Tech Week Observation Report

Today I had the pleasure of sitting in Bowen Theatre at the Drake Performance Center for what is called Tech Week. The play being rehearsed was Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Tech week is the designated time to work the bugs out of the systems being used in the production. This is also the time to don the headphones and listen to the Stage Manager and crew during their craft work. The director was very busy observing the actors, the lights and sound. She was all around the theatre viewing from different vantage points. It was during these observations she noticed on a couple of occasions that the sound effects and music would need to be adjusted for a better experience. She communicated on occasion the need to edit recordings to her specifications for the desired effect. The roll of the sound
This made it difficult at times to listen to the cue calls in the headset as well as keeping track of what the sounds are like in the theatre. I am not a fan of Shakespeare but being classmates with the cast helped hold my attention to their performance. Another issue I wouldn't say was wasted but certainly might be an issue, was the use of the microphone. There were a few times when comments, being made over the air, might have been better not said. Whether it was the “hum drum” of another production by some who had “been there, done that,” or the implied “rolling of the eyes” comments, it sounded less than professional. After the first break was called, it was time for me to go. I had spent nearly an hour observing all of the inner workings of a major production rehearsal from the basics of acting to the professional protocol of the technicians. Tech Week was an interesting view into the world of theatre. I look forward to many more productions and being an active participant in pulling off a great performance without the spectacle of