Category Archives: Technical Theatre

Theatre therapy

Post by David Wilson with an intro by Town Theatre

The most special parts of Town Theatre are her people. Many of us have Town Theatre stories – and we love to hear them! When we happen upon one that touches our hearts, we like to share. This story does just that. Thanks, David, for being willing to document just what this experience has meant to you.

“Howdy, let me make the first of two introductions. My name is David Wilson. I am 39 years old, married with two young children. I am a transplant from… yup, you guessed it, Ohio. In Ohio, I was a Field Technician for a major telecommunications company. In 2016 I developed an auto-immune disorder that attacked my joints. This not only made my daily life difficult, but I was also no longer able to climb telephone poles and ultimately ended up on disability. My condition is made worse by the cold. After several pain-filled Ohio winters, we made the decision to relocate to Columbia last summer.

The second introduction is for my Grandpa Sam. He passed in March of this year. He was a pastor for 55 years. He was highly educated with two doctorates. I have witnessed him many times go without so that others could eat or be warm. He was quiet, yet he had presence. He was also a skilled craftsman. When my grandparents bought their house it was 1,100 sq. ft. When they moved out it was 1,700 sq. ft. with a 2,000 sq. ft. workshop in the backyard. As a kid, I spent many summers with him in said workshop.

After getting established with doctors in Columbia, I was put on a medication that makes me feel 80% better on most days. Better enough to start enjoying my life again. In a chance encounter at my church’s Easter breakfast, I happened to sit at the same table as a former director of Town Theatre. My previous theatre experience came up, and I was encouraged to audition for Town’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I was interested. I hesitated, though, because although the medication was making me feel better, I had spent the past six years being sedentary. I needed to rebuild my strength and stamina. The choreography of Joseph… was helpful for that. Over time, I got to know Town’s staff and the current director. I guess I had made enough of an impression so that when the new technical director needed an extra hand building The Music Man set, she reached out to me to help.

During my first week working with the technical director, I was horribly rusty.

The skills I had cultivated during those summers with my grandfather had gone unused over the last six years.  As I was getting back into the swing of things, I consistently had the voice of my Grandfather in the back of my head. Every time I turned on the table saw it was his checklist running through my head. He had dyslexia, so he was compulsive about checking measurements, a habit I picked up. Even though the Miter saw has a LASER guide on it, I still used his method of gauging where the cut should be. And a lot of other small things that you only get from gentle mentoring.

The first I thing I helped the technical director with was a huge brick wall. In The Music Man, the brick wall is the exterior of the library where Marian Paroo works. The wall also serves as a tool for scene transition. It is heavy and comes in and out frequently throughout the show. I am also on the crew for The Music Man and the primary operator of the wall. I jokingly requested to the Town director that I be listed under cast in the playbill as “Brick Wall.” She laughed but then offered to let me name it.

After looking back on my time helping with the set building, I realized that there is a little bit of my grandfather in everything I touched on that set. When I took the job offer to help the technical director, I thought of it as a litmus test to see if I could get off of disability and return to full-time work someday. I didn’t think it would help me work through my grandfather’s passing, but that’s exactly what it did. I can’t think of a better moniker for that wall than “Sam.” Besides my fond memories of being in his workshop, the wall represents him in many other ways. Like him, it has presence. As he held two doctorates, he was frequently at a library. The level of craftsmanship and dedication that has been put into not only the wall but this show is something he would appreciate. My involvement with Town Theatre has come at an interesting time in my life. I have rediscovered a part of myself I thought had been lost. Not only am I acting again, but I am also learning to sing and play an instrument. Grandpa was very musical as well. It’s interesting to me that a theatre could act as a form of therapy both physically and mentally.

There are seven more shows that I will be lifting and lowering “Sam.”

When the curtain falls for the final time on The Music Man, a team of dedicated people will dismantle “Sam” and its components will be stored for future use. For me, when I see those brick pieces used on a future set, it will bring back fond memories of building something with my Grandpa all those summers ago. Everyone else will be unknowing bystanders of his talent, skill and mentoring. That is the way of things. We all have our heroes that we learn and grow from. I am fortunate that a piece of my hero will be a part of something that will bring hundreds of people joy.”

Hiring: Technical Director Assistant Position

Town Theatre is seeking a Technical Director Assistant. The ideal candidate will have a working knowledge of all aspects of technical theatre including set design, construction, lighting and sound. Town Theatre is in the middle of its 102nd season of operation with a heavy emphasis on musicals. Generally, the theatre produces five main stage shows during the season (September to May), a large summer main stage musical, two to three youth theatre productions as well as various special event shows. The theatre itself is a proscenium stage theatre with a fly system. Sets are built onsite in a workshop and on the stage. Town Theatre values the ability of all staff to work in and promote a harmonious work environment.

