Some people see visual and performing arts as two very separate things, but this is not so when it comes to set painting. In set painting, these two art forms meld together, so that a talented artist can craft a canvas so that actors are free to paint their play.
Sarah Crossett, a senior at Westfield High School, became involved with this integral, but often overlooked, part of technical theatre through her art class last year. “I was told that help was needed to paint the set, so I figured I'd give it a shot,” said Crossett. After that, she liked it so much that she decided to continue and to take it to the next level. “I had so much fun working on Fiddler on the Roof and spending time with the actors and tech people, I figured I would come back.” She became involved in all aspects of technical theatre, giving her expert artistic insights whenever needed. In one short year, she has become the artistic eye of Westfield’s theatre department.
Currently, Crossett is assistant technical director for the upcoming production of Our Town. Though the play is not a tech-heavy show, she likes “watching how the actors portray this story through acting alone.” As an “artistic adviser,” she must take into account the message that the play and actors are trying to convey and choose a color palate that does not interrupt the atmosphere or clash with the costumes. This takes a lot of time and thought, as well as strict organization.
While becoming heavily involved in the theatre department, Crossett has taken her leadership role in the artistic portion seriously.
“Sarah jumped feet first into our theatre department and has always been willing to help out with anything and everything,” Branson Reese, an actor in the department says. “She's just an amazing person.”