The Technical Theatre Department is a multi-faceted department that is responsible for all technical aspects of the performances and events at Harrison School for the Arts. These aspects include the design and implementation of the following areas: Costumes, Lighting, Properties, Scenic Art, Scenery Design and Construction, Sound, and Stage Management. In addition to the fully supported All School Musical and Theatre Department performance, the technical theatre department supports over 30 events and performances for Harrison School for the Arts. Due to this heavy involvement, the majority of our learning occurs as practical, hands-on, experiences that encourages the growth and abilities of the student. As the student matriculates through the four-year plan, more responsibility is assigned to him/her as are greater expectations, based on individual growth and ability level. It is important that every student exhibit dedication and a consistent work ethic to achieve individual artistic success and the success of the department.
The role of Technical Theatre should be considered supportive to the success of an artistic performance. It goes without saying that dramatic performances can occur without scenery, costuming, intricate lighting, etc. The role of theatre technicians is to work as a collaborative team with the directors, choreographers, conductors, and organizers to achieve the goal of the production concept, or artistic interpretation of the performance. Being part of a collaborative team requires a certain amount of flexibility in your work; be prepared to adjust your projects or abandon them all together to support the vision of the production concept.
The “art” of the theatre technician is not easily defined. It is dependent on prior planning, solid work habits, and abilities that have been honed and refined to achieve the desired results. Many students achieve success in practicing their art through hard work, reliability, and an attentive creative eye.
The different disciplines for technical theatre are interdependent on each other. Much like it takes a balance of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses to populate a choir or a balance of strings, horns, woodwinds, and percussion to make up an orchestra; it takes a balance of costumes, lighting, properties, and scenery to maintain an exemplary technical theatre department. Having an imbalance of one of these impacts all the others. An imbalance of more than one can result in chaos.