Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Your School. Your Paper. Since 1936.

The Suffolk Journal

Interview: Techies Union

So we’ve talked about Techies Union before on this blog, and since Techstravaganza is coming up we decided to do it again! We had the chance to interview the president of Techies Union, Christina Twombly. Read on to find out her thoughts on Techies Union and why you should totally come to Techstravaganza!

What is your grade and major?

I am a junior and an Electrical Engineering/Theater Major.

What is your involvement with Techies Union?

I happen to be the President of the Techies Union (Surprise!).

What first drew you to Techies Union/the technical side of theatre?

I started doing technical theater work when I was in high school. My friends were part of the show my freshman year and they needed some people to help handle props. I figured, why not? Try something new.  I ended up being Prop Master for the next year and Lighting Tech the two years after that. Ironically enough, a friend from my high school came to Suffolk a year ahead of me and she told me about the Techies Union. That actually helped my decision to come to Suffolk.  I was so excited that they had a whole group of people who liked to do the same sort of stuff that I did.

Is there a specific aspect of tech theatre that you like the most?

My favorite aspect of theater tech has to be lighting. Both design and implementation. I love the idea of using light to supplement a story or even to tell its own tale just by the use of color or patterns. I also really love to work with the actual lights, hanging, focusing, and programming, because its nice to physically make stuff happen.

What is your favorite thing about being a techie?

As far as my favorite thing about being a techies goes, I would have to say that its the feeling of having contributed to and been apart of something that will never happen the same way again. Which is kind of my overall favorite thing about live theater, that every show is a once in a lifetime event, and will never be the same to you even if you get a chance to work on the same play more than once.

What’s the most interesting show you’ve ever worked on?

I would have to say the most interesting show I’ve been a part of through Techies Union would be the PAO’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. In a traditional stage play (and this does depend on the play), the tech crew is invisible. And if they are seen, we pretend they’re not there so we can fully immerse ourselves in the story thats being presented to us. However, in Dinner Theater, the tech crew is not only completely visible to the audience, (the light and sound board operators sit directly behind the audience without a booth to hide away in), they are even included in the show itself. They are free to interact with the audience and actors as the story progresses. It is an amazing experience.

What you would tell anyone who is interested in joining Techies Union?

For people that may be interested in joining, the number one comment I get from my group members is that they were really nervous about teching their first show and they had no idea what they were doing but once the show was done, they realized it hadn’t been nearly as hard as they were making it out to be, and that it was alot of fun!  You don’t need any prior knowledge, I’ve been learning new things on the go for years, so don’t be afraid to try something new, you may find that you really enjoy it.

How excited are you for Techstravaganza?

I am SO excited for Techstravaganza. Why? Because what we do, as a group, is help other groups with the technical side of putting on their shows. Now, we get to put on our own extravaganza and celebrate how fun it can be to be behind the scenes and craft the show. You don’t have theater without a performer, but nowadays, you don’t have a ‘show’ without Tech!

Techstravaganza is January 23rd at 7:00 PM in the C. Walsh Theatre. We hope you stop by to support Techies Union and to see all of your favorite PAO groups!

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Interview: Techies Union