The Mind Behind the Curtain

by Aubrey Dittmar '23

While the curtains have closed on the theatre productions for the year, let us now open them once more to show the student who really made the shows possible: senior, Keefer Stiles.

While the playbill may have Keefer titled as “Student Tech Director,” his job was much greater than that. Keefer is a very active student: he is involved in many societies, clubs, and extracurriculars and is proudly president of our school’s National Honor Society Chapter. 

Photo Credit: Brienna Richelle

Outside of school, Keefer spends most of his time working his two jobs or volunteering at school. Keefer works at his local Friendly’s, and most excitingly, has worked at the Majestic Theater in Gettsyburg for many years with his father, who is the Stage Manager there. 


The play, Clue, had a very unique and intricate set. Stiles designed, measured, gathered all the needed materials, and built the whole set almost entirely by himself. 


Stiles watched a multitude of productions of the show and compiled all of the aspects of their sets into one that would be perfect for our stage. He then took the time to do some interior design work on the inside of the Boddy Manor by deciding where couches, tables, candlesticks, and bar carts would be placed in order to make the house come to life and make the actor’s work easier by having real props. 


After that, he walked through the play and decided where and when specific set pieces would be moved on or off stage. Lastly, he shared that information with the crew and taught all of them how to make those concepts happen in real time. At one point, he was even directing a majority of the play due to the fact that he knew the set best. 


Stiles describes the set designing and management process as, “ a puzzle, but all of the pieces are entirely blank except for just one, and you have to color in all of the other pieces, and then, finally, you can put that puzzle together.” 


While Stiles' job was challenging, he did have help from the cast and crew, and was praised for his efforts by his peers.


Stiles claims, ”It is exciting to put up a set that I design and be able to stand back as it works in coalition with the actors, lights, music, and props, to put together a story that is so vivid and exciting, you get goosebumps at every turn.” 


Director Gabi Cranga '17 stated, “Clue couldn’t have been possible without him (Keefer), and I am so incredibly grateful for the hard work and dedication he has put into this program on top of everything else he does.”

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