The show begins; lights shine, music resounds, and the curtains are drawn as a parade of actors arrive on stage. The audience is drawn; eyes fixed on the stage and held on every flight shown and step taken. When it’s over, applause is most directed at the actors at the forefront for that is who they see. Yet, it is not the actors who set up light cues and build the intricate sets that the audience beholds. Here in this school, our Godwin Tech Crew is held responsible for those.
The Godwin Tech Crew oversees all physical and structural aspects of production from stage setup, lighting, sound, effects, set pieces, and more. However, despite this, many people need to learn the extent of their work, the hours they dedicate, and what their time is spent doing. Their effort, work, passion, and artistry go unseen by many people, which is a travesty once one knows how much dedication is poured into the craft.
Firstly, all new and returning members must gather for introductions and to be sorted into general roles and specifications. As tech covers a vast array of activities from stage and set dressing to costumes and props, there are many holes and gaps to fill along with jobs to do. Therefore, people are organized into task groups by their focus, talents, and concerns. This is not an authoritarian process; rather, it is more of a selection of desired jobs or roles that align with one’s preferences and skills.
The most demanding job that requires the most work is set construction, which requires the building of tables, doors, walls, props, and in some cases full rooms for the sake of best portraying the intent of the production.
These builds have a range of intensity that changes from show to show; for example, last year for “The Phantom of the Opera” there was a second-floor raised catwalk with moving stairs, as well as raised opera boxes for the context of the show’s setting. Every year they devote themselves to producing the best backdrop and setpieces for every year’s productions.
Equally demanding, however less evident of a job, is the design team. Their occupation is to try and capture the vibe and aesthetic of the production by developing a singular design to best represent the show. Their designs and ideas become public and are used in advertisements for the production itself.
The creations and work they put out are key for the “marketing” of the show and establish the people’s expectations for the production. The audience is committing time and money to sit there and take a couple of hours out of their time to watch these shows, so the team has to put together an expectation of high quality and aesthetics for the production.
Most of the work completed in tech is closer to the production deadline itself. That is when the main brunt of the work regarding the set is done. On top of this, the proverbial “tech week” is when the lighting and sound teams alongside other roles served in the action of performance are hashed out to serve a better whole.
Tech week helps hammer out dents and polish scratches or holes for the show in movement, ironing out imperfections. They can prepare as much as they want, however, it is for naught if the final product doesn’t show the fruits of that labor, and they know that.
For around three weeks up until production is finished, the work is yet to cease. The sets are finalized, lights and sound are perfect for tech week, as well as costumes and makeup are working with actors to refine every detail. On top of this, any intricate set pieces, complicated movements, or anything abnormal, like costume changes, big creatures, shifting fixtures, or all things adjacent.
Ms. Kay, the current teacher technical director for the tech crew said, “When there’s a question mark on the calendar, you always know it’s going to be a long day.” Truly, the hardest part of tech is the “unknown” regarding the work to be done throughout the year.
Nobody knows how much needs to be done, when it all should be finished, or even what will be needed for each production: each piece is a whole project in its own right, an experiment in adaptability.
The amount of work the tech crew puts in takes serious effort that must be put in every day for the optimal result regarding production, which is indeed a very important aspect of the crew. Yet, many may ask why they should join the tech crew.
The answers lie in the endearing sense of community and purpose regarding everything they do. Lainey Baker, the current head of the costume closet says, “It feels like I really found my people, everybody really feels a part of my community.” Tech crew is almost like a family away from family, connected in a way beyond just duty and work, but rather as friends.
Tech crews are the backbone of every production we hold at this school, yet they do not get the same appreciation as, say, the actors do. This is a grand shame, as without tech, we would have no show at all.
Ultimately, tech is a fantastic opportunity for anybody who doesn’t want to act but still loves storytelling, not minding the elbow grease. Although it may seem intimidating, anybody can help tech succeed not just individually, but as an essential part of the team