INTRO WORKSHOP TO THEATRE SOUND & LIGHT

Light the Stage. Run the Sound. Make the Magic. The actors are frozen in the dark. The audience is holding its breath. Nothing happens until someone — at a board, in the shadows — presses GO. This workshop puts you in that seat. In four hours, you'll go from "I've never touched this stuff" to running light and sound cues on a real stage. You'll paint a sunrise with a fader. You'll drop a thunderclap at the exact right second. You'll feel the small, electric thrill of a stage manager whispering "Standby... GO" — and knowing the next moment belongs to you. No experience. No jargon. No pressure. Just real equipment, a live scene to cue, and people who'll teach you the way they wish someone had taught them. And here's the real invitation: Leela's next production needs a crew. Learn today, and by fall you could be the one making the magic behind an actual show — opening night, headset on, house lights down. Everyone's welcome — and if you've been looking for your doorway into Austin's Indian theatre community, this is it. Walk in a beginner. Walk out crew. This project is supported in part by the City of Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment. About the Faciltator: Vijay Sankaran has been an integral part of the South Asian performing arts community in Austin, having served as lead technician on over 75 productions since 1997. He is co-founder and Technical Director of Kalalaya Productions,a theater company that has staged 15 original Tamil-language scripts in several US cities. His experience also extends to sound engineering for prominent classical artists, local bands (Omkara, Dhwani), and major theatrical events, including Agni Entertainment's Lanka, Om Shanti Om, and Big Fat Indian Wedding. More recently, he led lighting design for Leela’s double bill production in December 2025.