Financial crisis in the tech department

BY SASHA EFIMCHIK Staff Reporter

High school theater productions are a beloved tradition, bringing together students, families, and the community for unforgettable performances.

Behind the scenes, however, there is a group of unsung heroes who make these shows possible – the tech department. From lighting and sound design to prop and costume creation, the tech team is responsible for all the technical aspects of the productions that help bring the stories on stage to life. Not only does tech contribute to the success of the shows, but the program also provides a welcoming environment for students to learn new skills and pursue their passions, all while earning volunteer hours. Unfortunately, the tech department at Sequoia is facing a financial crisis due to the decline in funding and rental income since the pandemic. This crisis could threaten the viability of the tech program, which would be a great loss for the school and the drama department.

“[People] end up seeing the final [...] show but [they don’t realize] it’s hundreds of people working hundreds of hours before you even see the final product,” Crystal Amaya, Carrington Hall’s tech manager, said.

There are a lot of things that need to be done behind the scenes for productions as successful as Sequoia’s “Beauty and the Beast” or “Trap.” The tech team takes care of lighting design, sound design, prop design, set design, and costume design.

Vin Fox, a senior on tech crew, found her passion for clothing design through working on dresses for “Beauty and the Beast”.

“[Crystal] talked to me. [She said] ‘You clearly have ideas, you clearly at least vaguely know what you’re talking about, why don’t you put together some sketches or something. Just show them your ideas and see what happens.’ ” Fox said.

Fox later shared her ideas with the parent volunteers running the show and she was put in charge of creating Belle’s dresses, an endeavor that convinced her that she wanted to pursue costume design as a career.

“That was the biggest project that I had ever taken on. I did it because of tech and that convinced me that that was what I wanted to do in life,” Fox said.

The tech program at Sequoia has not only provided students like Vin Fox with opportunities to pursue their passions but has also fostered a sense of community among its members, as expressed by Christian de la Cruz, another senior on the tech team.

“I [am] super stoked to be a part of that community,” de la Cruz said about the program. “It feels like you’re connected with everybody the second you walk in there.”

Unfortunately, the future of the tech program is in limbo. “Before COVID we had a long standing, consistent renter, a church that used Carrington because they didn’t have a brick and mortar [building]. [...] There was always money coming in. That went away,” Gary Gooch said.

Amaya is responsible for running the technology required for the smooth operation of Carrington Hall. Amaya’s job at the head of the technology team is crucial to ensuring the smooth running of theater productions. In recent years she has been facing a challenging situation due to budget cuts, with her paid hours being limited, without curtailing her workload. Sequoia administration is asking her to limit her work hours to 20 hours per week, while historically she and others in her position have worked up to 40 hours to get the same job done.

“If you limit someone’s hours, but expect them to do this, this, and this, then maybe they can get it done, but it’s going to be done in a very crappy way,” Amaya said.

While the tech program at Sequoia is facing a financial crisis, there is hope on the horizon. Parent volunteers and donations have played a crucial role in supporting the tech team and keeping the program afloat. Additionally, the rentals that declined rapidly during the pandemic are slowly picking up. “It’s starting to climb up, but it’s not [where it needs to be yet],” Gooch said.

With these sources of support, the tech program can continue to provide a warm and supportive environment for students to learn new skills, earn volunteer hours, and pursue their passions while also contributing to the success of the theater productions.

Art by Sasha Efimchik