STEP VA Crew Profile – Tyler Outlaw and Imani
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
by Brigid O'Leary
FREDERICKSBURG, VA—When the Courtland High School stage is overrun with fairy tale creatures next month, it will only be possible due to the hard work of the backstage magicians, also known as the tech crew. STEP VA Inc., the local 501(c)3 non-profit that “empowers people with disabilities and their families through creative expression and sensory exploration,” is staging Shrek The Musical JR. in April (18 and 19), and two of the team who are working on making the magic happen are Tyler Outlaw and Imani. Between them, they have seven years of experience with the STEP VA Spring Musical Experience, and both are excited to be part of the organization's fifth licensed musical, sixth overall event of the kind.
Outlaw has worked both sides of the stage, starting off as mini-Snoopy in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (2022) and following that performance with the role of Yertle the Turtle, Jr. , in “Seussical, Jr.” (2024). Last year, Outlaw took a turn behind the curtain, working with the tech crew for the first time during “Finding Nemo, Jr.”
“There are many different options to being a part of Step VA and this one seemed like the best fit for me,” he explained.
That experience gave him the confidence to do it again this year.
“I feel like I have a lot of experience with it now that I've been in the tech crew once before, so I'm looking forward to painting and building the sets,” he said before tech classes started in January, adding that he wanted to “increase my patience with certain abilities when getting frustrated and pushing beyond my comfort zones and limits.”
Though it's not clear how much papier-mache was used in this year's show, now that the projects are coming together, Outlaw reports that he's “gained a lot of patience, compared to last year,” and counts that as a successful experience on the crew again this year. He is looking forward to seeing the tech crew's work on stage, explaining mysteriously, “I’m
excited to see the rotated boxes.”
The backdrop and the props are the elements of tech crew work that Imani is most excited to see on stage.
“The "Scroll of Names" prop that the King will use is what I am most excited about,” she said. “I like it because it is informative when the Squire hands it to the King, but I don't want to give too much of the play away.”
And Imani knows why it's important not to spoil the show for the audience. She has been involved with the Spring Musical Experience since the first licensed musical, Disney's “The Lion King, Kids!” where she played Sarabi, Simba's mom, in the first act and a beautiful African bird in the second act. She followed that up with the role of Peppermint Patty in “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” in 2023, and leader of the Bird Girls in “Seussical, Jr.” Last year, she was Peach, part of the Tank Gang, in “Finding Nemo, Jr.” Over the years, Imani has dabbled in both sides of the stage, having participated in the first musical theater summer camp STEP VA had to offer, as well as trying her hand at tech crew classes and the tech theater summer camp sessions. However, this year, she wanted to try giving the tech crew all of her attention.
“I wanted to take a break from acting and being onstage, so that I can take the challenge to help my friends and the STEP VA staff members backstage and behind the scenes,” she explained.
There's a lot of moving parts on the tech crew, both literally and figuratively, and Imani is ready for all the different opportunities it offers. Not only has she been excited to work on costuming and set moving, but she's looking forward to being creative behind the scenes, too, learning about photography and videography, as well as giving writing a try. Look for
her byline on a future cast profile.
For the tech crew, a working knowledge or enjoyment of the source material is great but not required. So far, everyone at least has a passing familiarity with the original Shrek movie, but they're all ready to help their friends shine and make the audience laugh.
“It's been a long time since I watched the movie, but I like Squire, Tinkerbelle, and the Three Little Pigs characters,” Imani said, admitting that those are her favorites because, “my friends are playing them, and my friends are talented in those character roles. And also, I know that one of the Three Little Pigs is going to be really funny, and I can't wait for the show to see everyone embracing their roles.”
Outlaw particularly enjoys the scene where Lord Farquaad scares Gingy, the Gingerbread man.
You, too, can come see how Outlaw, Imani, and the rest of the tech crew support Squire, Tinkerbelle, the Three Little Pigs, Lord Farquaad, Gingy, and all the gang as STEP VA stages “Shrek The Musical JR,” April 18 at 6 pm and April 19 at 3 pm in the Courtland High School auditorium.
Tickets are available online at stepva.org.
