For about five years we worked with the technical theater program at Leigh High School, part of the school's Career Technical Education (CTE) program. Students designed and ran everything: sound, lighting, sets, special effects and video. Our job was to coach them, and to rent each department the equipment it needed for a show.
- Length
- About five years
- Departments
- Sound, lighting, sets, special effects and video
- Our role
- Coaching, consulting and equipment rentals
Project need
Challenge
The program wanted students to work with someone from the industry: someone who could help them turn a design idea into something that works on stage, and help them solve the problems that come up once a build starts.
Delivery
Technical approach
We started one-on-one with each student designer, then worked with small groups once a show moved into the build. We were approved school coaches, fingerprinted and cleared, so we could supervise students directly in groups of two to eight, often with more than one department building at once, such as lighting and sets together. Each department rented what it needed for that production. We also built an eight-channel Shure wireless mic pack, with antenna distribution, that the students could take on their traveling show to local middle schools.
Equipment and systems used
- Production rentals for sound, lighting, effects and video
- Eight-channel Shure wireless mic pack with antenna distribution, for the traveling show
Outcome
Results
Students programmed and ran the shows themselves, and learned what a real build is like. We stayed in the background as consultants and coaches. A few students went on to work our events as junior technicians, and some went on to technical programs in college.
Need technical support for a school production?
Tell us about the show, the space, and where your students could use hands-on guidance, and we'll help fill the gaps.