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Founded 05-05-05

ASU Team Wins National Tech Olympics

Story by Corinne Saunders

Most students were on vacation the second full week of March; it was spring break. A select group of theatre technicians, however, was practicing what they had learned in the classroom and proving their competence in the field by winning a national competition.

Twelve ASU students traveled to Phoenix, Ariz., for the U.S. Institute of Theatre Technology Conference.

“The USITT Conference is the premier conference for theatre technicians,” said Greg Williams, production manager and technical director in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

While there, the students attended workshops and seminars, interviewed for summer internships and jobs, met vendors in the field and participated individually and in teams in the Tech Olympics.

“We had two teams of five members each competing in the Tech Olympics, and one team won the trophy as best in the nation,” Williams said.

The events in the Tech Olympics are directly related to stagehand work. Students race to quickly and efficiently perform the tasks, such as hanging and focusing a stage light, setting up a sound system and safely wiring a stage pin plug.

“There’s a thriving group of tech artists coming out of ASU who will do great things in local theaters, Broadway and wherever else they want to go, and we’re very proud of them,” Williams said.

Williams and Alice Ness, the costume studio supervisor at ASU, co-sponsor an official university club for theatre technicians. The club raises money to help students attend the national conference where they have the chance to make important contacts for internships, jobs and grad schools, Williams said.

The USITT Conference provides the hands-on implementation of what students have been studying at ASU; it is an additional experience to add to their already-sound instruction.

“They’re getting a very strong foundation here [at ASU] for any kind of entertainment production position they want to get,” Williams said.

Tech Students Win Individual Awards

In addition to laying claim to the first-place team trophy at the national Tech Olympics in Phoenix in March, several ASU students won individual competitions.

Costume Quick Change—1st place, Brandy Cantrell; 3rd place, Laura Williams

Nicopress—3rd place, Matt Tyson

Hang and Focus a Lighting Instrument—1st place, Cameron Pence; 2nd place, Matt Backe

Wire a Stage Pin Plug—3rd place, Cameron Pence

Tape Out a Ground Plan—1st place, Matt Tyson and Thomas Painter