Kyle E. Techentin

I currently serve as Head Carpenter for the North American tour of Disney's The Lion King. In this role, I supervise all technical areas of the production on the road, including scenery, rigging, lighting, audio, wardrobe, hair and makeup, and puppets. My responsibilities include serving as the technical liaison with each venue before the show arrives; coordinating transportation and logistics from venue to venue; supervising a touring crew of 36 and a local crew of more than 100 stagehands during load-in and performances, which run from two weeks to two and a half months depending on the city; managing all associated payroll; and coordinating weekly, monthly, and annual inspections, repairs, and maintenance for the show's technical equipment.

What sets this job apart from other tours is the need for a long-term maintenance and replacement plan to keep a production that has been running for nearly 30 years operating smoothly. While most shows tour on one- or two-year contracts, this version of The Lion King has been on the road for eight years non-stop, requiring a level of repair and maintenance that many other tours never encounter. The role also demands extensive communication. Once most tours complete technical rehearsals, they need minimal day-to-day support from creative or production teams. Because The Lion King has such a long lifespan, however, ongoing communication with a much larger group of stakeholders is essential to keeping the show running effectively.