Backstage Pass with Thomas Pasinetti
The Fantasticks, Sound of Music, The West Virginia Symphony, 1776, The Nutcracker, Mountain Stage, Noises Off, TinTypes, Regatta, Dance Festival, the State High School Band Contest, The Wheeling Symphony. If it's a live performance and it's in West Virginia, you can bet Thomas Pasinetti is somehow involved.
In a word, the technical director and stage manager for the Clay Center, describes himself as busy!
Pasinetti is one of those rare creatures in the arts world who actually gets paid to do what he went to school for. He has a master's degree in theater with an emphasis in directing. He says the key to finding employment in the theater is "to be a hard worker, be determined and work a lot of hours gratis."
Pasinetti's grandfather provided him with his inspiration to go in to theater work. "He was a carpenter and we were always doing projects together. I think I came by my skills naturally through his examples."
While set construction may have lured him in, lighting keeps him coming back. "We did a really, really great production of Chicago, not long ago and I really enjoyed that. I got to do a lot of specialty lighting, and we tried to keep it as close as possible to the Broadway version."
One of his biggest lighting thrills came when the Clay Center opened. "Doing the Music Man was the first time I got to use all my new equipment. It was really great to see it all come together."
He also worked with the architect and builders to help remodel Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. Not to mention, he was the first to manage the stage when the Cultural Center in Charleston was built. "I've been around production for so long that I can solve nearly any problem very simply, whereas others might not see the solution. Being able to help like that is very gratifying."
Pasinetti says the most difficult part of his job is trying to stay within budget. "I do a decent job, but of course you always want to do more. Despite financial restrictions, I believe I've raised the bar for many production levels."
One of the ways Pasinetti raised the bar for many state arts organizations was through a group called the Peer Advisory Network (PAN), which toured West Virginia giving technical advice. "That to me was very gratifying. It always gave me great pleasure. I am a strong advocate of theater education." He credits a great deal of his teaching/giving philosophy to his mentor, teacher, director and friend-Stanley Harrison.
Pasinetti is currently working on Beauty and the Beast which is playing first at the Creative Arts Center in Morgantown and then at the Clay Center in November. "The Light Opera Guild and West Virginia Public Theater have joined together to produce it. We're creating all the sets and costumes from scratch."
"Tom is the oil in the machine that you don't see, but keeps everything running smoothly," says Jesse Johnson, a local Charleston actor.
Pasinetti laughs at the compliment. "Yes, I guess I am doing my job right, if you don't hear about me in the next day's reviews because the lights have malfunctioned or a set toppled over. But it's still nice to get mentioned once in awhile."
