Suspenseful music swells through the auditorium, heightening the tension on stage. An eerie figure emerges, dragging a ticking bomb as the set of Heathers transforms into the football field of Westerburg High School. It’s one of the most striking moments in Theatre Ink’s 2025 Winter musical—and one that senior technical director Micah Klein helped bring to life.
Klein, a senior, is one of Theatre Ink’s four technical directors, working alongside David Baumel, Eleanor Bergman-Igra, and Sadie Mulligan. Together, they oversee the program’s technical elements, including sound, lighting, and set production.
Designing the spring musical Heathers as the sole sound designer stands out as one of Klein’s proudest accomplishments in his theatre career. The bomb scene, he said, was a defining moment.
“We had to figure out how to create this moment in a way that sounds both realistic and artistic,” said Klein. “You’re not taking away from the power of what’s happening, but you still want the audience to feel the weight of it.”
Klein has been involved in theater since elementary school, beginning as an actor before joining stage crew in sixth grade at F.A. Day Middle School. There, he discovered sound engineering—an area he has developed extensively while also gaining experience in lighting and set design.
Sound engineers manage all audio-related aspects of a production, from microphones and speakers to sound effects and musical cues. According to Klein, the role of technical director adds an additional layer: “running the show day to day and making sure things get done,” he said. He works closely with fine and performing arts teacher Michael Barrington-Haber, Theatre Ink’s resident technical director.
“We do a lot of training of younger crew members,” Klein added. “Getting people up to speed on the equipment in the shop—in both the sound department and the lighting department—is a big part of what we do.”
Bergman-Igra noted that Klein’s leadership is a cornerstone of the tech community. “He makes everyone feel included and part of the community, and he makes sure that everyone understands what’s going on,” they said. “He thinks a lot about efficiency and a lot about being a professional.”
Klein said he realized sound engineering was his passion while designing Theatre Ink’s productions of Tuck Everlasting and Heathers.
“Theater has the ability to tell a story and expand an audience’s perspective,” he said. “I really enjoy impacting an audience’s experience and knowing they leave saying, ‘Wow, I was really immersed in that world.’ As a sound designer, that’s your biggest goal.”
He plans to study theater in college and hopes to eventually work as a sound engineer on Broadway.
Of course, no show is without challenges. According to Klein, every production presents unexpected hurdles. “Issues come up all the time in theater,” he said. Whether it’s missing microphones or a set that needs last-minute fixes, the job requires problem-solving under pressure. “Things are happening live, and the ability to figure things out and stay calm is really important. It’s always something I’m trying to get better at.”
Klein said each show gives him an opportunity to learn something new or test out a new technique. “I really think we were able to accomplish that on every show and deliver fun experiences for the audience,” he said.
Beyond Theatre Ink, Klein is also a Major III in TV Media Arts and serves as a sound engineer and livestream coordinator for his synagogue. “The skills I learn from each area definitely translate to the others in weird and unique ways you don’t necessarily see coming,” he said.
