Building a Mystery: Stagecraft Students Bring "Clue" to Life Behind the Scenes

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As the cast of Clue: The Musical rehearses their lines and perfects their comedic timing, another team works quietly behind the scenes, bringing the world of the play to life—one paint stroke at a time. In Cal Poly’s stagecraft class, students like Zoey Meraz transform raw materials into elaborate set pieces that will transport audiences into Mr. Boddy’s mysterious mansion.

On this particular day, Meraz is focused on painting the towering pillars that will soon frame the stage, giving the set its grand, stately feel. Using sponges to create layers of depth and texture, she carefully dabs shades of yellow over a pink base, blending the colors to create a warm, aged effect.

While the actors take center stage during performances, Meraz and her classmates ensure the world they inhabit is just as compelling. From painting props to constructing backdrops, stagecraft students are the unsung artists behind the magic of theater—blending creativity, craftsmanship, and long hours of hard work to bring "Clue" to life.

Meraz’s day starts out by signing into stagecraft at 2 p.m. Everyone logs their hours at the beginning of class to inform Professor Ricard Jackson when they came in to work for the week. Unlike other classes at Cal Poly, stagecraft students require an extra four hours a week besides their regular class time they must come into the shop and work on the set.
Meraz dons an apron in preparation of her day of work as well as a pair of gloves. 


Meraz looks at a blueprint that offers guidance on the day's work.


Using sponges and yellow paint, Meraz works on texture for the pillars of the mansion. 



Meraz worked to provide the pillars in "Clue" a slightly aged look. 



Meraz and her classmates use stencils to add detail to the set.



Meraz peels paint tape while performing detail work on the ‘Clue’ set.


Meraz steadies a ladder for a student hanging curtains.


At 5 pm, Meraz wraps up her day in stagecraft and prepares to head to her next class.

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