Technical director bonds with daughter through building sets, dollhouses

Stanton built a dollhouse for his daughter for Christmas. “The dollhouse is the first real toy I made other than stuff for storage, cardboard forts and repurposed scale models and props,” Stanton said. Photo courtesy of Tim Stanton.

Amelia Havill
March 10, 2021

Everyone who has been involved in the school’s theatre program knows Tim Stanton, technical director extraordinaire. When Tim isn’t teaching or working in the theater, you might find him in the scene shop building toys for his daughter, Lindsey.

Lindsey is 5 years-old and a superstar, sharing both of her parents with technicians and actors alike. Lindsey loves both the technical and performing aspects of theatre, and is the “perfect blend of both Tim and I,” according to her mother, Stefanie Stanton, the other half of the theatre supercouple and Lindsey’s mom. 

Stefenie describes Tim and Lindsey as being “best buddies.” 

“[Lindsey] loves to see how things work and goes right along with Tim to see him in action,” Stefanie said. 

“I like building things like forts with Dad,” Lindsey said. “I like going to the theater and Home Depot with him.” 

Tim has made plenty of toys for Lindsey, including leftover props like the flamingo croquet mallets from “Alice in Wonderland”  and models of sets. One of the projects Tim is currently working on is a zoo for Lindsey to keep her stuffed animals. The zoo is a 5 foot tall cage with a 2 foot by 2 foot base, with bars made of elastic cording.

Probably the most ambitious project Tim has taken on for Lindsey is the dollhouse, a 30” wide, 32” tall, and 20” deep structure complete with a front and top that open, and functioning LED lights. The dollhouse has been in progress for several years, and Tim hopes to give it to Lindsey next Christmas. 

“Lindsey has not seen the dollhouse yet but she picks out furniture all the time,” Tim said. “She also chose the lighting from a catalog.”