But for any scenes to exist for folks to work behind or in front of, there must first be Russ.
Russ Noll is SRT's set designer and builder, and has worked on every show SRT has produced, except for its very first season. It is through Russ that the small brick-walled space on the upper floor of the Reed Opera House will become a Christmasy, cozy radio studio of days past.

To prepare to design a set, Russ first finds examples of what other designers have built for the same play, whether it be renting a DVD or just accessing his own 50-plus years of theatre memories. He then sits down with the director to hear his vision for the play. Together he and the director make a sketch, which Russ sometimes complements with a scale model.

Russ keeps his eyes and ears open when it comes to adding authenticity to his sets. For this show, he sought genuine antique radio equipment to use as props, which he found through a friend.

Resources are limited, as are space and manpower.  Russ, a man in his 70s easily mistaken for a baby boomer, builds the set by himself, with occasional weekend help supplying what he calls "grunt labor." With this in mind, Russ has a motto for set construction: "A set is impressionistic. It doesn't have to be photographic quality."  

Russ carefully chooses visuals that will inspire the mood that the director intends to evoke. An important consideration in Russ's set design is the use of flats, or wall coverings, used in each play that offer atmosphere and a sense of place. For "It's a Wonderful Life," Russ has chosen rich wainscoting as a main accent that he says adds a flavor that is both Christmas and 1940's.

Terraced floors are also important for SRT's smallish stage area. According to Russ they add vertical dimension and make the space more interesting for the audience.

It takes well over a month from start to finish for Russ to create his sets. But theatre is his joy, something he never let go of for 40 years while making his living as an engineer.

When he heard about the formation of SRT three years ago, he came to audition as an actor and immediately fell in love with the fledgling theatre. He and his wife of more than 50 years, Kathy, devote themselves to the project.

"I'm retired," he says. "It keeps me busy and off the streets."

Russ is given a contract for the work he does, the proceeds of which he promptly signs back over to the theatre as a donation.