Today’s Meet The PAC Staff takes you behind the scenes to meet Technical Assistant Oscar Portillo.
Name: Oscar Portillo
Position at The PAC: Technical Assistant
Year you started working at The PAC: 2019
Alma Mater/College major: Queens College, BA Sociology ’17
A little bit about your job: I’m part of the production team that helps artists and renters put on their shows. I help get the theaters ready for the shows and supervise the stage crew. I help with lights, sound, video, and making sure the artist or whoever has our stage is all set and ready when the curtain goes up.
Dream job as a child: I was told that I used to say that being a lawyer was ideal. It turns out I went a completely different direction.
A coworker who inspires you and why: Christy Havard, our Director of Production. She’s very direct and professional but leaves room to be able to care for her crew and staff. I’ve truly enjoyed working with her.
An event you would love to see at The PAC: I’d love to see larger productions make a residency at the Center. Getting a touring show, musical, or play to be in a theater for two weeks would be a lot of fun.
Your interests outside of work: Podcasts, football, and lots of board games.
Your favorite part about working at The PAC: Getting to put on shows that I’d never thought I’d be working on. Like a tap/live instrument dance show (Dorrance Dance) or a circus act with the sweetest company (Air Play). They’ve made my job easier and a pleasure to walk in to everyday.
A fun fact: I was the first in my family to get a Bachelor’s degree and the first in my family to work in the arts. Translating what I do into Spanish is probably the hardest thing for me.
