Welding Shop Makes Sure Emerson Shows Go On – Safely

Tucked beneath the Paramount Center, Emerson College’s welding shop provides a hands-on training ground for Theatre Design/Technology majors, where students learn the critical skills needed to ensure Performing Arts productions are safe, sturdy, and show-ready.

The welding shop is separated by a protective curtain from the woodworking and scene-painting areas, all part of the College’s scene shop in the Paramount. While steel is expensive, welding is needed for multiple Emerson Stage shows a year, said Emerson Stage’s Technical Director Kristin Knutson, MA ’21.

“We make sure that all students here are encouraged and give them practice time [to weld]. Quite a few have gotten quite good,” said Knutson proudly.

Welding is used for production sets to create staircases, stage floor levels, and things that move with wheels. Each play is different and requires the creation of a little world, said Knutson.

“Certain scenic pieces wouldn’t be possible without steel. A set with upper levels, or a scene that needs something tall and spindly,” said Knutson. “We depend upon steel so the set doesn’t fall apart.”

The process begins with Knutson working with students, faculty members, or guest scene designers of particular shows. Emerson Stage production designers work with directors to envision the play’s set, and then bring their ideas to Knutson, who determines if the design works within the show’s budget.

“Then we begin building. I take the designer’s drawings and make it into reality so it’s a safe stage and simple enough for students to build. The majority of the labor is done by students, so it can’t be past their skill level.”

Oscar McQuilkin ’26 started learning how to weld during their first year at Emerson, and admittedly “became obsessed” with welding, continuing to seek out opportunities to work with metal. McQuilkin would like to do tech work for a touring show after graduating, and knows welding is a great skill to possess.

“I really enjoy the patience it requires. In a way, it reminds me a lot of knitting or drawing,” said McQuilkin. “There’s a very methodical action that you do over and over again.”

Mack MacIntyre ’27 agrees with McQuilkin. “I like that it’s something that takes practice. It’s muscle memory.”

Scene construction is a requirement for all Design/Tech majors, and either in a class or as a student worker, each student learns how to weld from Knutson and Head Carpenter Connor Thompson.  

Welding is a practical skill that can be used beyond the entertainment industry. Emerson is one of a handful of colleges of its size that offers the opportunity to learn how to do it.

“Welding is a skill that’s marketable if you want to work in other scene shops,” said Knutson.

“Students are taught the way welding works and why it works. You need to understand to make adjustments to the flow of gas, or the speed of the wire advances, and voltage,” said Knutson.

Those adjustments are necessary for numerous factors, including a windy environment, or the thickness of the material.

As well as welding jackets and gloves, students wear a welding mask because the heat of the UV light from the contact tip is so bright that, similar to an eclipse, it could scorch your eyes just from looking at it without protective eyewear.

“There’s a lot of heat and a lot of UV light, so you don’t want to do it in shorts because you’ll get a sunburn,” said Knutson.

Sparks from the tip fall straight down and bounce within a two-foot radius, and you might find little balls of steel after welding.

Along with Knutson, Thompson makes sure all students are encouraged and given time to learn how to weld.

“A lot of students ask why they need to learn how to weld. Knowing this skill keeps you safe,” said Thompson. “Knowing how to weld means you know a safe and unsafe weld. A stage manager needs to know it.”