Opening Of Another Show: PAC Tech Keeps 'Em Coming

“’Yea! It’s the weekend!’ said no stagehand, ever.”

- Susan Lagsdin

So proclaims the poster in the office of Mike Locke, operations director of the Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Night and day, and especially when most people seek out entertainment — that means Friday, Saturday and Sunday — Mike ensures that the light and sound essential to any performance are as close to perfect as equipment and creativity can make them.

Mike’s humble about his craft, saying “I don’t really consider myself an ‘artist.’ That’s not how I approach production. My job is to fit together all the pieces of the puzzle.”

And there are plenty of pieces to play with.

“The night after Festival of Trees closes, we load in The Nutcracker. We’re working straight through December, every day until Christmas Eve,” said Mike.

Fortunately, he enjoys collaborating closely with a wide variety of out-of-town and local groups, managing the technical intricacies of setting up, running and breaking down multiple shows.

He’s accustomed to using his problem-solving skills to meet the public’s entertainment needs. After his BA in music performance at the University of Idaho, he worked in venues all over campus for the events services department.