Zee Phares has participated in six Rock Island Drama Club productions over his 4 years as a student at Rocky, and has been acting stage manager for the last 2. However, last spring, for Rocky’s vibrant performance of Shrek, Phares shared the job of stage management with long time friend, and fellow theater enthusiast, Adrian Mills.
Mills is a year below Phares, but took on the role of stage manager in stride, despite being asked to oversee his peers that were his senior; in crew members and actors, alike. However, despite both Phares and the Drama Club advisor, Dorian Foster, believing he was ready, Mills said it was “hard getting people to see me as a leader.”
But over time, Mills was able to earn the respect and admiration of the entire crew of technicians and actors. “I’ve felt more confident in my decision making and proposing ideas to my team,” said Mills. “I’ve become a better leader.” It was this growth, and Phares’ impending graduation this spring, that led to his decision to step down as stage manager for Rocky’s upcoming production of Guys and Dolls.
This Spring, for the first time ever, Mills will be the solo stage manager. While Phares will still be present in the production, he has opted to take a backseat role as assistant stage manager, a role he shares with Grace Driskill and Elizabeth McCoy. Phares said he and Mills “talked for a long time, and both decided that it would be best, since I obviously won’t be there next year.” He knows that while the workload of stage manager is heavy, Mills is well equipped to take it on, stating, “If I know anyone capable of being stage manager, it’s him,” said Phares.
Looking forward to Guys and Dolls this Spring, Mills said he is “implementing more specific departments, like keeping people to what they want to do, so they don’t have to do things they don’t want to,” as some of his first acts as sole manager. But more important than any award or production, Mills said his time as stage manager is preparing him for the rest of his life, explaining, “It’s helping me get better at decision making and problem solving, which will help make me a better stage manager and a leader in my community.”
