Sometimes the hardest of times bring about the best of memories. This was especially true for the tech and production weeks during show productions. After the set was completed, the cast was moved onto stage, and the main planning of the show began.
I took up my position at the light board on the director’s table, and the grind started.
Tech for a show is one of the most tedious processes I have ever experienced. The directors, tech crew, and cast start the show from page one and move through the entirety of the run over a week, as each scene change, prop transfer, lighting and sound cue, and line is crafted and optimized. It is a slow, yet efficient method, as each component of the show is thoroughly tested to create the best results. Some parts of the show are ruthlessly slimmed down, while supplements are added to other portions. It is important to remain concentrated, as you never know what can be changed.
As boring as tech may be at some points, it is still one of my favorite parts of show production. At my position in the rear of the theater with the director’s, comic relief and junk food remains a high priority through the daily four-hour-long rehearsals. Swedish Fish and Twizzlers became an integral part of my diet during those rehearsals, and the excess sugar led to animated conversations between the tech crews and the directors. Points of interest included perfectly-timed one-liners about screw ups during tech, gossip about the school administration, and the 1980s. It was a time of good feelings before hell week.
The Sunday before opening night, I would move the board back up to the light booth and entrench with the crew for the long days ahead. The five days before opening night on Friday would consist of seven-hour-long rehearsals every day, where full dress rehearsals of the show were tested under authentic conditions.
Our vigilance during tech was put to the test, as each scene was run at a normal pace without stops. The heaviest burden was placed on the actors, but the lighting and run crews needed to ensure that they were provided with the best conditions to become comfortable for the run.
Rehearsals would end at 11 pm and everyone rushed to get home as soon as possible for some precious sleep. It usually took me an average of forty to fifty minutes to drive from my school to my home. My record at this late hour was a breathtaking 19 minutes. I may have gone slightly over the speed limit, but I needed to get rest before showtime.
Tech and production weeks are important aspects of a show for two reasons: the physical and mental preparation. The show is carefully orchestrated at this point, and the entire team takes up the demanding showtime mindset. They may have been ridiculous to live through, but the strengthened focus and perseverance that I gained from them are invaluable qualities.