BEHIND THE SCENES: Odessan takes charge back stage

Apr. 21—It's hard to count how many productions Alexa Nease has been a part of.

During the last 20 years, there have been too many shows to count that she has worked with in the area.

She'll add another to the list next week with the musical production of "Bright Star."

Nease, who graduated from Odessa College back in December, has been busy working behind the scenes as the stage manager for "Bright Star."

The show opens up next week with shows at 7:30 p.m. April 27, April 28 and April 29 at the Ector Theatre.

"I'm very excited about the show," Nease said. "It's been a wonderful process."

While cast members are on stage, singing, dancing and dazzling the audience, Nease will be back stage, working with the directors and making sure everything is going on-cue like it should.

"As a stage manager, I'm in charge of making sure that everything is running smoothly and that everybody is where they're supposed to be," Nease said. "I have to make sure that the show is still going."

"Bright Star" is an American folktale that's inspired by a true story. It tells a moving tale of love and redemption against the backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and 1940s.

The musical is a 2016 Tony Award-nominated Best Musical that was written and composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell.

It is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in the 1940s with flashbacks to 1923.

Odessa College Director of Theater Josh Rapp is the director of the musical and Juan Hernandez is the musical director.

The show is a collaboration between Odessa College, Basin Theatre Works and Odessa Arts.

"I think it's fantastic," Nease said. "I love to see the community coming together. I love to see us producing something that we've never done before."

That doesn't mean there aren't challenges that come with putting on the production.

One of the obstacles for Nease has been working with a show on this large of a scale.

"It's been really challenging, mostly because it's a large production," Nease said. "There's a large cast. There are a lot of people working on it and making sure that everybody is where they're supposed to be and making sure that everybody's schedule is lined up. That can be a little bit of a challenge."

Another unique challenge with the show is that rehearsals (which began back in January) have been taking place at the Globe Theatre at Odessa College.

Next week, the cast and crew will be setting up shop at the Ector Theatre for the three shows.

"I think it's good to be versatile," Nease said. "The show's designed to be mobile. Really, it hasn't been too big of an issue. It brings a new element of challenge that's good."

These past few weeks have been busy as Nease and the rest of the cast and crew work to put the finishing touches on the show.

"This is certainly where I step up the most to help with the production," Nease said. "The production is fully locked and we're running with the show and stuff like that. This is more my job to step up and help move the sets and call the cues and stuff like that. It's great. It's great to see everything come together."

The cast of "Bright Star" includes members from all over the community. There are 15 cast members total taking part in the show.

For Nease, her favorite aspect has been working with everyone on this show.

"The group of people that we have together is fantastic," Nease said. "They're all wonderful people and I enjoy getting to work with them. We have some amazing talent."

Her favorite thing about being a stage manager is the fast-paced energy of moving sets as well as the technical aspect of making sure the show comes together.

"You can tell the story but without the tech, it's not as whimsical or magical," Nease said.

The production team includes Technical Director Amanda Fuquay, Band Director Eric Baker, Choreographer Claudia Lopez, Costume Designer Cat Nease, Lighting Designer Chris Barton, Sound Designer Brayden Grant and Producer Jon Montgomery of Basin Theatre Works.

For more information about the show, or to purchase tickets, go to tinyurl.com/5yjz9hd2.

Production Team

— Director: Josh Rapp

— Technical Director: Amanda Fuquay

— Music Director: Juan Hernandez

— Band Director: Eric Baker

— Choreographer: Claudia Lopez

— Stage Manager: Alexa Nease

— Costume Designer: Cat Nease

— Lighting Designer: A. Chris Barton

— Sound Designer: Brayden Grant

— Producer: Jon Montgomery

PHOTO GALLERY: 'Bright Star' dress rehearsal