Opening night. It’s what actors and actresses have been waiting for. All the work this has led up to this point. It’s a big night for not only the people onstage, but also for the people offstage.

The crew puts just as much effort into putting on a great production as the cast. It is made up of a group of students who are willing to give up their weekend and after school hours to help with many aspects of the theater.

The crew members all chose to tech for their own reasons.

“I had always wanted to do it,” said senior Melissa Wartak. “Cassie Riddle brought me down here [the auditorium] on day in SRT, and I’ve been teching ever since sophomore year.”

Others gave tech a try when they didn’t make the final cuts of a play.

“I love theater, and when I didn’t make the Something’s Afoot show, I decided to tech,” said sophomore Stephanie Ferrini.

Plenty of jobs are allotted to the crew, and everyone always has something to work on.

“Usually I’m stage manager,” said Wartak. “I do whatever needs to be done. If there’s a problem people come to me. I make sure people are doing their jobs.”

Many have more than one job, which makes them more familiar with all the equipment used.

“I have done followspot (or spotlight), been on soundboard, and helped build sets,” said Ferrini.

Mr. Paul Lowe is the tech director for the plays, and he tries to move everyone around.

“I like to move kids around. The more you do, the more valuable you become,” said Lowe.

Being on the theater crew is a very time-consuming and demanding job. Late hours are expected as the opening night comes closer.

“On the play and rehearsal nights we get home really late,” said junior Kyle Cowser.

Also the crew is restrained by the lack of resources the school has in the theatre department.

“To work as a techie here is more demanding than other schools because of the limited space we have,” said Lowe.

The crew also builds all of their sets by hand.

“If we can’t build or paint it, we don’t do it,” said Lowe. “We don’t rent anything.”

“We don’t just cut and glue things together,” said Cowser.

The crew isn’t just about the work, but also about the relationships.

“The best part is how we all make friends with each other,” said sophomore Anne Kotsyo.

The social aspect of the crew can be just as rewarding as the actual job itself.

“I love getting to hang out with the awesome techies,” said Ferrini.

For all the work that they do, the crew does not receive the amount of credit that they deserve.

“I think because people see the actors, they appreciate the work they do. But techies do just as much but don’t get a lot of recognition,” said Ferrini.

The techies’ jobs are imperative to the outcome of the show.

“The audience of especially doesn’t realize the amount of things the tech has to do to keep the show running,” said Wartak.