A Final Curtain Call for Michael Swenson, RLCC’s Theater Director

By: Aiydin Lancto

This year is Mr. Michael Swenson’s last year teaching at Red Lake County Central High School and he recently put on his last play, “Something’s Afoot.” His first involvement in theater began when he was in 4-H. Swenson commented that he was “shanghaied to be in a skit for Share the Fun when I was in eighth grade.” His only other experience was at Northland Community College in a play entitled “Rhinoceros” by Eugene Ionesco where he had seven lines. 

Swenson became a theater director when he began teaching in Oklee when he was assigned the junior and senior class plays. He has been directing One-Act plays for 43 years, Three-Act plays for 38 years, Musicals for eight years, Adult Summer Theater for five years, and Sunday Christmas Programs for five years.

Swenson also directed Children’s Theater for 35 years. “I remember when my son was in Prairie Theater. They had students do a play in a week. I knew there had to be a better way so I created the Oklee Community Children’s Theater and the students were the stars. They created the character, helped in the sets, lighting, and special effects. They became the stars.”

He stressed the pressure placed on actors when he said, “This is the only activity that you must totally depend on the other actors on stage. If someone misses a line, another can cover the line. There is no lonelier or scarier feeling than being on stage with an audience looking at your every move and you have forgotten your line. Panic is a true understatement. One learns to use one’s emotions for the performance.” 

To decide what play he will present, Swenson starts out by looking at who will be trying out and figuring out the chemistry between the actors. He then has to see who fits the characters role. When they begin rehearsals, sometimes they have to change the either the character’s gender or someone has to play as the opposite gender. He has also had to rewrite parts or sections of the play to fit new situations. 

Besides selecting a cast and practicing, the set design and costume selection process had to take place. The script gave some ideas “but the stage and my equipment, lumber, walls helps to create the imaginary world I ask people to enter. My students helped build, decorate, and design the sets. Their ideas are just as important as mine.” RLCC shop classes have also helped build the sets.

Weeks go into designing the set, finding props, planning lighting, sound effects, and curtain cues. They then have to find costumes from Cahoots Costumes in Crookston and go through dress rehearsal and planning makeup. Once the play is over they have to take down the set, put everything away, and return the costumes. 

Swenson also has to train other students to run special effects and back stage management. Advertising, and making posters and setting them up in different towns had to be done. He advertised by writing articles for the newspaper, radio stations, Facebook, and the school bulletin too.

Some years more students are interested in being in a play than there are parts. If it was children’s theater, Swenson would have different people play the same roles in different parts. In One Act and Three Act there is already a limit on numbers, so Swenson finds the people that would best fit the parts. Swenson also has students be involved as assistant director or stage manager. If too few people sign up, he would have to “scrounge for people or consolidate and rewrite parts.”

Swenson has put on a variety of plays including “Something’s Afoot,” “Bye! Bye! Birdie,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and dozens more. The most challenging production Swenson has put on has been “Something’s Afoot” with the special effects, timing, and music along with how long it has taken to perfect it.

Different plays take different amounts of time to be ready to perform. Three Act and One Act plays each take 200 hours, children’s plays take 125 hours, and for “Something’s Afoot” they put in over 300 hours.

Swenson said, “The most exciting aspect of being involved in theater is the unknown, what happens when things go wrong on stage,” including forgetting lines and when props don’t work. “I had one production where the walls of the set were knocked down. When the curtain opens is when I am powerless. Whatever happens, will.”

Another challenge of working with theater is dealing with the schedules of the actors. Swenson also commented that, “Sports and theater don’t mix” because both use the gymnasium for practice. “I must have quiet to hear and direct the show and run dress rehearsal.”

Swenson said his best memory was “My students this year had asked I do a musical. I have had this group since they were 7-8. Jade Person, Hannah Kolstoe, Sydney Melby, and Jayden Fore have been so involved in theater. My best memories have to be with this last show. But to take the written word and visualize a play end product and work to that goal has been so much fun. I always have told my students that words are alive, and their job was to bring the author’s words and characters to life.”

Theater benefits the students. “It has helped introverted students blossom into confident young men and women.” Skills learned in theater can be used for the rest of their lives. These skills can be used in any job situation, and with these skills a person can use their fears for their benefit.

Swenson shared an example. He received a letter from a former student, Sheryl White, who made a presentation to hundreds of nurses and was asked how she could have done so well. In her letter she said, “I remember my high school drama director that saw something in a shy eighth grader and convinced me that I had potential on stage. I tried it and I loved theater. I learned to use my fears for a presentation and how to control that fear of stage fright. Thank you, Mr. Swenson.”

He commented, “Theater brings out the hidden talents possessed by everyone. I have told my students so often, if you try theater, there is a feeling that you get on stage that you will not find anywhere else in life. That is why my students come back year after year.”

Swenson’s final remark was, “I love theater and I loved working with all of my actors. I truly will miss this. The frantic times, the pressure, the insanity, and the incredible fun and laughs. Goodbye.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Swenson for providing the opportunity for hundreds of students to experience the joys of bringing stories to life while performing on the stage at RLCC.