Won’t “Chiu” look at her go!

By the time the lights dim and the curtain rises, Crystal Chiu '25 has already done more than most audience members will ever know. Whether she’s belting a show-stopping number as Catherine of Aragon in Six or meticulously commanding the lightboard in the booth above, Crystal has spent her four years at Mercersburg Academy illuminating every corner of the Burgin Center for the Arts, both literally and figuratively. 

Her performance journey began long before Mercersburg. “I got into theater when I was four,” Chiu recalled with a fond smile. “My parents put me into Yip’s Children’s Choir, and I did really well, so they brought me into the musical theater department. I stayed in that company for a good ten years.”

Years of rehearsals in Hong Kong, from weekend marathons to late weeknights, built not only her talent but her tenacity. That same drive carried across continents, all the way to Mercersburg. “She’s dedicated and has an excellent work ethic,” said Jessica Doubell, the Burgin Center Director of Operations. “She jumped in where help was needed and never waited to be told.”

Her artistry extends beyond the spotlight. Her backstage story began with a spark of curiosity. “A teacher told us to explore the theater,” she recalled. “Everyone went backstage, but I walked up to a locked door in the audience section. When I found out it was the light booth, I immediately wanted in.” That same year, she began learning lighting design from her school’s IT department. 

Her lighting debut came with Little Shop of Horrors, a production she remembers fondly. “It was the first time I ran lights at Mercersburg, and Walt Dowling taught me so many things,” she said. “It was stressful, but thrilling. He pushed me to be my best.” Doubell still remembers that show: “Crystal, Sarah, and I choreographed dance moves during light load-in. Crystal ran the board like a pro. It was pure joy.”

On stage, Chiu’s performances were just as impactful. Her role as Ocean in Ride The Cyclone was both bold and vulnerable, and her turn as Catherine of Aragon in Six was magnetic. “That show was special,” she recalled. “It was my last year, and I felt really close to the cast. Getting to choreograph with Keri-Ann and Manika was super fun. Intimidating, but fulfilling.”

Director Matt Maurer praised her ability to balance work and joy. “One of her superpowers is knowing how to work hard and have fun at the same time,” he said. “She inspires others to do the same.”

Chiu’s personal growth has been just as powerful. “Freshman-year me was definitely more insecure,” she said. “Now, I’m confident in what I can do. I’m okay with doing weird things on stage because I know I’ve worked hard. I’ve learned to recognize my strengths and weaknesses and grow from them.”

Chiu remains uncertain about the specifics of her future, but one thing is unquestionable: performance will always be part of her life. “Even if things get uncertain, a stage, literal or metaphorical, is always there for me. Will this be my profession? Maybe. Who knows? But I won’t ever stop performing.”

Doubell summed it up best: “Crystal is a true friend. When she loves you, she loves you. I was lucky to have her in tech crew and be part of her life these past four years. I’ll miss her greatly.” 

As the curtain falls on her time here, Chiu leaves a legacy that will shine for years to come: it’s one of passion, joy, and dedication that made every show better and every cast and crew feel like home.