Around this time of year, tensions are high as tech week begins: when Student Directed Scenes and the winter production rehearse with the various technology needed to put on a show.
“Tech week is typically for the big school productions as well as for the smaller ones such as SDS,” said student actor Stanley Liu ’20. “Last year during tech week we had a lot of different roles and jobs for all the students assigned to produce the shows.” Some roles included stage runners, who retrieved props and assisted with costume changes to prepare for live performances. Tech rehearsals give an opportunity for actors, directors, and the tech crew to solve potential issues with production and to finalize details. “There are also people in the booth and also in the rafters controlling the lights, sound, and the curtains respectively…” Liu elaborates, “…sometimes, the stage managers will be in the booth but during tech week everyone moves their desks to the audience so that they can get a clear view of the stage.” Prior to his upcoming performance in the winter production Noises Off, Liu ran the sound board for previous shows such as The Wizard of Oz. He also manages all audio during school meetings alongside faculty directors.
In general, tech week always entails long and tiresome rehearsals during which the cast’s vision becomes a reality. As the night drags on, performances are polished; sound, lights, and costume come together; and the set design is completed. Often, students can find themselves behind on work due to the rigor of tech week. For Noises Off, tech week will be particularly demanding. The show’s complicated set presents new challenges. Halfway through the show, the entire set — built on wheels — flips around to expose the backside, then turns back around again. Aside from typical difficulties, the cast will find itself under even more stress as tech week begins.
Yet in the end, most agree that tech week’s labors are entirely worth it. Its rehearsals are vital to guaranteeing that things run smoothly on opening day and that auditory and visibility issues especially do not overshadow the hours of work put into the production. When asked about the week, Liu shared, “It’s really a grind. We just do our best and hope for the best in return.”
