When did you get your start in theater?
Actually, mostly when I came down to IU. That was back in ‘98, ‘99 when I came into town. I came down to IU to do the audio program through the Jacobs School of Music. I found out about that when I was at IUPUI taking a media and computers course. I heard about the program and I said, ‘OK, I get to combine two of my loves.’ I have a passion for music and I’m a geek, I can admit to that. While I was there, since a lot of the audio program classes are at the corner of the music school and we spent a lot of time at the Musical Arts Center, I joined the electrical crew there and kind of started my theater career.
When did you start working with the previous technical directors?
EJ Ernesberger, who is now the department head of lighting over at the IU Auditorium, he was the original technical director here. Jacob Lish, whom I just replaced, is now over at the MAC as the master electrician or something of that nature. He was here for almost nine years, EJ was here when the place opened as the Buskirk-Chumley. This building is actually 95 years old. We had our first gala that’s a part of the five-year plan to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the building in 2022.
What responsibilities fall under your role of technical director?
Pretty much any technical aspect of the theater, once you get past the door and get into the theater proper — the sound system, the lighting system, the stage itself, the fly-rail over there, speaking with the different clients we have coming in and determining what they need. There are a lot of different chores to do, and a lot of theaters larger than this actually have more of a full staff of other people helping out and hitting different departments. Here it’s a one man show, but I do hire help on numerous occasions.
What stands out to you about the Buskirk-Chumley Theater?
Our patrons, the community that comes here that supports it. I’ve seen numerous patrons as well as artists performing — there’s a nice, intimate feel to this theater. Looking out onto the seats, it doesn’t look like there are that many people here, but we can seat 629 people. Having that connection as an artist, being able to be that close to the audience and see them there — not just because it’s the community theater, a lot of our audience is repeat people who will come back for multiple different shows throughout the year.
What are you most looking forward to with this position?
To continue to increase my knowledge of the entertainment industry, the technical aspect of it as well as the artistry of it. I’ve had a lot of exposure to all aspects. I grew up and am schooled in audio engineering and, by working here and the MAC, I’ve had to increase my knowledge of, for example, the lighting system.
