Oberlin

Too Many Notes
Behind the scenes at Oberlin Opera Theater

Tech Week Part 1 (Written by Emily Peragine '14)
››› October 29, 2013 | Posted By Daniel McGrew

Hänsel und Gretel is finally in TECH WEEK! For anyone who has ever had theater/opera experience, Tech Week is a known brutal reality of all live stage productions.

It is also known by some other names... including "hell" week, "torture" week, one could even argue "shark" week.

Why you might ask? Tech week is essentially the week that all of the pieces of the production puzzle come together. This means coordinating an orchestra with singers, a moving set, lighting, costumes, and all of the extra little details that make a production magical for the audience.

As one could imagine, coordinating all of this is not a smooth process. It's a lot of stop and start, a cesspool of overworked, tired, and stressed singers, orchestra members, the director, the conductor, coaches, set builders, costume designers, everyone in the proverbial opera kitchen sink. Expect to be yelled at for no reason, mostly for standing somewhere you're not supposed to stand, being stupid...breathing. (Cause' you know, being hit by a rogue scrim is usually not desired, nor is falling into the orchestra pit... skewered onto the first violin's bows, getting your head stuck in a tuba... long story short, being in the wrong place at the wrong time can end badly for you.)

All this said, the GREAT thing about Tech week is when it's finally over, you've got yourself a nifty ready-to-go production!

Here are some shots from the first Sitzprobe rehearsal in Hall Auditorium!