By: Zachary Cieslewicz (class of 2027)
This past month, my group bounced back and forth between several projects, but most notably the grand icicles. We hastily chopped up plywood with a jigsaw and eyeballed our 1x supports, held together with wood glue, staples, stage weights, and hope. The barn-door-esque structure was successfully thrown together by randomly cutting and measuring until we felt it was strong enough. Our own team members and the stage crew then painted these two tedious 12-foot towers. I will be throwing hands with whoever added glitter before the insulation—because that installation was an absolute pain. We removed, moved, or replaced each hinge at least five times before landing on what we have now. Once the icicle was upright, there was no way to clamp it to the structure, making the task of driving dozens of screws into the 12-foot monster one of the scariest things I’ve done. One mistake could have wasted hours of work so close to the deadline.
What took a week and a half to build the first icicle turned into just two days for the second. John Jacob brought significant value to the team and was a huge help throughout the process. It was also great to provide learning opportunities for other group members when time and circumstances permitted. Teaching them how to cut materials and use an electric staple gun was a great experience for all of us.
Beyond the icicles, I worked on minor adjustments to the bed frames and stairs, touch-up painting, and major installations on the ice bridge, including attaching wooden pieces and adding pool noodles—some of which I later carved in a matter of seconds. I served as the project lead for our build, which meant directing team members, assigning daily tasks, and problem-solving as challenges arose. From the start, I took responsibility for keeping the group focused and productive, which helped minimize internal conflict and keep momentum strong. Clear communication and consistent expectations allowed the team to work efficiently, even when timelines were tight or plans changed unexpectedly. I was essentially the project lead, directing team members and problem-solving on a daily basis. Our group had minimal internal conflict, as effective leadership kept everyone on task and working hard.
I was also responsible for all planning and for communicating with Figg regarding design decisions and execution. We followed her instructions down to nearly every speck of sawdust, as doing so helped mitigate liability for any major design errors or structural flaws. The team remained highly motivated and consistently looked forward to coming to work, often staying after class because we genuinely enjoyed what we were doing. I am satisfied with the final result, though I probably should not have filled major gaps with sawdust and glue. We regularly consulted with one another and asked questions to avoid decisions we would later regret. One regret I do have is not installing the gap prior to the doors’ initial insulation, which ultimately prompted the first of two full removals. Overall, our group was fantastic, and I would love the opportunity to be part of the class again in the future if my schedule permits.
Act Out 