If you’ve ever been to a theatre production at McClatchy, you’ve likely seen people running around wearing all black, moving set pieces during shows, or controlling those fancy, complicated boards in the booth. Though everyone has spotted us in a theatre, most don’t even know what to call us, let alone what we actually do.
We’re called technicians, and we’re responsible for the entire show running smoothly. Stagecraft designers and stagehands brainstorm, build, and decorate every set piece you see in a show, as well as move those sets during the show. Costume designers are responsible for planning and providing every item of clothing worn by the actors in a show. A props mistress curates every prop seen in a show, and makes sure that they are in the right hands at the right time. A lighting technician creates a lighting design for every part of a show, running the lightboard during shows so that lighting cues happen seamlessly. Sound technicians assign microphones to actors, plan and execute any sound cues, and, during shows, turn microphones on and off as need be. All the while, technical directors and stage managers oversee each aspect of production and make sure everything is moving along smoothly.
It takes months of work to put a show together. We stay for a seventh period every day, and as the show gets closer and closer, technicians stay later and later. In the process of creating a show, the tech community becomes very closely knit.
“It kind of gives you a whole new family,” said lead lighting technician and junior Riley Burke. “I love all of the people that I’ve met through tech.”
“All of us would have never even met each other if it weren’t for tech, but I count a lot of my techies as my closest friends,” said technical director and senior Chrysanthe Vidal. “We love and support each other and I don’t think you can find that in many other places. It’s family.”
Like any family (or, as some would argue, any cult), tech includes a lot of unique traditions. On special occasions, we throw Potato Parties, where we all chip in enough money to buy a LOT of McDonald’s fries, which we pour into a giant pile. We make a circle around the fries and thank the Almighty Doorknob and Clamp (a literal doorknob attached to a clamp) for blessing us with our meal. Then McClatchy sophomore Cole Eames sings the traditional Song of the Potato before we are allowed to eat. The several minutes that follow are very quiet, as we devour the entire pile.
However, being a technician is not all Potato Parties—it’s a lot of hard work.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s the best kind of work,” said Vidal.
The technicians are currently working on McClatchy’s upcoming musical, Legally Blonde, which opens May 2nd.