England: LJ Bachenheimer (A New Experience)

May 6, 2024

A group of several students in costumes and all black sit on a stage with a stained-glass window set piece, and pieces of paper scattered all over the floor. — As a theater fan, one thing I wanted to do in London was take in a lot of shows. I didn’t expect that I would get to be a part of them. Through UW in London, I got membership to the Imperial College Union and the student organizations of our nearest university. That was how I joined the Imperial College Dramatic Society or DramSoc. The DramSoc crew handles all lighting, sound, set, and costumes for plays, musicals, and special events at Imperial. When I showed up for my first day on the crew, I was nervous, since I was still new to London and it had been a while since I worked on a show. My nerves instantly went out the window once I met everyone, as the whole crew was amiable and welcoming. And they put me to work immediately, breaking down the set-up from the last show to prepare for the next one. I ended up working on two musicals with the DramSoc crew, Spring Awakening and Big Fish, and a few showcases, doing sound for all. The productions were often stress-inducing, but the chaos just added to the fun in hindsight. Through all the hours I spent in the Union Concert Hall running cables, setting up speakers, and managing microphones, I got to know the crew well and made some great friends in the process. Since all my classmates were American, talking to the students at Imperial and trading college experiences helped give me a greater perspective on life in London. As my time in London comes to a close, my experiences as a member of the DramSoc crew stand out as new and unique. I never thought I would be running sound for theater shows when I came to London, but I’m so glad that I did.

As a theater fan, one thing I wanted to do in London was take in a lot of shows. I didn’t expect that I would get to be a part of them.

Through UW in London, I got membership to the Imperial College Union and the student organizations of our nearest university. That was how I joined the Imperial College Dramatic Society or DramSoc. The DramSoc crew handles all lighting, sound, set, and costumes for plays, musicals, and special events at Imperial. When I showed up for my first day on the crew, I was nervous, since I was still new to London and it had been a while since I worked on a show. My nerves instantly went out the window once I met everyone, as the whole crew was amiable and welcoming. And they put me to work immediately, breaking down the set-up from the last show to prepare for the next one.

I ended up working on two musicals with the DramSoc crew, Spring Awakening and Big Fish, and a few showcases, doing sound for all. The productions were often stress-inducing, but the chaos just added to the fun in hindsight. Through all the hours I spent in the Union Concert Hall running cables, setting up speakers, and managing microphones, I got to know the crew well and made some great friends in the process. Since all my classmates were American, talking to the students at Imperial and trading college experiences helped give me a greater perspective on life in London. As my time in London comes to a close, my experiences as a member of the DramSoc crew stand out as new and unique. I never thought I would be running sound for theater shows when I came to London, but I’m so glad that I did.

LJ stands in front of a blurred out field, wearing a denim jacket with several pins.

LJ Bachenheimer

Hometown: Roseland, New Jersey

Major: Sociology & Political Science

Program: UW in London