Just turned 18, Helen Lynn, a senior at Westfield High School, appears the modern-day Renaissance woman. On any given day in Westfield, she can be found in the Black Box or in the tech booth of the auditorium, organizing actors, working with set designers and costumers, or searching on-line for an obscure prop.
Although she took Theatre I as a freshman, Helen did not get involved in Westfield's program until sophomore year when she was the "projector girl" for Hamlet. After that experience, she started spending more and more of her time in the Black Box, and quickly became a reliable technician, working on six mainstage productions and increasing her responsibilities with each show.
Helen's work proves that she is both a visual and performing artist, earning accolades from adults and students alike. Although she's had some experience on the boards, Helen prefers being a stage manager because she gets to put it all together, from the director's concept to the final product on stage.
"Helen has proven herself over the last four years by working every backstage job that exists, which prepared her for stage manager — the hardest job in the business. By being the president of our thespian group, she has earned respect of her peers and leads by example, and with great maturity," director Scott Pafumi said.
Balancing academics and theatre can be quite a feat and Lynn has remained enrolled in AP and honors classes while still putting hundreds of hours into theatre each year. She notes that this year her teachers are strong supporters of the arts and often are flexible on project deadlines. Still, being able to juggle academics and the arts can be demanding and Lynn has learned time management as she has progressed through high school.
In addition to her work with Westfield Theatre, Helen has worked as a stage manager for Cappies Summer Theatre and Fairfax Academy's Musical Theater Program's production of "The Last Five Years."
For Helen, the best thing about theatre is making great friends and earning the respect of her directors. "I've been lucky because I was mentored by Mr. Pafumi and Jenn Henderson, a 2003 Westfield graduate, and now I get to repay the favor by training younger students," she said.
Off to college next year to major in theatre with a concentration in stage management, Lynn is looking forward to some new challenges and offers some words of wisdom for her colleagues who will carry on Westfield theatre's traditions. "Listen and learn from each other and respect each other's work," she said. "Don't let silly high school gossip and arguments interfere in the final product."