The Perfecter Director

Mr. Saxton has produced numerous plays at Dixie High, including Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables. | Photo Credit: Will DeViney, Flyer Flash

The Perfecter Director
by Brandy Kraiprai
Staff Writer, Flyer Flash


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Directing a play is more than just putting on a good show. It's also more than giving the audience a play to remember or even expressing your love for the arts; Putting on a play is all about the people you’re around.

Mr. Saxton doesn’t do plays just to satisfy his love of theater, he does it because he loves working with the students and making a positive difference in their lives, “It’s who I am.” he said.

The point is obviously clear on how much he loves his career.

On Friday night during the play, some students crashed the stage and did cart wheels across it, disrupting the play. Mr. Saxton was angry and chased the students but still has no idea who the culprits are.

Mrs. Snow has worked with Mr. Saxton for over 20 years and out of all the plays they’ve done together, her favorite has to be Les Miserables, and not just this time, but the last time they did it as well.

She said it's all about the music and story of the show. It’s not always smiles and laughs while performing, as Mrs. Snow claims; “We’re smiling ear to ear when it’s going well and tearing our hair out when it’s not.” She agrees with Mr. Saxton that working with the students makes the plays worth it.

Dixie alumnus Chelsea Wilson, a former student of Mr. Saxton's, described her experience in his plays as full of hard work. "The techniques that Mr. Saxton used was a broad spectrum; he had it modern and had the cast research their parts in the play to get a feel for what they’re going to be playing."

Her favorite play she’s done with Mr. Saxton was (italics) Little Woman because of how fun it was working with such a great cast and Mr. Saxton himself.

“Efficient, very focused, and he expects a lot from us,” Chelsea explained about his attitude.

On the final night in the first scene of one of the plays, a fellow cast member ran onto the stage and jumped onto a platform, breaking through it. The whole audience, along with the cast members, were able to see him through it, Chelsea thinking back on that as one of the craziest memories of her years working with Mr. Saxton and his marvelous plays.

Mr. Saxton, whether he likes it or not, will be always be known as the consummate professional.