The first Tech Theater course was offered at Southeast this year focusing on the work behind the actors. Photo by Addison Bennett

By: Addison J. Bennett

The work of actors on stage is something that will never go unnoticed. From plays Shakespeare wrote to musicals like Ride The Cyclone and Hadestown, the actors and these effects won't be seen without the audience and critics sharing their thoughts and opinions. Though the real question stands, who is behind these effects?

Beginning in ancient Greek and Roman times, theater was a growing aspect of everyday culture. Comedies, tragedies and special performances by actors occurred almost every day. During this time, theaters were primarily found outdoors, so the use of technical elements was limited due to the sun being the only main source of tech lighting. Though items like sets and props were slightly used, masks and hand-held props like cups or sometimes even weapons were used often onstage for the aspect of props, a very important part of technical theater. 

As time went on, the age of the Renaissance was thriving, and the theater arts were moved into indoor areas. Moving these performances indoors led to the necessity for artificial lighting; candlelight and oil lamps were a growing occurrence in lighting for tech elements in the Renaissance theater. Along with the evolution of lights, set design for the theater also evolved, and larger sets and props grew in popularity during this. For example, plays written during this time, like Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet, involved a higher grade of set design. Arches were built on stage and the use of “poison bottles” began. With it came more weapons, skulls, glasses, and so on grew in popularity with the success of these plays.

Over the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, things stayed mainly consistent. Not many changes were made to the technical life of the stage, though more modifications to the lights were made due to the advancement of technology over time. Gas lighting, a modification created during the 18th and 19th centuries, allowed for the dimming of lights and provided better control for setting the mood for plays. This also gave rise to the idea of the Spotlight, a light built to spot and follow the most important character during a certain scene.

Then came the 20th century which brought on a big boom in the theatrical world. Larger sets were built, costumes had more lavish and creative designs, makeup was used more and lights could be changed to any color. This was a big movement for theater, especially with the growing flourishment of Hollywood. It turned the action of tech theater from a quiet, small storefront action to a large and immersive part of providing entertainment.

The evolution of theater now brings in a fully functioning and vital "tech theater" aspect of performances. The modification and use of LED’s, 3D printing of props and creation of larger sets that involve moving items and objects. The modern-day use of tech theater is a true wonder, and not many performances would be as great as they are without the use of tech.

As the Southeast thespians grew so did the need knowledge of the technical aspects of theater. Due to this rise in interest, Southeast provided the first Tech Theater class which provides students with useful skills involving the technical parts of theater. The class focuses on those behind the scenes that often carry a production just as much as the actors the audience sees each time out.