If you’re interested in student-run productions or teamwork-building clubs at Norwalk High School, Blackshirts is something that is both of those says Izzy Joel. 

As the Auditorium and Broadcast Technician, Mike Grubb says it is a great place for students to learn basic technical and teamwork skills. 

Grubb said that graduated students that were involved in Blackshirts have gone to do big production jobs after high school, such as going to production colleges or broadcasting NFL for their seasons. 

Newer students that join the Blackshirts think it is a good thing to have under your belt if you want to work in broadcasting, Izzy Joel says, “They do mostly tech things for stuff like plays and choir, they do it because it can introduce kids to stuff like camera work”. 

As a sophomore at Norwalk, Izzy Joel joined Blackshirts this year. She said she had wanted to be able to look behind the scenes for productions like movies which inspired her to join the members. 

“I’ve started as recently as this year back in October,” she said, “I just want an opportunity to get a good idea of what goes on backstage.” 

Another sophomore at Norwalk, Zay Zay Guzman, said she can find a sense of community within working with Blackshirts, helping her with her skills of working with others as well as finding her a comfortable spot in the club. 

Guzman said this year since there’s less staff that it’s harder on the crew however it brings hard work ethics more into the crew too. “Blackshirts creates a stronger bond between the cast members behind the scenes of the school productions.”