Candidates should:

  • Be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license
  • Have a high school degree or a GED equivalent
  • Have a basic theatre knowledge of how productions are put together and run
  • Showcase an ability to effectively work with and support volunteers
  • Show the desire and ability to work collaboratively and cordially with fellow staff, stage managers, directors and volunteers
  • Be able to meet deadlines with quality results
  • Have a flexible schedule that will vary depending on the life cycle of each show

Preferred skills include, but are not limited to carpentry, overhead rigging, stage electrics, scenic painting and sound/audio tech experience.  

Basic duties of the position will include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting the Technical Director with the building, rigging, props, painting of scenery, lighting and any audio needs for the productions
  • Assisting in the maintenance of equipment in the scene shop, light booth and sound booth
  • Keeping up with the props, organization of the props room and basement storage
  • Working offsite at the warehouse to pull and maintain stored scenery
  • Staffing the actual productions as the on-site technician when needed
  • Working in the attic over the auditorium as well as on the grid over the stage as needed
  • Assisting with the maintenance needs of the general facility

Ideally, this hire will be a full-time position with weekday hours during the show build and evening hours during the run of the show, shared by the theatre’s Technical Director. However, the position may be split depending on the candidates. To apply, please send a cover letter, résumé, visual examples of scenic design work and three references with current contact information. Packages may be sent electronically to Shannon Willis Scruggs, Executive Director, at shannon@towntheatre.com.

Posted Dec. 7, 2021

Town’s Technical Interns

We are so happy that summertime at Town is “back to normal.” The return of our regular working environment affords us the opportunity to host our technical theatre interns. Since 2017, Town has served as a summer workshop opportunity for students interested in developing their technical theatre skills. Summer internships at Town are ideal for candidates who are looking to study technical theatre and/or design in high school, Governor’s School or college.

Foreground: Kat puts a base coat on a cylinder that will be transformed into a castle column. Background: Alison and Sara create supports for a platform that will become part of the castle staircase.

Kat Martin came to us after spending 4 years involved in the theatre department at River Bluff High School. She worked as a lighting technician, technical director and soundboard operator. She also gained some great insight by serving as the director for a short play. After graduation, she spent time at the College of Charleston majoring in Arts Management. But, we are thrilled that she is coming back “home” to Columbia and USC so she can continue her work at Town Theatre.

Alison Griffin also made her way to Town after being involved in theatre during middle and high school. Her early experiences focused on set building, design and run crew. More recently, she took on leadership roles and served as a part of the technical crew for large shows at River Bluff such as Mamma Mia and Les Mis. Alison says, “The technical internship that Town Theatre is offering this summer is a great way to further my practical experience before starting my college career.” Alison plans to attend Winthrop University in the fall.

Ian Neff is a recent graduate of Covenant Christian School where he most recently designed and built the set for Aladdin Jr. (which was presented on the Town Theatre stage last April). He also was in the show! Ian started with us a few days later after visiting with family in Montana. Yet, as soon as he got back, he hit the ground running and reported to Town. Due to his experience as a set builder for his school, Danny put him to work cutting out wheels for Cinderella’s carriage. Ian says he is enjoying the internship and knows that it is exactly what he needs to be doing with his time right now!

Elli Tocci, a 2021 Blythewood High School graduate, had this to say – “I’m so blessed to have been able to work as an intern at Town Theatre this summer! I’ve loved getting to know other students over the past few weeks and getting to work with them on set. Prior to starting my internship, I had done work in performance, costume design, and a little set design. Since starting at Town though, I have been able to learn so much about set construction by getting to do woodworking, painting, and drilling. It has been so much fun getting to learn something new every day with such a great team and working with them to create a beautiful show. I’m looking forward to learning more about theatre production this summer and I hope everyone loves Cinderella as much as I’ve loved working on it.”

Ella works with Danny on cutting techniques while Ian looks on.

Sara Brown has been seeking out an opportunity like this for some time now. She is new to set construction but does have a passion for set design. She even created an entry in the scenic design category for competition. Sara is committed to learning more about theatre production and hopes that she is able to gain experience working on Cinderella. We’re so happy that we can connect the dots between her design work and turning that design into a physical structure.

In Town’s four summers of running the internship program, we have had upwards of 20 students participate. Not only are they getting a top-notch experience with Danny Harrington, Town’s Technical Director, but they are also a tremendous asset to our summer production and theatre. We thank them for their hard work!

