Looking upon the stage of CVHS’ own Carnegie Theater Company during one of its memorable plays, audiences will see not only the talented actors who draw them into the story through captivating dialogue and movement, but also an intricate, undeniably impressive stage design. The picturesque scenery, performance-enhancing props and carefully planned lighting all come together to create a striking visual experience.
Jose Molina, Carnegie Theater Co.’s head of lighting, is among the dedicated students who work behind the scenes of every school play to help make the magic happen. For his commitment and hard work in bringing each performance to life, Molina has been named the theater company’s February Thespian of the Month, an honor awarded each month to a student who has made a particularly commendable contribution to the program.
For Molina, theater had not always been his preferred activity. He first gained experience in theater during middle school, he did not become particularly invested until freshman year.
His original reason for joining Carnegie Theater Co. was simple.
“I went to get those volunteer hours. But then I just got into it too much. I guess I really started liking theater. So I just kind of stayed there. Friends from theater convinced me to pursue it further, so now I’m more into it as compared to last year,” Molina said.
Molina found an unexpected home in the theater, which nurtured his desire to showcase his talents there. The sense of family among the crew further deepened his passion for theater, as every member of the team worked toward a shared goal in a way he found inspiring.
“[During] rehearsals, it’s just everybody collaborating with each other in some sort of way. Although there are departments here — some who do the lighting, some who do the sound, some who do the set — we all have to work together because all of our planning, all of our designing, comes together to create the art that we perform,” Molina mused.
Thespian of the Month is a recognition Molina is proud to have received, as it highlights students who have made outstanding contributions to the company. The honor has given him a greater sense of motivation in his role.
“I think what influences it is just how much work you put into it. The pattern for each month is just to see who contributed a lot and who did their best to make our company successful. It has really kind of pushed me to go forward. It’s a great way of showing that these people are doing things in the background, and sometimes you don’t see it. So it has really motivated me, and it motivates others to say, ‘Hey, I also want to do something outstanding, something that will leave a mark on my peers,’” Molina reflected.
Molina said his favorite part of working in theater has been surrounding himself with friends and like-minded people who create a supportive environment.
“I guess it’s just hanging out with some of my friends. Some of the friends that I have made were in theater, and they are also technicians. So I guess that’s where it comes to, being in a web of amazing people who just help each other — not just in the theater sense, but also in academics, or if one of us is feeling really down, we check up on each other,” Molina stated.
This encouraging environment, along with everything he has been able to accomplish in theater, has led Molina to consider taking further steps in the field.
“I definitely want to teach some freshmen or anybody who’s interested in theater, really, because some of the stuff I’ve had to do almost alone. It’s just nice having other people that can help you, and then, I don’t know, they might surpass you. I might incorporate some of the skills that I have learned into whatever field I want to go into. I could see some of the skills that I have learned in theater apply to things in general,” Molina said.
In another peek into what lies ahead, Molina and his team plan to showcase their talents in upcoming UIL competitions, with the first one scheduled shortly after spring break.
“We definitely want to have the support of Carnegie behind our backs to keep on motivating us, and we hope to actually go to [UIL] State. We’ll definitely need the support of not just family and friends, but also Carnegie as a whole,” Molina said.
Molina urges anyone aspiring to work in theater, whether as an actor or technician, to “find that reason to keep going forward.”
“There [are] a lot of hurdles sometimes, and although some things might be in the way, it doesn’t have to really limit us to what we can and cannot do,” Molina said.
