How often have you watched a stage production and have thought about the set—how it was executed and curated? For Megan Dietrich, her year is spent creating or finding pieces that seamlessly make their way into a production at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Her goal is for the props go mostly unnoticed; that means she’s done her job well. Although her grandfather was a scenic designer and her uncle a lighting designer, her future in props wasn’t always clear to her. She was originally drawn to act, but growing up in a DIY household, the skills required for prop work were always there for her and came in handy for a job she held in a scene shop while attending school. Still, she tried her hand as a stage manager but realized she wasn’t cut out for it because she “doesn’t know how to whisper.” She ultimately came back to props and entered the University of Illinois’ MFA program for Properties in Design + Management, to further her skills safely and so she can have the ability to teach in the future. For now, you can find her on the second level of KCPA where the vast underground space leads to collaboration for all involved in productions. While working closely with scene designers who set the vision for the show, Megan meets individually with actors so she can ensure that the props connect with the characters story. Her goal is to make the prop as real, or repulsive, to the actor so they can react naturally to the object. Her crew of six, who work on 13–15 shows annually, have found themselves in many dumpsters seeking out their perfect set piece. For a production of “Oh What a Lovely War,” the Prop Show created a stylized trench that was part of a flexible space, requiring audience members to interact with the piece, which taught her about war and what we sacrifice for freedom. Another production, “Skin of Our Teeth” brought out a whimsical side as they created animals such as Wooly Mammoths that were partially decaying and are some of the pieces of which she’s most proud. She will occasionally sit in the audience to see how they react to a prop, whether it moves them in some way. “This is our art,” she states. Visitors can get a peek of the Prop Shop on one of the regularly scheduled behind-the-scenes tours of KCPA, but the public can also purchase their handiwork at their bi-annual Costume & Prop Sale, where those pieces that don’t get altered for new production get sold.  On your next visit to Krannert Center to see a Lyric, Dance or Theatre production, keep your eye on those pieces that fill the stage, creating reactions from actors and audiences alike.