From left to right: Ian, Kat, Alison, Sara and Ella.

Town Theatre happenings

April 7, 2020

Hello Town Theatre families, patrons, members ticket purchasers, volunteers and more!

It has been three weeks since we all had an abrupt change of pace. At the time, we had more questions than answers and while we still have some questions, we do have a little more clarity on how we will proceed. We also thought you might have an interest in reading about what we have been doing to keep things going as best we can.

The shows MUST go on!
We are very excited to let you know that we do intend to complete our 101st season including our run of Mary Poppins and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. When? Well, that is the million-dollar question it seems. But, once we can be together again safely, we will determine dates for these performances and will communicate with you about ticketing times. If you had already made reservations for Mary Poppins, you will have the first opportunity to re-reserve your tickets for our new slate of performance dates. Once an appropriate amount of time has passed, we will open ticketing for others. We appreciate your patience as we must wait until that time to communicate about ticketing.

In the interim, our casts have been making lemonade out of lemons. Check out the coverage of our Poppins Car Parade which was held at the end of March. We had a fantastic day as you can see from these photos. What a great time to come together (safely) and share the good with our community.

Youth Theatre
Our youth theatre classes were running full speed ahead when we were interrupted. Weekly classes for Mary Poppins Jr., Give and Take as well as Guys & Dolls Jr. came to an immediate halt. However, just as with our main stage shows, we are committed to holding these productions. Once dates and times are known, we will communicate with you about ticketing.

During this time of being at home, our youth theatre students have remained engaged. We have held rehearsals for small groups on Zoom and have provided weekly activities for our students including costume design challenges, dialect exercises and even props building activities. Members of our Town Teen Troupe created a COVID Containment Entertainment concert series which you can view on our YouTube channel. Stay tuned as we hope to share more while we go through this process together.

Summer Camps
We do intend to host camps once again this summer! We are holding off on enrollment until we have more confidence on what the end of the school year looks like for our students. Our list of camps as originally planned can be seen here. We are also considering several options with adjustable dates and will share those at the appropriate time. And we are developing a “May Minis” Series of lessons and classes that we will roll out when needed.

Town Theatre Staff
Town staff has committed to using this down time to grow. We’re working on some of those projects that have been on our “to do” lists. Technical Director Danny Harrington has created a fun demonstration on how to create a stage model for set design. Check it out! He is also working on set designs for the 102nd season so that we can “make up for lost time” once the quarantine is over. Assistant Technical Director Corey Langley was able to spend some time reorganizing areas of the theatre and our warehouse. He is also currently creating a scenic painting series to share with our students. Youth Theatre Director Megan Douthitt has become well versed in shifting in-person rehearsals and classes to online opportunities. Executive Director Shannon Scruggs has been exploring the ever-changing opportunities for funding in a time of little revenue as well as working with staff, licensing companies, casts and youth theatre families to keep the wheels on the bus turning.

What Can You Do Now?
Many of you have reached out asking how you might help. We would truly appreciate your continued support of our theatre during this challenging time. One easy way to do that is to purchase your 102nd Season Membership at the early bird rate. You can do that online here.

Once we have ticketing dates for the rest of our current season and all our youth theatre shows, be sure to get your ticket and bring a friend. Live theatre can and will be such a great part of our restoration process.  

If you are able and so inclined, we would appreciate your support as a donor. We were so very fortunate to renovate two of the three areas of our theatre before this crisis hit AND we did so without adding any debt. If you still have a portion of your pledge outstanding, are you able to make an early or an extra payment? Or, if you never got around to joining us as a donor and the time is right for you, we would welcome your support. You can mail your check to the theatre or make a gift online at this link. We do plan to participate in the community-wide Midlands Gives on May 5 with our popular “Give Town a Twenty” campaign.

We hope that you and your family are safe and well. Though this was certainly not a part of our plan, we will make the very best of it and, more than ever, are excited to see you at the theatre as soon as we possibly can. In the interim, if you have questions, please reach out to Shannon Scruggs at shannon@towntheatre.com.  

Until the next curtain call,

Mary Lynn Barnette                                                            
President                                                                                                           

Shannon Willis Scruggs
Executive Director

Summer 2019 Technical Internships Announced

Town Theatre’s mission is to provide quality, live, family-oriented community theatre to the Midlands and beyond as well as to offer the foundation for those who wish to participate on stage or backstage. As such, we are offering up to four technical internship positions for the summer of 2019.

