Building Knowledge
Amid the sawdust, screwdrivers and paint, some middle schoolers discovered that the magic of the stage extends far beyond the spotlight. Starting this year, seventh and eighth graders can choose the elective ‘technical theatre,’ with students planning and building sets to support St. Mark’s drama productions.
“We are the behind-the-scenes people,” said Ward Beasley ’29. “You do not really see us, but I feel like we make the play a better production.”
The class first developed out of the desire of Fine Art Department Chair Marion Glorioso-Kirby to grow the technical theatre program. Technical lighting instruction was integrated into the sixth grade theatre class in 2020, which sparked enthusiasm among Marksmen.
“Many of those sixth grade boys expressed an interest in the other technical elements involved, so it made sense to offer a class to the seventh and eighth grade art rotation,” said Seth Magill, Middle School drama teacher. “Now, the seventh and eighth grade acting class can focus more time and energy on acting and less on setting lights and sound or set construction.”
Aside from learning basic construction, sound and lighting skills, students maintain deadlines, creatively solve challenges and work successfully as a team while practicing personal responsibility. The class regularly exercises these attributes to overcome obstacles and improve their capabilities for subsequent projects.
“I have started thinking of how I can design things for the future,” said Gabe Masino ’28. “With managing deadlines, I’ve learned I can sometimes postpone stuff for another day and still be able to get the entire project done on time.”
With ‘Romeo and Juliet’ wrapped up in November, Masino and his classmates are focusing on supporting the next St. Mark’s drama production, ‘Spamalot,’ in February.
“I like to tell them they are a living Rube Goldberg machine,” Magill said. “We all work together, in unison, as the ball or the story moves forward in real-time.”
Back
“We are the behind-the-scenes people,” said Ward Beasley ’29. “You do not really see us, but I feel like we make the play a better production.”
The class first developed out of the desire of Fine Art Department Chair Marion Glorioso-Kirby to grow the technical theatre program. Technical lighting instruction was integrated into the sixth grade theatre class in 2020, which sparked enthusiasm among Marksmen.
“Many of those sixth grade boys expressed an interest in the other technical elements involved, so it made sense to offer a class to the seventh and eighth grade art rotation,” said Seth Magill, Middle School drama teacher. “Now, the seventh and eighth grade acting class can focus more time and energy on acting and less on setting lights and sound or set construction.”
Aside from learning basic construction, sound and lighting skills, students maintain deadlines, creatively solve challenges and work successfully as a team while practicing personal responsibility. The class regularly exercises these attributes to overcome obstacles and improve their capabilities for subsequent projects.
“I have started thinking of how I can design things for the future,” said Gabe Masino ’28. “With managing deadlines, I’ve learned I can sometimes postpone stuff for another day and still be able to get the entire project done on time.”
With ‘Romeo and Juliet’ wrapped up in November, Masino and his classmates are focusing on supporting the next St. Mark’s drama production, ‘Spamalot,’ in February.
“I like to tell them they are a living Rube Goldberg machine,” Magill said. “We all work together, in unison, as the ball or the story moves forward in real-time.”
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Students pose on the Romeo and Juliet set during construction.
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Students work together to build a railing.
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The completed Romeo and Juliet set during a performance.
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St. Mark’s School of Texas
10600 Preston Road
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
Dallas, Texas 75230
214-346-8000
About Us
St. Mark’s School of Texas is a private, nonsectarian college-preparatory boys’ day school for students in grades 1 through 12, located in Dallas, Texas. St. Mark’s aims to prepare young men to assume leadership and responsibility in a competitive and changing world.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
St. Mark’s does not discriminate in the administration of its admission and education policies on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.
