The Gibbons drama community always manages to impress us with their dazzling acting and moving performances, but what’s happening behind the curtains to keep the show going? While the actors certainly captivate everyone’s attention on stage, many of the subtler technical elements greatly contribute to the atmosphere of any show.

Our tech theatre department helps make each performance unique and memorable. Every ornate costume, the detailed hair and make-up of each actor, and the props and sets are all things produced by designers working behind the scenes!

Whenever you notice the lights flicker and change color or hear a sound effect, someone on the Technical theatre crew is responsible for ensuring that happens at the perfect time. The crew spends countless hours preparing all of the technical aspects including building the sets, gathering necessary props, making unique pieces, and making sure everything runs smoothly between designers, directors, and cast.

Managing a million factors faultlessly for a live show is no easy task.

Each part has to stick to the director’s vision while being practical enough for the actors, all while staying on budget. The crew hits their hardest days whenever tech week rolls around, which requires them to use everything they’ve been working on and tie it all together to make a seamless scene.

Theatrical transitions, costume tweaks, and proper prop placement may seem trivial but are all vital to making sure the production runs smoothly, as even the smallest mistake can throw off an entire scene. Tech theatre spends much time beforehand planning and assembling, which makes the process more cohesive in the long run.

While it can be a chaotic journey filled with trial and error, the final product fills the audience with excitement and awe and brings the crew satisfaction and relief.

While being on the tech crew may seem overwhelming or stressful, there’s much to be enjoyed while working on it! It may be easy to overlook shiny lights or background sounds, but being in tech theatre can give you a new perspective.

Jacqueline Hunter, a Stage Manager and Assistant Technical Director said, “Being behind the scenes has taught me an appreciation for the complicated nature behind every single thing that happens on stage. Also, watching all the chaos of backstage before the show culminate in an astounding performance is always so intriguing and simply fun for me.”

The rush of emotions and feeling of accomplishment on opening night is an irreplaceable sensation; a sentiment that members of the crew expressed. After working with each other, the crew forms a bond with each other, enjoying each other’s company on set and celebrating with dinner after performances. By closing night, the crew and cast feel like a theatrical family.

Closing out a show is a big breath of relief for everyone involved, and a time of watching everyone’s hard work turn into something beautiful. Jacqueline Mazzerina, one of the stage managers, said: “It’s amazing. I mean, you work on a show every day for months and most times, it doesn’t feel like the show is going to come together. But when you call the final cue on opening night, it’s all finally worth it.” 

As one show comes to a close, another is just on the horizon, meaning the crew gets to start constructing a new world and help bring another story to the stage. The start is slow, but the cast and crew get the chance to acquaint themselves with each other and begin the journey to tech week.

Molly Spangler, who sews costumes and executes hair and make-up on show dates, explains: “The process of starting a new show for me is a ton of research, we need to know the decades, eras, time of day, season, etc before we can even start thinking about costumes. Then there are just a lot of ideas and sketches thrown around before we can decide exactly what will look best.”

Starting back at square one is a challenge, especially having to commit to three-hour rehearsals all week, but once the ball starts to roll another great production is in sight.

The tech theatre crew dedicates time and energy to making our theatre a more vibrant place to be. For those behind and on the stage, theatre is an opportunity to use their imaginations and make a memorable performance. 

Jacqueline H. said, “Overall, I love tech theatre. I’ve applied and been accepted into college theatre programs, but Gibbons Drama is something special. We truly are a family, whether in class or rehearsals. It’s a place of beautiful creative expression and allows all of us to escape the real world for a while and tune in our hard work into a top performance.”

The next time you check out a Gibbons production, remember the work happening behind the curtains.