Curved arches, elaborate decorations and complex mobile units are just a few of the aspects Jake Josef, the new Technical Director in the Department of Theater and Dance, hopes to incorporate into the theater department’s upcoming year of shows and performances.
Josef first embarked on his journey in technical theater in a scene shop while he was studying vocal performance at Plymouth State University. There, Josef discovered his talent and passion for theater design and technology, eventually deciding to major in technical direction.
“I chose to pursue technical direction instead of vocal performance simply because I loved the hands-on aspect of technical theatre,” said Josef in an email to The Phillipian. “Although I also loved music, I suffered from stage fright and I didn’t enjoy putting in the hours in a practice room by myself. I loved the collaborative aspects of putting on a theatre production from start to finish and being able to make peoples’ designs a reality. Although music is not my career, I still have a strong connection and appreciation to that art form that will [remain] with me forever.”
At Andover, Josef will build the sets for “The Nutcracker,” “Nine Parts of Desire” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” His job is to use the director’s vision of the scenery to create a set. Josef and Billy Murray, Instructor in Theatre and Dance, meet to design sets and decide what is feasible based on financial and technological restraints. Josef then uses the computer drafting program “Autocad” to visualize the production of the set before constructing it.
Josef worked on one of his favorite sets, a jail cell, while he was studying for his graduate degree in technical direction at Southern Illinois University. Josef and his classmates constructed the set with planks of wood jutting out into the audience at different angles to make it appear as though audience members were also inside of the cell. Josef looks forward to utilizing this type of creativity with set designs at Andover and applying his passion for problem-solving to create complex and exciting structures.
“For ‘Nine Parts of Desire,’ we’re building big archways,” said Josef, “That stuff is really fun, because it’s a little bit different than what we normally build. I really like the stuff that gets me thinking and makes me do a lot of problem solving. The really unconventional scenery that’s really obscure or abstract intrigues me, because everyone has designed the interior of a house or the outside of a building, but it’s the really twisted stuff that I’m interested in.”
While he has shifted away from vocal performance, working as a technical director is the best of both worlds for Josef, allowing him to focus on design and technology while appreciating theatrical performance. Throughout his career, Josef has also found that his background in music complements his work as a technical director.
“During the summers, I work for an opera company in New York, and I feel like there is a correlation, because I know what singers expect when they step on stage and when they are on the scenery. If anything, [my background in music] is a great way to relate to performers,” said Josef.
Since arriving at Andover, Josef has started a new tech club that meets every Wednesday. Through this club, Josef hopes to help students explore the various aspects of technical theater, including sound, lighting, costuming, carpentry and automation, through hands-on workshops. No prior experience is required to be a member of the club.
“When someone comes in and they’ve never used a power tool in their life or they’ve never done any sort of technology, it’s really rewarding when they finally get to achieve something,” said Josef.
For Josef, the close-knit and supportive nature of the theater community has given him invaluable help throughout his various endeavors.
“A lot of people working in the theater industry have been through it and they know what it’s like to have aspirations, so they’re here to help you,” said Josef, “The personalities in theater are incredibly nurturing, and there is a real sense of community that is really unique to the theater industry.”
