For some classes, teachers can pull open a file drawer to show off student work, but the creativity of Hampton High School teacher Dan Franklin's stage technology students isn't so easily contained.

Near the high school stage, a walk-in closet -- reminiscent of Fibber McGee's closet -- is filled with their work, saved just in case another school play might need the props and scenery that students have built or collected.

There are the pillars built for "Cinderella" and regularly used by the prom committee. A fireplace mantel used for so many productions it's hard to remember the first one. A rooster from "Into the Woods." An old Schwinn bicycle from the "Wizard of Oz."

And lots of lumber that is used to create one set, dismantled and then recycled to make another.

Mr. Franklin is proud that students, with his help, build their own sets for the fall play and spring musical without any help from parents, outside professionals or other adults.

"In 13 years, it's always been the kids build the sets 100 percent," said Mr. Franklin, who has worked at the high school since 1997 and had a stage technology class since 1999.

Their work is a part of a stage technology and production class, an elective taken by 26 students. It entails planning and building the sets as well as researching and finding props and costumes, doing make-up, designing lighting and stage management.

Some of the students like the work so much that they take the class again and again.

Their efforts are combined with students in Mr. Franklin's acting and dramatic strategies class and volunteers in the after-school drama club, some of whom want to be involved but don't have time to schedule the class.

Every school with a play or musical has to find a way to get the work done, and many figure out how to make it fun and educational, whether it's a class or an after-school activity.

Some of the other high schools with stagecraft-related elective classes include Carlynton, Mt. Lebanon, Quaker Valley and West Mifflin Area.

At Quaker Valley, students interested in creating and building the set for the annual high school musical sign up for "Construction Systems" in the spring trimester.

Mt. Lebanon High School offers two stagecraft classes: technical theater and community services stage crew, both of which work on productions.

A West Mifflin Area High School elective in theater technology teaches students skills ranging from lighting and sound to set building. Class members also join the stage crew.

Carlynton High School has a technical theater class that covers costuming, set designing and other theater skills.

At Hampton High School, the class and club are working on "The Diary of Anne Frank," a play about a Jewish girl and her family in hiding during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12, 13 and 14 and 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at the high school. Admission is $7 for adults and $6 for students and seniors.

While many of the Hampton productions involve a larger ensemble, the drama club wanted to do a serious play, so Anne Frank is being done with two casts -- each with 13 students -- so more students can participate.

The high school stage presents its own challenges. It curves outward in the front. There is no orchestra pit. It has little wing space and little overhead fly space. So the set typically stays in one place or is built with walls that open up or other devices to show multiple locations in the same place.

In the stage tech class, students read the play and then began thinking about what kind of a set, costumes and props are needed, making sure they are historically accurate or appropriate, all within a budget of about $5,000 for the fall production and about $20,000 in the spring.

"We need real period stuff," said Mr. Franklin. "The clothing has to be researched to make sure we get that down accurately. They have to look up the hairstyles to make sure they're doing that correctly."

A wood-burning stove was found, but no one could find a period sink. So the blocking was changed so a sink doesn't need to be visible in any scene requiring water.

Costumer Melissa Heid, a senior who is not in Mr. Franklin's class but takes a clothing course offered by home economics, said she kept her eye out for 1940s fashions that were not colorful "because the show is so depressing."

At an antique clothing store, she chose a brown-and-white gingham dress for Anne, with a flower -- to show some youth -- on a small white sweater .

The student-built set is on two levels, one the annex of a house and the upper one a small attic.

One of the challenges is making the new set seem old, a task done by the dabbing coconut husk brown paint on top of walls painted with Anjou pear gold. An extra touch involved using diluted brown paint and a sponge to create the appearance of water dripping.

Assistant stage manager Sal Lorenzo, a junior, took stage tech last spring and is taking it again this year.

He is proud that he helped to build walls, put doors in and put paneling on the set.

"I really like the way it looks," he said.

Senior Jackie Cafaro also is a repeat customer for the class

"I like being creative," she said.

Stage manager Liz Gatto, a senior, hasn't been able to fit stage tech into her schedule but loves working on the stagecraft.

"It's really fulfilling. When it's all done, people come up afterwards and say, 'Oh my god, the set really was beautiful.' "

First Published: November 7, 2009, 10:15 a.m.