaching in 2018, Smith continued to design and build sets for Mayo Stage Door. When asked what made him stay, he simply said, “Ms. Monson! And it’s a good team to work with.”
While reflecting on the past shows that he has worked on, Smith noted Mary Poppins as one of the most challenging shows he has worked on. “It had magic tricks, and it was a huge set with no space [on stage],” he explained. The complex two-story set represented the Banks’ home. The lower level was the children’s room, while the upper level served as a balcony. To the right of the children’s room was the kitchen, where utensils and cabinets were rigged to abruptly fall down and magically reassemble during “A Spoon Full of Sugar.”
The set model for Mary Poppins.
As for his favorite shows, Smith notes that, “RENT’s a standout. It was fun to do that space, and our lighting came together on that one.” The set for RENT was big, including four platforms at different levels that were the lofts and doubled as the street, reflecting the New York lifestyle of the characters.
The set model for RENT.
Another favorite was Titanic: The Musical, a show with a unique significance. Mayo High School was the first school in the U.S. to do that production.
The set for Titanic: The Musical.
Though he’ll no longer be building sets as his main role, Smith plans to continue designing them and helping out when he is needed. He enjoys designing, but the job is usually combined with building. “I won’t miss hauling heavy pieces of plywood,” he laughed, but he will miss working with the students.
One of the most rewarding parts of the job is being able to create the set design. What most people do not realize is that Smith’s work is two jobs. The skill for building is not the only thing needed, but the eye for design is what creates the stage, vision, and picture. Smith recalls, “When we did In the Heights, someone looked at the set and said, ‘That’s only 17 feet deep?’” It was a proud moment for him that showed the importance and impact of a good design that works around a limited space.
Another aspect of the job that Smith loved was the opportunity for students to take the lead. He talked about A Midsummer Night’s Dream where the students led all of the painting. “It was really cool to step back and say, ‘Yeah, go ahead,’ and it looked great.” That kind of student leadership is another reason why he stayed.
Smith’s advice for set crew members is to utilize the skills that you develop through theater. “You take those skills into another trade,” he explained. There are always jobs for people who do design and build.
The current company and past companies at Mayo Stage Door are eternally grateful for his many talents and teachings. His hard work for all of these years has definitely left an irreplaceable impact, so thank you!
Although Smith has retired twice now, he will still be designing sets for Mayo and helping out at the Civic Theatre and the Repertory Theatre, so you will still see his amazing work! In addition to theater work, he will also continue being a substitute teacher, so be sure to say hi when you see him!
Photos courtesy of Christopher Smith
