Behind all great theater productions are equally great technical crews that bring the script to life. For students wishing to learn behind-the-scene skills—like costuming, lighting and more –Technical Theater is the class to consider.

Technical Theater levels I–IV are all taught by Jamaal Solomon in period 3.

Students learn many skills within the different crews of theater, which can range from set design to costume design to the recently-added crew, hair and makeup. Currently, students are learning sound design.

“The workload varies depending on the unit[s] themselves,” Solomon said. “They usually culminate in some type of visual project or building project that is presented at the end of each [unit].”

These projects take up to three to five weeks, depending on the project’s difficulty.

Technical Theater teaches students skills that can be used in both the theater world and the real world. Some of these include how to use power tools, operate lighting and assemble set pieces.

Students in technical theater have the opportunity to put their skills to use by participating in the school theater productions; students receive volunteer hours for their help.

Junior Andy Lopez Vargas joined Technical Theater in his freshman year.

“I wanted to be a part of the community because I heard it was really nice, but I don’t like acting, so I decided to get into technical theater,” Lopez Vargas said. “I wanted to be a professional. I thought that if I joined the technical theater class, I would get really good.”

Since taking Technical Theater, Lopez Vargas has learned many skills that have helped him in theater productions. He has become especially experienced in lighting and sound, and enjoys projects relating to it.

“I really enjoy getting to make stuff that works,” Lopez Vargas said. “If I take an art class, I can do art, but then you just get to look at it. [But] if you’re doing technical theater, then you get to learn how to operate a light board, and you get to see your lights on stage, and you can eventually do lights for a show. It’s really cool to be able to have something come out of the art that you make.”