From the orchestra shows to the dance dramas, the tech crew work to make each performance shine. As the Theater 4 Show Argonautika draws closer, the technicians have been busy perfecting every detail.

Master Electrician Thalia Olivares and the lighting and electrics crew have been working since before school opened to ensure everything works by opening night.

“A little bit before school began, we started working on focusing the lights, which means pointing out their direction, putting them where we want them to be, and making sure that they’re all secure,” said Olivares.

The lighting and electrics crew are also responsible for programming the lights in order for each one to have their own specific role.

“We’re in the process of finishing designing and programming. This involves making the cues and the actions of each light and then putting them into a board which tells every light what to do, how to do it, and how long to do it,” said Olivares.

The crew’s success largely comes from healthy communication, support, and guidance from their teachers.

“Communication is very important. The teachers are all really helpful and they’re very supportive of students that are learning and not just trying to get up a show,” said Olivares.

The teachers play an important role in helping students connect with their work and understand how everything is supposed to function.

“They want us to be fully immersed in the experience, focusing on what the art is about, why we’re doing the things we do, and the meaning behind every individual cue and individual movement,” said Olivares.

There’s a lot that goes into the show’s lighting, but ultimately, the crew aims to enhance the audience’s understanding of the story through their strong choices and adjustments.

“We want the audience to be immersed in their experience. We want them to be able to follow the story and to understand why we make the decisions we do. We want them to understand the color choice for every character, for every moment… we want them to feel that,” said Olivares.

The technician’s work elevates LVA’s shows and performances for both the performers and the audience. To see the electrics crew’s efforts, along with the work of all the tech crews, check out Argonautika debuting on Oct.3 and closing on Oct.12 in the Black Box Theater.