Wow -- what an experience!
I had the great privilege of volunteering my time at this year's Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, Georgia (just a four-hour drive from school). A group of eight Production Design SCAD students (with focuses in lighting, costumes, scenery, and stage management) ventured to the Galleria Convention Center to undergo a long weekend of energetic musical theater lovers of all young ages.
Among many different tasks that we were asked to complete throughout the weekend to aid in the process of production manager Susie Fuller and festival coordinator Laura Jo Schuster (both employees at iTheatrics), there are two specific highlights from my time there that stand out. I also wouldn't be truthful without mentioning how tiring and draining my time there was; admittedly, I was not mentally prepared for what was in store.
My first favorite moment from the festival was a technical workshop that my good friend Ava Ansorg and I were enlisted to lead, introducing some concepts of lighting design to young behind-the-scenes enthusiasts. Not only was this a wonderful opportunity to convey our love for the art to students that are normally immersed in the performing side of things, it also enabled Ava and I to hone in on our instructing skills and be able to lead the seminar.
The best part for me, though, was the time I got to spend shadowing my professor and mentor, Ruth Hutson. She has been the lighting designer for the festival for about ten years, and this was the first time I got to see her in action.
This was also the first time I was exposed to the GrandMA programming system in person, watched someone designing a concert-like show, and even been in the lighting booth during a show of such caliber (7,000 people in one room, with the stage a quarter of a mile from the booth!).
Finally, this was also a great opportunity to witness great work done with beam architecture, a wide space to fill a color palette, and a massive budget. Although it was quite a long weekend (but way more for Ruth!), I am very glad to have had the experience...and to make a few connections along the way.
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