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At ɫ��APP����, world-class productions unfold on both campuses each year - complete with lights, costumes, music, and standing ovations. But just behind the curtain, a different kind of artistry takes place. This year, two student leaders - Hao H., a senior on the Puxi campus, and Nina T., a junior on the Pudong campus - stepped into vital backstage leadership roles. Their passion, responsibility, and vision helped bring their respective productions to life.

Hao has been working on SAS shows since seventh grade, initially with costumes and props before moving into set design and stage construction in high school. This year, she served as the backstage crew lead and production manager for Little Shop of Horrors, overseeing everything from initial sketches to final strike. “Her junior year, she really took over. Hao came to me and asked to take on more responsibility. I said, ‘Absolutely, I trust you,’” said Puxi Performing Arts Director Kirk Holland. “Hao became the production manager, making sure sets were ready, leading a crew of about 20, and handling every detail. She’s there at every step, not just for the exciting parts, but for the hard work others might skip. And Hao delivers every time,” Holland adds.

On the Pudong campus, Nina’s backstage journey began after spotting a poster looking for tech crew. “Nina leads her team with calm authority,” said Lauren Borodenko, Pudong Performing Arts Director. “She’s grown from a curious volunteer into someone the whole crew respects.” In her role as backstage lead for The SpongeBob Musical, Nina coordinated a crew of 29 and helped manage over 120 student performers. “Last year, she wanted to do everything herself,” Amox Frayco, Theatre Manager for the Performing Arts Center shared. “This year, Nina stepped into true leadership - delegating, giving cues, staying composed even when things got chaotic.”

Both students are “first on stage, last to leave,” and driven by a love of theater that may shape their futures. Nina has even joked about coming back to take Mr. Frayco’s job one day.

Their work may be behind the curtain, but Hao and Nina remind us that every great performance is built from behind the scenes.