Behind the Scenes, Techies Steal the Show

By Elisabeth Strayer '11 and Jade Kasoff '11, Staff Writers

As audience members at one of Deerfield's theater productions, we tend to focus our attention, and not without reason, on the performers. While these performers deserve attention, the student entertainment technicians-contributors equally important to the play's overall success-are often overlooked.

So what exactly is the role of those working behind the scenes? According to Theater Technical Director Paul Yager, "Tech theater involves essentially everything that is not acting on the stage." This includes building the set, operating the lighting system, and recording and operating the sound system. Mr. Yager guides the student entertainment technicians, or "techies," in designing all of these theatrical necessities.

The students who "tech" the plays also build props and supply them during the show. According to Mr. Yager, during any given performance, "[the techies] may be moving scenic pieces on-and-off stage, running video and special effects, pyrotechnics, fog, all types of different things."

Despite the hard work involved, the techies find the process enjoyable. A current participant in the theater tech co-curricular program, Karon Hawkins '11, said, "It's actually really fun using the drill and sawing things. I'd do it again."

While Hawkins is a singer who came to tech by way of occasionally helping out, other students became involved with it for various reasons.

William Pielock '09, another participant, said, "The first time I did it, I was looking for a spring co-curricular, and thought I'd try tech. I enjoyed it so much I came back. I think this is my fifth time." Pielock also had the opportunity to travel with Deerfield to Scotland last year, which he found to be an enjoyable experience.

Mr. Yager mentioned that some of the techies are students who had originally intended to be on the stage but were not cast. They still wanted to be involved with the show, so they chose to do tech.

However, he also said, "We do get some people who choose tech because it's what they want to do. I've been lucky to have some very interesting people come and work on the show"

No matter what a student's initial motivation is for teching, most agree that the final result is rewarding.

"It's really fun to see the set come together," Hawkins said. "We get one piece of wood and another piece of wood, and we eventually get a wonderful set."

It is precisely this enthusiasm and work ethic displayed by the techies that make the sets so impressive. "We've had a lot of actors come back and say `I wish we had the tech in college we did in Deerfield,"' said Mr. Yager.

As published in the February 4, 2009 issue of the Deerfield Scroll, the monthly newspaper of Deerfield Academy.