Meet the TCA Student Technical Corps

The TCA’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the greater Tecumseh community by providing exceptional arts and entertainment events as well as participatory opportunities. A major component of the overall performing experience, however, is to foster Arts education on both sides of the stage which is why the theater created the TCA Student Technical Corps or Tech Corps.
 
Though informal at first, TCA’s Tech Corps program has always been a part of the theater. Whether onstage as a performer, or behind the scenes as stage crew, the TCA has a long track record of providing students the opportunity to explore their interest in the world of theatre. The Corps is now in its second decade and has seen more than 115 middle and high school students, aged 12-18, pass through the program. 
 
Tecumseh Center for the Arts is thrilled to announce the 2016-17 Student Technical Corps including: Sage Anstett, Mollie Cardella, Emily Carrier, Jacob Caywood, Alex Lammers, David Marsh, Maryssa McNamara, Fiona Michaelson, and Joey Serafin.

“I think the main thing students gain 
from the TCA experience, 
whether onstage or behind the scenes, 
​is how to work with people.”
- Karen Bunch, Technical Director
​

As part of our Student Tech Corps’ education, theater employees provide ongoing workshops to train new students on the technical aspects of theatre. They receive hands-on time with the light board and lighting instruments, as well as the sound board and audio equipment, and backstage crew positions. New students also job-shadow the older tech students and our adult staff during live performances throughout the year to gain more experience. 
 
Through the TCA’s Tech Corps program, students have not only worked with community members on local and regional productions, such as Tecumseh Youth Theatre, Tecumseh Pops and Community Chorus, TCA Big Band & VocalAires, Tecumseh Players, and Tecumseh Public Schools’ events, but have also had the opportunity to learn about the world of live professional productions, working with a wonderfully diverse group of artists, including Davy Jones, Dan Seals, The Irish Rovers, Feld Ballet NY, The Acting Company, The National Theatre of the Deaf, Famous People Players, and Lightwire Theater, just to name a few.

​Technical Director Karen Bunch has overseen the development and supervision of the TCA Student Technical Corps since its beginning. “I think the main thing students gain from the TCA experience, whether onstage or behind the scenes, is how to work with people,” Karen said. “I like to say theater is a team sport. You don’t do this by yourself. It doesn’t matter if you are a solo act or not, you don’t do it alone. That lesson translates into every area of their life and every industry.”
 
Some of our former TCA Tech Corps Students have been employed or are currently employed by: Electronic Theatre Controls in Middleton, WI; Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC; Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL; Albert Theatre at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Disney on Ice, Domestic and World Tours; Comerica Park and Cobo Center, Detroit, MI; Pegasus Entertainment, Southfield, MI; Rosza Theatre, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI; Television & Film Industry, Hollywood, CA.
 
Students interested in participating in the TCA Tech Corps Program should contact the TCA during the summer months of 2017.