School is often filled with long days of monotony, people slowly inching towards insanity while they are sentenced to the eight hour school day. Yet, in the midst of all the lifelessness, the curtains slowly start to open as the Flower Mound High School Theatre puts on another production. It isn’t long before the auditorium starts to fill with people, eager to take their seats and be entertained. Recently, the FMHS Theatre has presented “Hello Dolly!”, which won Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Technical Crew at the 2025 Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards, and “Death by Dessert.” Setting a play or musical into production is no easy feat as people commit a significant amount of time and work behind the scenes.
Valeria Punceles has always had an interest in the inner-workings and the performances that encompass theatre. She has worked on the sets and props for theatre in the past and, in an interest to expand her skills, made the last-minute decision to become the stage manager for Flower Mound High School’s production of the murder-mystery comedy, Death by Dessert. The positive contribution her role has played, in both theatre and in shaping Punceles’ high school experiences, is immeasurable. Her role entails arriving early to sweep the stage, making sure the props are in their proper places, and opening a rehearsal report which tracks when the rehearsal starts and ends, who was absent, and any changes that need to be made to lights, sets, and costumes. As time slips away, the closer it gets to the show’s opening, the crews’ dedication and commitment become increasingly vital. Two weeks before the doors open, Punceles sets out a phone box to prevent actors from being on their phones backstage to minimize distractions.
“A lot of people think theatre is so easy, and we can do that. No, theatre is, at least at FMHS, mainly student-run…. We work for hours on end,” Punceles commented. “At rehearsal, we build almost everything by hand… A lot of our stuff is handmade by the students, and we do a lot of work even outside of rehearsal: making props, designing and finding all the logistics of set dimensions and placement, and looking for inspiration boards for our costumes, hair, and makeup.”
After weeks of Punceles managing the stage, actors memorizing their lines, sets being built, and costumes being arranged, a work of art is finally brought to the stage to greet an anticipating audience.
“What I love most is being able to work with the cast and the crew at the same time. I get to experience both sides of it, rather than just the technical aspect,” said Punceles.
The FMHS Theatre not only functions as an anchor, reeling everyone back in from the depths of boredom and into the world of glitz and glamour, but also as a place where people from various backgrounds can come together to produce something they are proud of.
“I think theatre is full of so many different people from varying cultures and experiences, and I think meeting those people and befriending them just broadens your horizons a lot more…There’s so many people that are so creative and and so smart, and when they tell you something, you can just see how much [their] thoughts and experiences shape what they create. No person can create the same two works…and it’s something that you can bring with you into any experience, any job. It’s amazing,” stated Punceles.
High school life is often filled with times of tedium and long days where exhaustion seeps into adolescents’ bones, making it seem impossible to find any energy or excitement. Entertainment has proven itself to be an effective remedy to sadness, listlessness, and lethargy as people are able to immerse themselves in a piece of art and temporarily forget about their worries. The FMHS Theatre, with its numerous awards and hardworking crew, has dedicated itself to being the remedy that brings spark and excitement back to the school. As people crowd into the auditorium on opening day, brimming with excitement, they are able to enjoy a night without the crushing pressure of school and societal expectations. The behind-the-scenes crew, actors, and stage managers like Punceles have helped to brighten up the school and give people something special to hold onto as they tread along the treacherous path of high school.
