Open Forum

Hello everyone! I just wanted to share a project that I've been working on, because it's been a lot of work and a lot of fun, and I highly recommend taking this on in your school.:)

My name is Annie Koziel, and I'm a senior and ITS member at Hinsdale Central High School in Illinois. This year, I've been working on earning my Girl Scout Gold Award by organizing our school theater department's costume collection and green room. The goal was to create a rehearsal space out of what used to be a costume/prop/kind-of-loungey space (read: a mess). I'm finally on track to finish the space this month, and I'm so excited about it!

When I first started out with my Gold Award, I actually had a completely different project - I was going to photograph old pictures from past shows, redecorate our auditorium lobby with them. But due to an unfortunate series of events including COVID-19 and massive amounts of construction at our school, that wasn't going to be possible to work on, so I worked with my teacher and we pivoted to the green room space.

Let me set the scene: piles of empty boxes litter the floor. The walls are lined with empty, broken cabinets that never close. Overflowing canvas clothing racks are everywhere, and there are rubbermaid tubs and garbage bags all over the floor, full of loose wigs, mismatched gloves, and the like. Not to mention the couches that were probably older than me.

Of course, I'm being melodramatic (I am a theater kid, after all), but it really was a mess. So last summer and throughout this year, with the help of so many of my friends, teachers, and peers, I sorted through the old costumes and props. I created an organizational system and moved them into cabinets. I moved out the old furniture, opening up a rehearsal space with - surprise! A floor-to-ceiling mirror covering an entire wall! It was a tough project, but it was definitely worth it, and I wanted to share some tips for anyone who wants to take on something similar - which I highly recommend! The new space will make it easier for us to costume shows, more enjoyable to prepare for them, and less dusty on the whole. Plus, we now have a rehearsal space all our own, instead of getting kicked from room to room by admin - a struggle I'm sure many other arts departments know.

So here are my tips for updating your department, whether that's a new rehearsal space, a different costume storage system, or whatever you decide to do:

1. Plan ahead and set deadlines. When I started out I was kind of overwhelmed and just dealt with things in a stream-of-consciousness way, which was unproductive. Once I made a concrete plan by taking inventory of everything that needed to be done and setting goals/deadlines for myself, I was much more productive and it was easier to ask for help because I had a specific task for my team.
2. Get help! Especially in the theater community, there are always people out there who will help you and be there for you. Don't try to move that couch by yourself and don't take on a daunting project all alone. Ask for help from friends, teachers, and those around you. It'll be more fun, less overwhelming, and much more efficient. (You can also offer community service hours as a pretty effective incentive.)
3. Record your progress. I had to do this for my Gold Award report, but it was so fun to look at the before and after photos and the videos (some of mine are linked here - I'll have to upload the after photos as soon as I can) I took while we were working. You get to see how far you've come and it gives others an idea of what you've accomplished, too.
4. Go ahead, try on that period ball gown. Just once. It's okay.
5. Enjoy it - blast music, bring snacks (just don't get them on the costumes), invite friends, and make this a fun experience. I had so much more fun when I was working with friends or listening to music, and I was more productive, too.

So there it is! If you're still here, I hope that this has been helpful and somewhat entertaining, and has maybe even inspired you to start up a project of your own. We always joke about the "underfunded arts," but unfortunately it's true in a lot of situations, and student and sponsor initiative is the only thing that's going to get things done. Especially for students, looking around your department and finding ways to improve it and help out is so rewarding and can be a lot of fun. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, experiences to share, or ideas for your own projects - I'd love to hear about them! Thanks for hanging out and good luck!

-Annie