HHCA Seniors Step Behind the Curtain to Lead You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Three Hilton Head Christian Academy seniors who have spent years performing on stage are taking on new roles behind the scenes this fall, leading major parts of HHCA’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, opening Nov. 5.

Seniors Luke Strebe and Eli Taylor are co-directing the 26-member cast, which includes students in grades 4 through 12. Taylor also serves as music director, while senior Mallory Krimm leads set design.

All three are completing the work through HHCA’s Diploma with Distinction Capstone Program under the mentorship of Michelle McElroy, HHCA Assistant Director of Fine Arts. The capstone gives juniors and seniors an opportunity to pursue an in-depth, long-term project with real-world significance in a field of their choice, taking ownership of the work alongside faculty mentors and advisors.

For Strebe and Taylor, that responsibility began long before rehearsals. The two helped choose the show, developed audition materials, reviewed auditions, cast the production and now lead rehearsals, blocking and character development while managing schedules, communication and other behind-the-scenes details.

“I really wanted the experience of being on the other side of things after being an actor for so long,” Strebe said. “The responsibility of being in charge of a cast and the freedom to create a vision for the show that is our own was very intriguing to me.”

One rehearsal brought that new responsibility into especially sharp focus for Strebe. After he and Taylor encouraged two actors to make their own choices in a scene, the students responded, “You tell us what to do, you are our directors.”

“That was a striking moment for me because these are people that we go to school with and are friends with,” Strebe said. “But in this environment they are looking to us because it is our vision for the show.”

Casting was one of the biggest challenges the student directors faced.

“With a show like this, it’s not based on raw talent or experience as much as it is based on characterization and the chemistry of the cast,” Taylor said. “Finding where each individual shined took a lot of thought and debate.”

The seniors are also learning what it means to lead younger performers. Freshman Caleb Craddock plays Charlie Brown, and Strebe and Taylor have worked with him and other younger cast members to build confidence and encourage them to make bigger choices onstage.

Krimm’s capstone project presents a different challenge. As set designer, she has taken the production’s visual world from research and sketches through materials, budgeting and construction. Her concept is rooted in childhood and nostalgia, with scenery designed to feel almost like a child’s drawing brought to life.

Before beginning the project, Krimm had never done woodworking.
“The work before the actual work is a lot more than people would think,” Krimm said. “It’s not just drawing what you want the stage to look like. There’s budgeting, physically building things, planning.”
McElroy meets regularly with the students to discuss progress and deadlines but has intentionally allowed them to take ownership of much of the production process.

“I really believe directing is as much about the organization, communication and planning that happens behind the scenes as it is about standing in front of the cast and giving direction,” McElroy said. “Part of this experience is allowing them to figure those things out for themselves and learn from the process.”

Student leadership extends beyond the three capstone projects. Brynn Burns and Stella Doerger serve as stage managers, Luca Somaio handles sound, and Sadie Marcotte is working on social media, with additional student crew members supporting the production.

Hilton Head Christian Academy will present “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 and 7 and 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the HHCA Performing Arts Center. General admission tickets are $18, and tickets for students and seniors are $12. Tickets are available at hhca.org/showtickets.

Hilton Head Christian Academy is a private Christian school serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Bluffton.For more information, visit hhca.org.