From the young age of 8, I was always into carpentry, whether it be for practical use or theatrical use. Along with being into carpentry, I was a performer at a local theatre in Palm Springs, California. I would always ask the Technical Director if I could help with the strike, but because of my young age, he was unsure if I was able to handle it. Finally, after some time of asking, he let me pick up a drill. That was the first moment that sparked a growing love for technical theatre. In sophomore year of high school, I was able to take an introduction to technical elements class which made it very clear which direction I would take.
As an actor, I thought everything just showed up to the theatre for us to use. I never really thought about what was going on behind the scenes. Once I started working with more departments, I took a little mental inventory. I noticed that collaborating with other talented people brought this sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that I had been longing for. From that moment on, I knew that I was meant to collaborate with others to create something larger.
The reason I do this, quite possibly the sole reason, is the people I get to meet and work with to create a whole new world outside of the already existing world. Knowing that I can be surrounded by other talented artists and pull from their vast creative minds, brings this sense of gratitude, appreciation, and satisfaction that I cannot fabricate with other means. I hope to, one day, own my own theatre with my peers, where we test the limits of traditional theatre by working together and pooling our collective creative ideas.