 Intern Duties:
~Assist with various aspects of the technical side of theatre.
~Participate actively in preparing for the summer production of Matilda the Musical.
~Work in one or more of the following areas: carpentry, stage lighting, engineering, scenic art and design.

Qualifications:
~Some experience in technical theatre.
~Should be flexible, creative, a team player, reliable, and have a good work ethic.
~Display a willingness to assist in load in/out, as artist liaison, and setup/tear down stage.
~These internships are ideal for candidates who are looking to study technical theatre and/or design in high school, Governor’s School or college.
~Candidates should be at least 14 years of age.

Time Commitment:
In general, interns will work from 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday beginning June 3. The week of July 4 will have a varied schedule. There may be some optional opportunities to work on weekends as well as backstage crew for the production which runs July 12 to 28. Time for vacations, etc. can be negotiated. Interns will receive at least 75 hours of scenic building, painting and lighting work on a realized production. Each intern’s ending date can be flexible, but a general guideline is that most should expect to work through the week of August 9.

Other Details:
Interns will be under the supervision of Danny Harrington, Technical Director. All technical internships are unpaid. Neither housing nor transportation is provided. College credit may be granted but must be coordinated in advance with the intern’s university/college. Interns will work primarily at Town Theatre which is located at 1012 Sumter Street in downtown Columbia and at Town’s warehouse located off Shop Road.

To apply:
Please send a letter of interest and, if available, your theatrical résumé to shannon@towntheatre.com no later than April 8. Selected applicants and their parents will be scheduled for an interview with Town’s Technical Director and Executive Director.

Town’s Talent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Corey LangleyWe are pleased to announce that Corey Langley has been selected as Town Theatre’s Assistant Technical Director. Corey has been a part of the Town family for many years both on stage and off. He recently played Cogsworth in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and just finished the role of Krupke in Town’s season opener of West Side Story. On the technical side, Corey has served as a freelance scenic designer in the Columbia area for the past eleven years. His portfolio includes work at Airport High School, BC High School, Congaree Baptist Church, and the former Stage Five Theatre. We are glad to have Corey serve in this capacity.

We also are pleased to announce that Megan Douthitt, anotherMegan Douthitt long-time Town Theatre participant, has now joined our staff in a full-time capacity. Megan has been on the Town stage in Mary Poppins, Miracle on 34th Street and Willy Wonka. She has worked at Town since 2016 in the box office and with our youth theatre program. She continues to wear several hats including serving as Assistant Director of Youth Theatre, serving as the lead arts faculty for our school theatre initiative and taking on additional administrative duties. Megan works alongside Scott Vaughan, whom we welcomed in late summer as our Youth Theatre Director, and Jeremy Reasoner, who continues in his role as Musical Director for Youth Theatre and Town’s private voice instructor.

Technical Theatre Internships Available

Town Theatre’s mission is to provide quality, live, family-oriented community theatre to the Midlands and beyond as well as to offer the foundation for those who wish to participate on stage or backstage. As such, we are offering up to four technical internship positions for the summer of 2018.

 Intern Duties:
~Assist with various aspects of the technical side of theatre.
~Participate actively in preparing for the summer production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
~Work in one or more of the following areas: carpentry, stage lighting, engineering, scenic art and design.

Qualifications:
~Some experience in technical theatre.
~Should be flexible, creative, a team player, reliable, and have a good work ethic.
~Display a willingness to assist in load in/out, as artist liaison, and setup/tear down stage.
~These internships are ideal for candidates who are looking to study technical theatre and/or design in high school, Governor’s School or college.
~Candidates should be at least 14 years of age.

Time Commitment:
In general, interns will work from 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday beginning June 4. We will not work the week of July 4. There may be some optional opportunities to work on weekends as well as backstage crew for the production which runs July 19 to 29. Time for vacations, etc. can be negotiated. Interns will receive at least 75 hours of scenic building, painting and lighting work on a realized production. Each intern’s ending date is flexible, but most should expect to work through the week of August 6.

Other Details:
Interns will be under the supervision of Danny Harrington, Technical Director. All technical internships are unpaid. Neither housing nor transportation is provided. College credit may be granted, but must be coordinated in advance with the intern’s university/college. Interns will work primarily at Town Theatre which is located at 1012 Sumter Street in downtown Columbia and at Town’s warehouse located off of Shop Road.

To apply:
Please send a letter of interest and, if available, your theatrical résumé to shannon@towntheatre.com no later than April 22. Selected applicants and their parents will be scheduled for an interview with Town’s Technical Director and Executive Director.