The lights backstage barely have time to settle before someone is already yelling for the next costume change.
In the chaos behind the curtain of the Performing Arts Center, junior Hailey Haiges moves quickly between racks of clothing, makeup kits and actors rushing to make their entrances on time. A dress zipper gets fixed in seconds. A missing piece of a costume suddenly resurfaces. Another costume is ready before the curtain rises again.
Then later that night, after rehearsals and performances are over, Haiges returns home, opens Ableton on her computer and begins writing music under an entirely different identity: “Apathy Angelite.”
For Haiges, the two worlds are not as separate as they may seem.
“The name represents both sides of me and the duality of identity,” Haiges said. “My edgier and more apathetic side, as well as my sweet and more angelic side.”
At HHS, Haiges has become known throughout the theater department for her work as costume manager, helping shape the visual identity of productions through carefully crafted outfits and backstage coordination. Outside of school, however, she has quietly built a growing audience through her independent music project, which blends shoegaze-inspired instrumentals with deeply personal lyrics about anxiety, survival and identity.
“The whole album representing myself as a final girl is a very powerful message,” Haiges said. “Survival is difficult, but it is possible.”
Haiges originally became involved in theater during her freshman year after taking Theatre I and later joining technical theater through costume, hair and makeup crews.
“I honestly never expected to stay in this position,” Haiges said. “But now I don’t think I could imagine myself doing anything other than that.”
According to assistant technical director Noah Proctor, Haiges has helped define what the costume manager role looks like within Huntley’s theater department.
“In our case, it is a fairly new position that we’re trying out,” Proctor said. “I believe Hailey has done a phenomenal job at that.”
Proctor said Haiges’ artistic instincts allow her to naturally connect characterization with visual design.
“She will read a script and just based on all of the characterizations, build an outfit for what each character is giving her,” Proctor said.
That same sense of identity carries into her music.
Haiges first began releasing music years ago, though her sound has evolved significantly over time. Earlier projects leaned toward synth-pop influences, while her newest album, final girl forever, embraces heavier guitars and shoegaze-inspired production.
“I would say my older sound on albums like ‘the feeling i will carry’ are more pop/synth adjacent,” Haiges said. “But my new sound on my latest album ‘final girl forever’ is a more rock and shoegaze style with distorted and reverbed guitars.”
The album’s title track remains especially personal to her.
“That song is just very raw,” Haiges said. “It’s about the struggles that I’ve experienced in my life—bullying, anxiety, etc.—and how through those struggles I’ve been able to find strength and pull a warrior out of myself.”
As her music has continued to spread online, Haiges said the recognition still feels surreal.
“I had some random guy from an indie rock forum send me an email saying he featured my album in an article recently,” Haiges said. “I genuinely never thought this would get as far as it’s gotten.”
Those close to Haiges say her confidence and individuality are what make her stand out most.
“She’s never afraid to be herself,” senior Zyrah Ramirez said. “She leaves marks of her own style on every project she does and it’s super distinguishable.”
Ramirez believes Haiges’ artistic identity through Apathy Angelite has also strengthened her work within theater.
“Making choices for Apathy Angelite has definitely helped her become more confident in her ideas,” Ramirez said.
Whether she is coordinating backstage quick changes during productions or writing music alone late at night, Haiges said both creative outlets ultimately stem from the same desire: self-expression.
Outside of theater, she plans to continue pursuing music through future albums, gigs and open mic performances.
“I’m hoping to get even more serious about music and take that a step further,” Haiges said.
