Stagecraft and theater manager Alex Nigian retired at the end of 2025 after 30 years at Walnut High School.
Nigian had a lot of theater experience in his career, making the students feel like they were truly having an impact on the productions. Nigian made the environment of the Drama department enjoyable and supportive for all students, making the effort to know everyone personally.
“He was really fun and he made a lot of jokes,” stagecraft member junior Joseph Luo said. “Without him giving me the opportunity to try different roles, I wouldn’t have decided to stay in stagecraft for the rest of my high school years.”
Nigian stepped up by helping the former director Nikki Hinson O’Connor and becoming the director of Little Shop of Horrors. Students saw his critiques and noted how he was always really specific and clear on what he was looking for to improve the play. With Nigian, the musical was able to run smoothly and he led the show without making anyone feel like they were not doing enough.
“I thought that [Nigian] was really cool because [though] he was a theater manager, he also was able to be the director of Little Shop of Horrors,” Luo said. “To this day, it was the best show that we had ever produced in a while.”
