Arizona Arts Proficiency Seal
Queen Creek Unified School District
Capstone Reflection
Thinking about the process and product of your Capstone, reflect upon what you are most proud of and what you might do differently if you were to complete a similar project in the future.
The portion of my Capstone that I am most proud of would be how my in-the-round lighting design made the performers pop on stage. This is really conveyed through the photography taken of the performance; I am extremely proud of how the designs highlighted the best features of those who were onstage. I put a lot of time and effort into an effective light plot that best served the production and worked in tandem with the other technical aspects within the show. Something I would have loved to have done differently for The Good Doctor would be to hang more color sourced LEDS on the 1st and 2nd electric. The way in which the set of the show was constructed only allowed the utilization of the 1st and 2nd electrics, which extremely limited the downlight. However, the facility manager of the venue we were operating out of did not allow us to move around the LED lighting, nor were we allowed the usage of various Source 4 instruments that are essential for facelight within the production. This resulted in various problems, as more instruments were needed to supplement the light onstage and have facelight remain consistent from all angles of seating. This resulted in various “dead” zones of light from certain seats on the stage itself. Overall, being allowed all the instruments within the facility would have greatly improved the quality of the show, increased the facelight for those sitting onstage and result in a more cohesive experience for the audience.
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Explain how your life experiences are reflected through your project.
My life experiences are heavily reflected through my project because lighting an in-the-round- show required all my knowledge and experience within lighting theatrical productions, and required a myriad of research to fulfill the requirements of the production. From my initial experiences within lighting where I simply learned to hang instruments, to where I am now with more intricate training on the complexity of design gathered through my internship, The Good Doctor was an especially unique case of design. Lighting an in the round show is enough of a task within an In the Round Theater, but an in-the-round show within a proscenium-style theater was a completely different task. I got to be both an actor and a technician within this production, which was another thing to balance on top of designing. Perseverance is something that has been forever instilled into me as a person, and I believe that a lot of perseverance is reflected through my project. Having only a few days to hang, focus, program, and cue a show while having not much room for error was the true task of completing this show. It was a completely different experience than lighting a proscenium show, but I learned a lot from the show, and the experience developed my skills as a lighting designer.
Thinking about the Extra-curricular hours you completed, reflect upon what you learned through the experiences and/or how you have been impacted as an artist?
The extra-curricular hours I completed really aided in progressing my knowledge within the realm of design. Working on a show that completely differs from prior productions I’ve been a part of challenged me in a distinct way that resulted in a lot of growth as an individual, and as a technician. I learned a lot about how placement and the angle of light on a stage can have effects on both the emotion communicated to the audience within the placement of instruments, alongside the functionality of arranging instruments in specific locations to benefit a show.
As an artist, I am extremely proud of how much time and effort I was able to put into The Good Doctor. I have been impacted very heavily throughout this production because my involvement allowed me to further explore and develop my love for the arts.
How is your life positively impacted by the arts?
I have been involved within the arts since my freshman year,and throughout that time I have gotten involved in all things theater. I had never sung, acted, nor danced before my time with Troupe 6152, and looking back over everything, I am extremely proud of how far I came and how much I learned.. I developed a lot as a performer, and especially grew as a technician. Before high school, I had no clue where I wanted my life to go, but what I know now is that I love the arts and I love the community within it. The arts have had an extremely profound effect on my life, and I am excited to potentially pursue a future within it.
How do you plan to include artistic experiences in your future after high school?
I plan to attend ASU in the upcoming Fall semester, where I intend to major in theatrical Design and Production. Queen Creek High School has allowed me to experience the arts and spark my interest within it. From there, it gave me a myriad of opportunities to further carve out a path for what I intend to pursue after high school. My high school experience has made me an extremely well-rounded student of the arts, and will only serve to benefit me in the future.
What advice would you give incoming freshmen about studying the arts to help them make the most of their experiences while in high school?
Some advice I could give to those interested in the arts would be to get involved in as much as possible. If the passion for what you are doing is there, take advantage of all the opportunities presented to you. Envelop your life within what you are passionate about. Don’t pursue something for the money or because you are concerned about what others will think. Seek out what you desire, and always trust yourself. Do only what serves your time and what sets your heart on fire.