Tech theater is an area of the production process that not many people know about. Compared to its counterpart under the bright lights of the stage it can often go unnoticed. However, tech is one of the most important parts of the theatrical process and crucial in keeping the entire production running on a day-to-day basis. 

At IHS, theater is one of the most exciting activities you can get involved in. This year the IHS thespians are excited to hold their fall play Dracula. Just like any production selecting tech crew is a big part of it. We decided to see exactly what it takes to be part of the tech crew here at IHS. 

Costume and Design
On the team, designing costumes and deciding what actors are going to wear is essential for plays and musicals. When someone says the words ‘costumes,’ you probably think just dressing up or even Halloween. However, for theater costume design, there is a lot more to it than you think. Junior Sophia Bruestle who is part of the wardrobe, hair, and makeup crew, thinks the best part of the production is “how much everyone’s been working together, because we all kind of have to come together and make it work, and tech has been working hard, and the cast has been working really hard.” The designer needs to think of what to design and how to design it. The team has a sewing kit combined with a week of time spent creating the perfect costume to amaze the audience. It can be rewarding for the costume and design team to see their creations on stage. For any production that tells a compelling story, the costume is crucial in bringing the actors and characters to life. Sophomore Caleb Afruma, on the costume design and construction crew, states that his favorite Costume is “all six of the purple dresses for Little Shop.” Overall, being part of costume and design takes a lot of work and creativity, it often means making sure that the actors feel comfortable in their costumes and sometimes even the occasional rapid costume change. 

The Stage Manager

The stage manager deals with coordinating and communicating during rehearsals so that the actors know what to do and how to deal with small mistakes. Sometimes, giving commands backstage can be tough! It requires spending time doing prep, quick problem solving, and timing. 

Senior Parker Ward the stage manager for Dracula attests to this process, “Every stage manager does it differently, but what I’ve been doing is I sit next to the director and every time the director needs to get attention, I get the attention, so It’s a little less awkward when I have to do some of those more ‘stern stuff’ with the other cast members.” 

One common misconception that people often have is mixing up between the assistant and main stage manager. Ward explains, “taking care of the crew and cast and set, that’s what the assistant stage manager does. But the biggest difference is that I’m in charge of many people now, whereas the assistant, when I was an assistant manager, wasn’t. And as the stage manager, you’re communicating with everyone. You’re getting all of this information across, whereas this isn’t the case with the assistant stage manager.”

The stage manager is crucial in executing shows and making sure that the enter production crew is on the same page. They plan and coordinate and are truly the hands behind the strings of a puppet to ensure the best plays and musicals are brought out to reality.

Run Crew

If you have ever gone to a musical or show, you might have encountered the incredible settings and props on stage. After one or two acts and after intermission you might even notice a change in the props set. This is all thanks to the run crew in tech. Junior Lucy Jones describes the process and responsibilities that the run crew has, “Well, we move things during the show. Like the props in the set, we move them around the stage and off and on the stage. And the people on stage left do the curtains. There’s also handling the rails.” 

The run crew is crucial in moving the story along in any show, they handle much of the background logistics and needs during live performances. This is why their presence is crucial during the final moments of rehearsal and a role that requires reliability and punctuality. 

While this was only a brief glimpse into the world of theater here at IHS, it is an important one to think about. Every production has people behind the scenes ensuring that it runs smoothly and they deserve to feel the gratitude and be acknowledged for their hard work. Make sure to keep an eye out for show dates for Dracula! It is sure to be an unforgettable performance! And who knows, you might even get a chance to see the tech crew in action!