The Black Box theater is home to the many productions, shows and events that happen here on campus. This place is full to the brim with unforgettable memories and feelings from when it was refurbished into the theater we know today in 2021. From the moment people are greeted at the door, to when they walk past the concessions stand, to when they finally sit down in their freshly cleaned seat and look out at the lights shining down on the wonderfully designed set, people can't help but wonder: “How is all of this possible?” That question has a lot of answers, but one major contributor in making it all happen, are the members of the Technical Theater class here at AHS!
The Technical Theater class
is the Capstone course of the Performing Arts CTE pathway, meaning that students in the class have taken Introduction to Theater and Intermediate Acting for Stage and Film, illustrating they have a solid grasp of the roles and tasks that make up the cogs and gears of the machine that is a theater production.
Lets take a look at some aspects that go into making a show, shall we?
Once the year starts, students must pass a safety training to learn how to properly use certain construction tools, then work begins right away on designing for the first production on campus: the fall play. Students work together to create concept sketches for the set design, and each student pitches their ideas to the class and the director. The goal is to hear a variety of ideas before deciding on and starting the actual design.
Once a design is picked, Students begin work on the set right away. Students pull flat canvas panels to start the basic construction of the set before they get painted.
In the photo here Natalia Rangel is seen sorting through the freshly cut wooden panels that will soon become the trees for Atascadero Middle Schools production of "In The Forests Of The Night"
"Its good experience, I might go into set production, so its good life preparation!"
Finnian Poist
Besides construction,
There are a lot of other roles students fill. Costumes a a huge part of any show, and those in that role will work with the director to pick out costumes for each actor in the show, and if alterations need to be made, or something breaks mid-show, these students are in charge of it all!
"It's really great to be able to express who the characters are through their outfits. [for this show] it's very fun, so we wanted that to show through the costumes."
Rosalinda Navarrete, Bella Rose Gunderson
Lighting
Is another huge aspect of the stage comes with the lighting throughout the shows. The lighting designer works to electronically program a set of lighting cues that highlight the action on stage.
One big change this year is that the BlackBox got approved for their new light board: the machine that communicates with all of the stage lights and can control them live, or through a set of cues set by the lighting designer.
"It's just so fun to see everyone in the audience and all the actors just kind of interact with the lights, and see how their expressions change. Lighting can make or break a show . . . and I think it's really cool that I get to be the one doing that . . . It's the best!"
Madison Perry
Do you hear that?
Another human sense to use to immerse people in productions. The one in control of it, being the sound designer. The sound designer finds or creates all the audio or music the audience hears before and during a show. This includes a house playlist, as well as every sound effect, or transition that's played during shows.
"being a sound designer is pretty cool, at first it's stressful, but the satisfaction from getting cues down and making a playlist for house music is a great experience!"
Diego Luna
when shows start...
The house!
When the dates of the show hit, those in charge of the "house" (anywhere the audience would be) step up! People working in the house are usually selling tickets and concessions, while others greet audience members as they walk into the blackbox. The House Manager plays their role in a lot of these! They greet people as they come in, but they also help anyone who needs assistance, either it be an audience member, or another Tech member.
"Being house manager was the best tech job designed for me- I loved being on the other side of the stage and getting to talk to people as they came in. I liked being busy and feeling in charge before the show, and still getting to be on the stage for a little bit, even if it was just an intro speech."
Lucy Peterson
backstage
For the technical theater members not working in the front, the rest are backstage making sure that the show is running smoothly. The stage manager makes sure that everything is where it's supposed to be, and that everyone is running on time before, during, and after each show. Other Tech members run and move set pieces on and off the stage during the shows.
Having that small control over things and making sure everything good in the play, and running smoothly
Once the show is over,
All Technical Theater students work together to take down the set, and start designing for the next show whether it be the next AHS production or one from another school like the Fine Arts Academy or Atascadero Middle School, or other upcoming events on campus like Panic Basket shows, or the Greyhound Film Festival.
Collaboration is the name of the game, and by the end of their time in the Technical Theater class, these students become better leaders and well-rounded workers who have built up the skills to be proactive and self-reliant members of a team.