A Chorus Line:

Click here for the full show recording

Click here for a video of my favorite clips

Crazy For You:

Click here for the full show recording

Click here for a video of my favorite clips

Pippin:

Click here for the full show recording

(Please note this is the raw footage from a livestream and the image quality is terrible, so in person the lighting looked different)

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Theater Background and Program Info

My first exposure to theater tech was in 4th grade after watching my sister act in the middle school musical. I saw the tech students running around to keep the show running and knew that is something I would want to do. In middle school I approached the director of the musicals, began as a stagehand, graduated to backstage manager, and the rest was history. 

 

After transferring to a school that did not have a theater program in 9th grade, I contacted Laurie Walton, the director of the RRS program, asking if she had any tech positions that she needed to fill. She said she did and I started on my first highschool show that fall, “Crazy For You.”

 

The Riverdale Y’s theater is set up so that the light board operator also acts as stage manager, calling cues, instructing the spotlights, keeping the show organized, etc. 

I had a blast my first year. The tech work itself was fun yet challenging. And I was able to develop a group of friends outside of school, which was really great. 

 

Soon after, the Covid pandemic hit and the spring shows were postponed until the summer. The next fall, the show was still outside, and we dealt with the issue of making sure the actors' faces could be seen while attempting to make the lighting aesthetically pleasing. At this point I was the only one working in the program in the realm of lighting so it was a real scramble to get everything designed and organized. As we held more shows outdoors, the quality of the tech got better, until this past spring, we were able to be inside once again.

 

As we transferred back indoors last spring, I welcomed a donation that led to a massive upgrade that replaced many of the antique lights with new LEDs. I also was able to take advantage of the Element 2 light board which, combined with the new lights, opened up a whole new realm of design for me. 

 

Shows In-Depth

A Chorus Line: Spring 2022

Role - Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, Lightboard Operator

As mentioned earlier, this was the first show indoors after having put on several shows outdoors due to covid restrictions. That made it very special and enjoyable after several years of less than ideal circumstances under which we had to put shows on. Prior to "A Chorus Line," our lighting system was antique and outdated. Yet thanks to a generous donor, we were able to invest in high quality LEDs and a modern rental light board (until ours arrives). This was my first big show indoors that I got to lead the lighting design on and I had a blast and look forward to learning more about design and using the Element 2 board.

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Crazy For You: Fall 2019

Role - Stage Manager, Lightboard Operator (LO also functions as SM)

My first show at RRS and what solidified my commitment to the program for the coming years. I was mentored by a local designer who, at the time, was also a lighting operator for Beetlejuice on Broadway. Although I did not design this show, I programmed many of the cues for that designer and had an amazing time running the board and calling the cues for backstage and the spotlights

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Pippin: Fall 2021

Role: Lighting Design, Light Board Operator, Stage Manager

This show was our first outdoor show with a high quality lighting rig comprised of professional LEDs that gave the show normalcy that we hadn't seen since being indoors. It also gave me the chance to play around with the lighting, less concerned about whether the actors could be seen or not. It was super fun to work on, yet also our last show outdoors, so we were all ready to move inside once again.

 

Urinetown: Spring 2021

Role - All lighting jobs

This show was outdoors and without a tent which made lighting extremely difficult. I was the only one tasked with organizing lighting, and it brought many challenges. I was able to get the program to invest in two budget outdoor LED stands (meant for DJ-ing) so that I could have some control of the color and mood while setting up photography lights to provide the bare minimum that kept the actors lit.