The auditorium hums with a quiet energy. Cast members backstage shake off their nervousness, silently do vocal warm ups and attend to any last minute touches on stage makeup.

On the other side of the auditorium, tech gets ready to cue lights, balance sound and move props into place. Every detail must be timed perfectly to bring a performance to life, all unseen by the audience.

This is technical theatre, the behind-the-scenes work that brings a live performance to life. Every cue, costume and light change depends on a team of technicians. The lighting crew paints the stage with color and mood, adjusting brightness and timing to match each scene. Stage managers keep everything running smoothly, calling cues and making sure every performer and crew member is in the right place at the right time. The costume team helps actors transform into their characters, handling quick changes and maintaining each piece throughout the run. Meanwhile, the sound crew mixes microphones, music and effects to make sure every word and moment is heard clearly.

At Van Nuys High School, the Technical Theatre Club isn’t just where students learn about lights and sound. It’s where they learn leadership, teamwork and problem-solving under real pressure. Entirely student-run, the club gives members the rare chance to take charge of professional-grade productions, from school plays to concerts and assemblies. It’s a place where creativity meets responsibility and every cue called or spotlight aimed helps students gain confidence in their craft. For many, it’s not just about building a show, it’s about building skills and friendships that last long after the curtain falls.

Leading the Technical Theatre Club this year is Senior President Jan Soriano, who also serves as the Production Stage Manager for every school show, the one calling cues and keeping each performance running like clockwork. Beside him, Senior Vice President Melissa Ocegueda designs the lighting for productions and runs the light board during performances. Junior Treasurer Lucy Tallman has been mastering the soundboard while also lending a hand backstage when needed. Meanwhile, Sophomore Secretary Molly Porter is learning the ropes on the light board, training to take on bigger responsibilities in future shows. Together, they’re not just board members, they’re the hands and minds behind every production that hits the Van Nuys High stage.

What makes tech work essential to theatre?

Jan: Tech is important because you wouldn’t have a theatre production without it. We handle lights, sound and mics — it wouldn’t be a show without us.

Melissa: I also think it’s a really unique and valuable experience for everyone involved.

How does Tech Club serve students who can’t take the class?

Jan: Tech Club is great because if you can’t be in a class or production due to your schedule, you can still learn about tech, like the light and sound boards. Everyone is welcome.

Tallman: We’re also planning fun themes for some meetings, like during Halloween.

What makes Tech Club different from a regular class?

Molly: We want it to be a creative space for everyone. We want people to be interested and learn things you might not do in tech class.

Melissa: Plus, it’s student-run. We’re the ones working the shows most, so we really know the equipment.

What drew you to theatre tech?

Molly: Tech lets you be part of shows and the creative process even if you don’t want to perform on stage.

What skills have you learned from tech work?

Melissa: You also learn a lot of useful skills.

Jan: I’ve learned time management and self-trust. You work with others and it’s fun, but you also have to know when you have to lock in and what you’re doing to make the show good.

Tallman: Tech is the backbone of a show. It gives you a creative way to influence how the performance looks and sounds.

How heavy is the workload with not only being Tech Board president but also Production Stage Manager for the big productions, and how do you manage it?

Jan: The workload is a lot because people rely on you. I try to stay calm, maintain a good vibe and make sure everyone feels supported. I always try to make sure to stay organized so my job and other people’s jobs are a lot easier.

You’re the person who lights and designs almost all the small shows at Van Nuys. How do you navigate the light board and what helped you learn it?

Melissa: I learned a lot from just watching past students light and use the board. It’s a lot of trial and error. Understanding color theory and practicing over time helps. I’m still learning as I go, but it’s basically become second nature.

What helped you work up to being on tech board?

Tallman: I worked on smaller shows first, trying different positions. That gave me perspective on all parts of a production, and I still want to keep learning so I can teach others.

Where do you see the future of the club?

Molly: I hope more students join. The more people are involved, the more likely they’ll want to work shows, keeping the club active year after year.

What’s your dream show to work on and why?

Jan: “Little Shop of Horrors,” 100%. As stage manager or sound designer.

Tallman: Well, the first show that really got me into theatre was the musical, “Beetlejuice.” But I also think that “Little Shop of Horrors” would be just so fun to work. And it would be really interesting technically, especially with the puppet.

Melissa: “Grease,” “West Side Story” or “In the Heights.” I’d love to light or even direct them.

Molly: I would love to light either “Six” or “Mean Girls.” They’re both just such good shows and there’s so much room to have fun with the lighting.

What are your goals for expanding Tech Club’s presence on campus?

Melissa: One thing I would love to start doing for the club is field trips to meet professionals that actually work in the theatre industry.

Jan: I would also love to expand our social media so more people notice what we do. I find that social media is the best way to reach out to people, especially with people our age.

Tallman: We’ll be posting a lot of stuff @vnhs_techcrew on Instagram showing behind-the-scenes work and just fun relatable videos. I think it’ll show a lot of people outside of tech or people who aren’t as familiar with it the creative side of it all and just how fun it can be.

Every Friday at lunch the auditorium doors open for Tech Club. Some students arrive knowing they want to learn the light board. Others wander in curious about what happens behind the curtains. Either way, the Tech Board is there, ready to teach the next generation how to bring theater to life from the booth instead of the stage.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2025 print edition.