The change was instant when he walked through the threshold. He exuded a stage manager’s experience from the start and it was clear the experience wasn’t for himself. It was to pass onto his students.

New technical director Colton Perry has started his first year working with the students in the regular and advanced Technical Theatre classes.

“I’m looking forward to having so many students that are interested in tech,” Perry said. “In my last school, I did not have as many students that were interested and it was a dwindling department. The fact that Bowie is so excited to do tech just makes me really excited about working here.”

The students enjoy his passion for teaching.

“My favorite thing about Perry is that he is so comfortable with teaching anything, from his random facts of the day to stage management skills and general organization,” junior Samuel Fafel said. “He is able to combine an effective learning environment with a comfortable one.”

Perry’s main priority as a teacher and director is for his students to realize the potential they already have within them.

“I sometimes find students in schools that don’t have a lot of time to create and express themselves,” Perry said. “I want to teach them not only how to create, but how to realize their creations, their ideas, so that they see that with hard work anything can really come to life if you put enough time into it.”

Despite how new he is to the program, his students are appreciate how Perry acknowledges their feelings and responsibilities.

“My first impression of Perry was that he views us as actual people, not just students,” senior Julia Cabrera said. “He recognizes that we have other commitments outside of class, but he also views us as mature students that can work well and get things done. ”

Perry brings something to the tech theatre program that has been absent in previous years.

“He brings with him professional experience,” Fafel said. “For a long time, Bowie has gone without a Tech director that actually knows tech, rather than just design, especially when it comes to the differences between professional theatre and high school theatre.”

As a teacher, Perry’s favorite part of his job is the students.

“They are always fun, they have got a nice energy with them and that’s what will turn a bad day to a good day, talking with some students,” Perry said. “Even if something is not great in my personal life, I come to school and there are students that are just excited to do work and do theatre. It almost cures any sadness that I have in my life.”

Cabrera, among other students, anticipate what Perry will bring to the theater.

“I think Perry will bring a lot of positive energy to the theatre company,” Cabrera said. “He is very adamant about making sure we don’t get too stressed this year and he’s enthusiastic in everything he does. I’m excited to see how that affects the company.”

Perry may be a new addition to the theatre, but he’s in it for the long-run. Teaching is his passion and he is prepared for what the program has in store for him.

“My favorite part about being a director is the creation aspect and as an educational director, I like guiding people through that process,” Perry said. “I like seeing, starting with almost nothing, and resulting in something so huge and amazing, and it doesn’t always have to be huge, but you always end up with something that is amazing if you put in the time and effort, and that’s one of the most beautiful things to see.”