Behind the scenes of Upper School Winter Play, Puffs is an organized chaos of costumes, wigs, props, and wands. Hours of rehearsals after school and during lunch culminate in two showings of Puffs on March 17 and 18 at 7 P.M. with prices of $5 for student admission and $8 for adult admission.
Backstage and in the Green Room are Upper School students, faculty, and volunteers working as stage crew, set designers, costume designers, and actors. Their rehearsals seem chaotic from the number of production and cast members, but Holli Kitching, Director of Puffs and MS and US Theatre teacher, has everything under control.
Kitching acknowledged Puffs’s uniqueness in theater production: “Puffs, a parody [on J.K. Rowling’s series ‘Harry Potter’], is different from other plays that we’ve done in the past because it’s very fast-paced and prop-heavy with many costume changes.”
Makenna Wakahia ’26, who portrays Seamus, Ernie Mac, and Professor Turban, said the parody focuses on the Hufflepuff house in Harry Potter, which is often the “most made fun of and overlooked” house. “There are a lot of assumptions that students in the Hufflepuff house don’t do anything besides being happy, so I’m glad Puffs can give us a satirical glimpse into the Hufflepuff house,” said Wakahia.
Wakahia said she is thrilled to perform the highly anticipated play: “I’m excited to see a full crowd of people who want to see a good MFS theater production like Puffs!” Kitching agreed with Wakahia’s excitement and looks forward to showing the audience all the hard work done.
Makenna Wakahia ’26 poses in her Ernie Mac costume. Photo by Livia Kam ’26.
Behind the stage curtain is Jamy Jacques ’25, a member of the stage crew, who expressed his excitement to move props: “I manage the props because most of the sets don’t have to be moved. I’m mostly excited to move the animals and throw birds onto the stage!”
The lighting booth is Harri Kutalek’s ’26 realm, where he controls the stage lights, pit light, and spotlight. He’s been working in the lighting booth since Middle School and his favorite moment is watching the show in the booth: “There’s never a dull moment as there are always laughs involved.”
Inside the lighting booth. Photo by Livia Kam ’26.
Costume designing requires a team of volunteers and students to assist in making designs for outfits, repairing clothing, and assembling wigs. Jenetta McGill ’26 explained the process of creating wigs: “After I detangle the wigs, I style them into the Puff characters’ hair and help the actors put their wigs on throughout the show.” Some of the wigs are reused from previous MFS plays, and some are ordered from Amazon.
Keva Elie ’26, in her First Headmaster costume. Photo by Livia Kam ’26.
Rosa Frola, a retired MFS administrative assistant, volunteers for Puffs by creating costumes for the cast. She is one of the three costume designers who work in the Green Room, designing, repairing, and fixing costumes. “I’m in charge of getting the cast members fitted and sized up to their costumes. I love working with these kids and their passions,” expressed Frola.
From sewing, controlling the lighting booth, and rehearsing lines, there is so much going on beyond the stage. With humor, wit, and sarcasm, Puffs is a play to look forward to.
Rosa Frola sewing cast member Noah Frizell’s ’25 pants. Photo by Livia Kam ’26.
Cast member Cloud Blackburn ’25 posing in the Green Room. Photo by Livia Kam ’26.
