The theater group of Texas A&M University—Kingsville might be small in numbers, but this does not keep the crew from stacking their hats and getting to work. Ignoring how tall their stack may stand, they keep balanced and do it all with conviction and pride.
Acting on stage, designing a set and building part of the set of a production is not uncommon for a single student at TAMUK to accomplish.
Corey Ranson, associate professor and director of theatre activities, has been with TAMUK since 2008 and has helped students put on many productions.
Ranson said 16 to 18, possibly up to 20, students were involved in their most recent production The Flick, including completing painting, set building, inventory, lights, sound and cleaning. Everyone involved in a theatrical production at TAMUK work together to make every production a success.
Stage crew member Diana Canizalez has best been known for her backstage work, feeling most comfortable with the technical needs of a production.
“Everyone in theater, even actors, everyone helps out, it’s not just the background crew,” Canizalez said.
Nickolas Villarreal works the concession stand at the theatrical performance of “The Flick.”
Often times, stage hands, or the stage crewmembers, are thought to be the ones who only move around props and put up trees, but it is quite the contrary.
“Pretty much everything in theater, from set building to light design, to sound, to stage managing, to pretty much everything in there that makes the production happen. Box office, concession…. It’s not just moving props around, it’s the whole thing to make the actual show happen,” Canizalez said.
Robin Machuca, one of the main actors in The Flick, was building the set as he prepared for the opening of the show. Being an actor has not stopped Machuca from designing or building in the TAMUK theater group. Machuca was also sound designer for The Flick. When designing the sound of a production, Machuca asks himself, “Can I make the music into its own character for the show?”
Having many jobs does not thin the ability of these hard working hands. The efforts each student, and non-student, put into a production may not be seen, but are felt.
Stage crew member Kassandra Escobar has been involved in theater since seventh grade and even received a theater scholarship at the junior college she attended.
“We’re all putting in our part, we’re all putting in our time, so at least it makes somewhat of a difference,” Escobar said.
The theater group of TAMUK is open for any to join, whether student or not.
“You don’t have to be in theater to do this,” Canizalez said. “You don’t have to be a theater major to do this. Pretty much everyone here—everyone is different majors here. We welcome everyone, we’re not, ‘Oh, you have to love theater to do this.’ Even if you just like painting.”
The TAMUK theater crew welcomes all and truly enjoys being able to be themselves, even when being someone else.
“We’re here every day, we’re always hanging out. We just come together, be a family. Even outside of theater we’re always together doing something,” Escobar said.