Have you ever wondered what kind of behind-the-scenes work it takes to put on a theatrical performance? Have you looked up inside a theater and asked yourself how all those lights got up there? Or wondered who those people wearing headsets backstage are, desperately trying not to be seen? The answer to all of those questions lies in the often-unseen art of technical theater and design.
On January 22, we invited Poudre School District (PSD) high school theater students to The Lincoln Center for a crash course in all things technical theater. More than 50 eager students from six schools across the district spent the day exploring what happens behind the curtain. Theater Operations Manager Matt Schlief, alongside Production Coordinator and Rocky Mountain High School alum Sam Cranshaw, led students and staff on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Performance Hall, including trips up to the catwalk and a ride on the stage lift down into the orchestra pit.
Students were introduced to everything, from our state-of-the-art Meyer LEOPARD speaker array and soundboard, featuring Lincoln Center Audio Technician and RMHS alum Jake Rogers, to the art of steaming a wig with our Wardrobe Lead, Rebecca Spafford.
Cranshaw and Lincoln Center Stage Manager Matt Shein demonstrated the professional fly system used to hang lights, speakers, backdrops and scenic elements. This is an unusual and exciting experience for most Colorado high school students, as most school theaters do not have a complete fly system.
Students were also brought up to the spot towers. For those of you who don’t know what a spot tower is, look up from your seat in the audience next time you visit. You can see them on either side of the mezzanine, held up by two large pillars. From those towering heights, professional lighting technicians direct the spotlights manually. The students were not only delighted in getting to use a piece of professional technology, but they also loved shining the light on their friends who were learning about the stage lighting below. There, Poudre High School alum and Lincoln Center Master Electrician Andi McMichaels showcased our light board and various lighting instruments used when bringing shows to life.
Up in the booth (a small, radio-studio-like room that looks out over the Performance Hall mezzanine), Fort Collins High School alum and Lincoln Center Video Lead Ryan McCormick demonstrated the Performance Hall’s audio-visual equipment. One fun element was allowing students to use the camera setup to both film and project their friends onto our projection screen.
In addition to the glitz and the glam of lighting and projections, students learned about scenic design and construction from Front of House Coordinator Tyler Davis, who has designed and built multiple OpenStage sets over the years.
“Seeing how the Fort Collins High School technical theater program translates to a professional theater like this definitely locks in my idea of, ‘Oh yeah—this is what I want to do for a career,’” said FCHS senior Jake Fuller, who will be attending the University of Northern Colorado to pursue a technical theater degree with an emphasis in lighting design.
The day concluded with a special private showing of OpenStage’s sold-out production, The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie. Following the performance, OpenStage hosted a talkback where students had the opportunity to ask the director and designers about the creative and technical process behind the show. “This is the first time some of our students have experienced a professional production,” shared a PSD theater teacher. “These are the types of experiences that can truly resonate with students and spark a lasting interest in the arts.”
This day would not have been possible without the collaboration of OpenStage Theatre Company, Artspire and The Lincoln Center’s technical and front-of-house teams. Inviting PSD theater students to The Lincoln Center was the brainchild of Lincoln Center House Manager and Fossil Ridge High School Theater teacher Kristen Rust. “This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a couple of years now,” said Rust. “I’m so glad we were able to collaborate with PSD and Artspire to make this happen—and I already have ideas for next year.”
Experiences like this help shine a light on the many career paths within the arts while opening doors for students to engage with professional creative spaces. By working together, the City of Fort Collins and local arts organizations can expand access, inspire the next generation of artists and technicians and strengthen the cultural fabric of our community. We look forward to continuing these partnerships and creating more opportunities to connect people to the arts in meaningful ways for years to come.
