Arts Student of the Week-Alex "Goose" Williams

Alex Williams joined the Niwot High theater tech crew as a freshman, hoping to learn more about stage lighting and design. Four years later, not only has "Goose" become a lighting "wizard," according to faculty stage manager Jason Watkins, but also an indispensable member of the crew who won't be easy to replace.

"I have known Goose for three years, and it has been extremely wonderful to see him progress in that time," Watkins said in an email. "He is my right hand man this year. Being an advanced technician, Goose oversees crew members during gigs and scheduling of the student crew. He is a phenomenal light designer when designing lights for our plays and musicals."

Williams has always been known around the department as "Goose", but the nickname's origins don't have anything to do with the long-necked waterfowl. It evolved from his middle name, and was given to him because "Alex" and "Williams" tend to be common names among theater techs.

"I have a German background, so my middle name is Gustl," he said. "That doesn't roll off the tongue for some people, so the older kids decided Goose is close enough, so since freshman year, that's where that nickname came from."

Williams is still passionate about lighting design, and said that planning the lighting for a new script is his "favorite part" of being on the tech crew. But he has also come to enjoy teaching younger students the ins-and-outs of theater management, and how to work as a team.

"Basically, it's getting them acclimated to all of the equipment that we use, so they can be useful when show times roll around," he said.

After graduation, Williams is planning to attend the Oregon Institute of Technology and study mechanical engineering. He currently has no plans to continue working in theater, but with years of running stage operations and supervising other crew members behind him, the senior feels he is better equipped than most to navigate life beyond high school.

"The knowledge and skills that you gain from working in that kind of environment are so versatile," he said. "Learning time management, independent working, teamwork, leadership, all of those things are very important skills that some people don't get to learn until they're older. Learning it in high school has definitely helped my confidence."