Makenna Harnden, Huntington Theatre

Makenna graduated from CAMD in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in media and screen studies in theatre. While at CAMD, she completed several co-ops, including a lighting and electrics co-op at the Huntington Theatre. Makenna pulled back the curtain on her time at the Huntington. Her responses have been edited for length and clarity.

What is your role [at the Huntington Theatre]? What are your responsibilities?

I am a lighting/electrics apprentice working under the Lighting/Electrics Department at the Huntington [Theatre]. I help the lighting team install all lighting aspects for upcoming shows, as well as assist the Assistant Lighting Designer during the technical rehearsal process. I also do lighting prep work (prepping the lighting supplies before the designer comes in), which consists of cutting color for lights, barrel swapping units, and much more.

What’s something about the co-op which has been completely unexpected, but essential to the experience?

The one part of my co-op that took me off guard was finding out that I had to climb up to the grid, which is 60 feet above the stage! One thing I’ve learned about working in this industry is that you spend a lot of time up in the air, whether it be on ladders or in a catwalk. Going up to the grid is important when it comes to lighting as we have to frequently drop power down to the stage to accommodate multiple lighting fixtures that might be offstage or above the stage. It was definitely really scary at first, but I eventually got over it. I actually enjoy climbing up to the grid, I think it’s so much fun to see the stage from a bird’s eye view.

Thanks Makenna!