By Virginia Coleman-Prisco

When the lights go down and the curtain rises on a Northwestern Regional 7 theatre production, the actors on stage share the applause with an ensemble of stagehands, prop masters and set builders. For two Norfolk residents at the helm, the magic of theatre is built not just on dialogue, but on drills, nail guns and the quiet confidence of finding a place to belong.

“Usually the cast gets the bows, but the crew gets the high-five in the dark,” says Ann DeCerbo, who co-directs the program with fellow Norfolk resident John DeShazo. However, at NWR7, that’s not entirely true. “In our program, the crew takes bows alongside the actors each night,” DeCerbo noted. “That simple moment reinforces what we believe from day one: theatre is a true ensemble, and every role matters.”
For Alyssa Medina, a Norfolk resident, NWR7 junior and prop master for the recent production of “The Addams Family Musical,” that sense of teamwork came while wrestling with feathers on an arrow prop. “The quiver part of the arrows was very delicate. After we moved them, they were constantly falling off,” she explained. The actors became extremely cautious, creating a silent collaboration between the cast and crew just to keep the show running smoothly and the magic of theatre alive.

The program, which puts on a fall play and a spring musical, is known for teaching skills that extend far beyond the stage. For students like Medina, that has meant becoming proficient with power tools. “I learned how to use drills, nail guns and saws for the production,” she said. Medina now uses those skills at home to build costumes for conventions, to construct wig supports and cut shapes that are impossible with scissors. Freshman and Norfolk resident Harry Bennett, who started in theatre at Botelle Elementary School as Aladdin and now serves as deck captain at NWR7, said that after gaining valuable experience building sets, he now hopes to own a carpentry business one day.

Co-director DeShazo, a woodworker and the town’s deputy fire marshal, understands that transformation intimately. “I learned framing and finish carpentry, basic electrical wiring, prop making and so many other things,” DeShazo said, reflecting on his own start in theatre. “I learned it by doing it hands-on. To this day, I get just as much excitement no matter which side of the curtain I’m on.” For “The Addams Family,” DeShazo taught students how to lay out and build full sets of stairs, complete with stringers, risers and handrails—all painted to look “creepy and kooky.”

For parents wondering why they should encourage their child to try theatre, DeCerbo offered a clear answer: “Theatre teaches so many things that support a successful life, including confidence, craftsmanship, problem-solving, time-management and teamwork, all within a safe, supportive and creative environment.” Bennett noted that his biggest takeaway from the program has been “the confidence to give directions to others.”

DeShazo noted that “Theatre is the practicum that brings together so many of the academic disciplines—literature, history, math, science, public speaking, etc.—where the softer skills of critical thinking, collaboration, troubleshooting and communication are developed. Theatre gives the students a place to learn, collaborate and grow together by working on a project from start to finish and getting to show it to the world.”

Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, DeCerbo hinted that “It’s been a while since we’ve done a Shakespeare,” though no final decisions have been made. As for Medina, she hopes to see “Legally Blonde” on the stage next spring, noting, “It’s more stylized, and I’d love to build the set for it. There are so many fun roles for everyone.” For now, the crew of NWR7 students continues to build, paint and cue, proving that you don’t need a solo in the spotlight to become a star.