When watching one of OCSA’s many performances, it’s easy to focus entirely to the performers on stage. But what about the hard workers off stage? Although they aren’t supposed to be seen, Technical Theatre is truly the glue that holds OCSA together, working hard every day making sure the other majors can shine their brightest.
Technical Theatre students learn three main disciplines: stage craft, costuming, and lighting. The classes are littered with complicated techniques and memorizing procedures.
Stage craft takes physical strength most of the time. Ethan Cooke, a senior Technical Theatre major says, “If you ain’t got sawdust in your nose and screws in your feet, you ain’t working hard enough.” Tech majors take “blood, sweat, and tears” seriously, as evidenced by the amazing sets that they put together.
Costuming has to be the most meticulous of the things you learn in tech. Alongside sewing patterns and operating sewing machines, you learn to fix the machines and make clothes. “It’s like a mechanics class in disguise with how much I worked with machines and dimensions.” Rosser Jurgens, a senior tech major says.
Lighting and stage management is learned throughout the years of taking tech classes and running recitals throughout the year. Sophomore tech major Sofia Lebron says, “Working recitals is a chaotic but fun experience. Students that are part of the stagecraft class are in control of recitals and use them as part of the class curriculum, getting a taste of what it is to use our light board, sound board, and what it’s like stage managing or directing a show. These recitals also require communication from the stage manager to the running crew and sound/light crew, and important for the stage manager to stay in communication with arts directors to fulfill their needs. Overall, recitals allow students to practice, learn, and understand the customs of being a technical theatre student.”
Technical Theater students work hard every day to make everyone else shine, often without thanks. So, whenever you see a wonderful performance, remember all the people who worked hard to make the show happen both on and off stage.
