Table saws, nail guns and welding torches

Table saws, nail guns and welding torches

Mayfield Technical Theatre students design and build

When Melanie Ahn ’21 sees a play or watches a television show, she follows the plot but marvels at the sound and lights. She takes in every detail of the set and how it interacts with the storytelling.

“The technical artistry of it all, the invisible work going on behind the scenes really excites me,” Melanie said. “Every time a light changes or a set moves is a critical part of the story.”

With a shared fascination for that “invisible work,” Melanie and 11 other students are the stars of major on-campus stage productions—albeit behind the curtains, soundboards and light switches. As part of Mayfield’s signature Conservatory for the Arts curriculum, the Technical Theatre Conservatory has doubled in size over the past two years and has taken on a heightened role on campus.

Under the direction of Technical Theatre Director Phillip Velasco, our students have become the official campus production team, gaining hands-on experience in virtually every activity that needs equipment turned on and off. They run the audio at Masses. They are inside the booth in Pike Auditorium designing computer-generated lighting and calibrating microphones.

In their most impressive work, Mayfield girls are key players in the concept, design and construction for Theatre Conservatory sets. Our Technical Theatre students are learning the precise art of measuring twice and cutting once with table saws. They can properly aim a nail gun and don masks for welding. They sand, they paint, resurface floors, raise walls and build stairs.

Spot the difference: Look closely and see how the same cleverly designed set doubled for two back-to-back spring theatre productions, Godspell and Everywoman.

When she first came face-to-blade with a table saw, Christine Diaz ’18 admitted “to being intimidated.”

“I never thought that I could do it,” she said. “I have always thought lighting and sets were super cool, but never thought I would actually be able to design lighting and build the set...Knowing how to use these power tools has given me a lot of confidence. And it really helps me think about what it takes to bring a set to life.”

Christine Diaz ’18, who won this year’s Academic Award for Technical Theatre, says mastering the power saw has given her confidence.

Mr. Velasco is intent on teaching the girls how to build their ideas, including creating scale models, floor plans and ordering supplies. Then comes construction inside their scene shop—the former Head of School’s garage.

“I tell my students they don’t need a man to do any of this stuff. They can do it.” Mr. Velasco said. “They are focused, they are safe.”

He said teaching the girls the basics of construction is a fundamental part of understanding set design. “If they can see it in their minds I want them to envision what it takes, materials and all, to build it.”

Technical Theatre students painted hand-lettered reminders on the walls of their all-girl garage workshop.

Melanie dreams of a creative career in set design and stage management. Learning to use a chop saw, she said, is “foundational” to her technical theatre education and creativity.

“Girls are actually really good with power tools,” Melanie said. “We are diligent, effective and strong.”

Freshman Melanie Ahn ’21 is already designing what teacher Phillip Velasco describes as “college-level” set models.

Our “Women in Black”

Not only do they build the sets and mastermind the lighting and sound for our theatre and dance productions in Pike Auditorium, our Tech Theatre Conservatory students are also the behind-the-scenes audio-visual producers for major school events including:

Weekly all-school Community & Assembly meetings

Monthly all-school Liturgies

Red and White Day

Pep Rallies

Junior Ring Night Mass and Ceremony

Mayfield Annual Benefit Donor Appreciation Party