Shira Wolf: A Student and a Producer

Whether she is studying, being involved in her sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon, or co-producing shows, Shira Wolf is always doing something great for the university. Shira is a sophomore from West Bloomfield who has spent her whole life being involved in musical theater. When she came to the college she decided it was time to do something new, and so she took up a huge role in the university’s only student-run musical theater organization, MUSKET. Whether it’s Hairspray or RENT, MUSKET always brings hit broadway productions to the University of Michigan featuring some of the most talented students on campus. Shira is the woman behind the scenes running the show (literally). Let’s meet her!

Her Campus: As a co-associate producer for MUSKET, can you tell us a little bit about what your title entails?

Shira Wolf: As a producer, I help to organize the entire season. Directors will propose ideas for shows to me along with my counterparts. We select two shows per school year. We also organize the creative and production teams. That includes marketing directors, music directors, etc. But most importantly, we ensure that everything involved in the production stays in tact and runs smoothly.

HC: How,and when did you discover your passion for musical theater?

SW: I have been involved in musical theater since elementary school. In high school, I started to get involved in the more technical side of things. When I got here, my friend said, “I am going to audition for this group called MUSKET, you should consider coming to the mass meeting.” From there, I began to get in touch with people and soon enough became the second-assistant stage manager. Through MUSKET, I actually found out about the degree program that I am now pursuing. I applied for BTA: Bachelor of Theater Arts. In high school, it was more of a hobby, but once I discovered the degree program here, I realized that this was a viable option for my future. I am lucky enough to take classes about things that I actually am passionate about.

HC: What would you say is your biggest challenge as a co-associate producer of MUSKET?

SW: I think that because we’re a student organization, it is hard because we are all balancing our school work. I do something MUSKET-related every day. I am either responding to an email, talking to someone about it, attending a rehearsal, etc. Simultaneously, I need to make sure that I am staying on top of my studies. It is very easy to get wrapped up in something like this and to let it take over your entire life. It is important for me to remember that we’re not saving lives. There are a lot of other things I have going on in my life, and I cannot completely devote all of my sanity (at times) to MUSKET.

HC: What has been your favorite production you have been involved in so far, and why specifically did that one make a lasting impression?

SW: I love them all for different reasons, but I think that being there from the conception of RENT through closing night was really amazing. Sitting in on auditions, putting together the team, tech week, opening night, and selling out nearly 1400 seats in the Power Center for more than one night  was amazing. Last year with MUSKET, I was on the stage management team for both shows, so I was involved in the rehearsal process, but not so much in the overall running of the organization. Once I became an associate producer, I took on a new role of really overseeing everything that happens in the productions.

HC: You mentioned earlier that MUSKET puts on one musical per semester. Tell us a little bit about the upcoming show for this spring.

SW: Right now, we’re currently in rehearsals for “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” It is a satire on big business. It follows a man named J Pierrepont Finch, who ,with the help of his handbook, basically climbs from being a window washer to a high power executive. There is a lot of humor in this show and it is very relevant to today, when everyone is trying to skip corners to get ahead. It is taking place on March 21-23 in the Power Center.