The placard on Maurice Stroemel's office door is amended by a computer printout that reads, "a position of indirect respect and oblique power."

That pretty much sums it up.

As technical director for the School of Theatre, "Mo" has an office adjacent to the Theatre Arts Production Studios (TAPS) filled with boxes, books and rolled-up drawings from past productions. A sign above the door declares the space a "no-whining zone."

During the school year, Stroemel serves as technical director for one show and overseer for the rest of the season's productions.

"I think of myself as a crutch for the graduate students," Stroemel said. "I'm someone they can come to to
bounce ideas off of, and if they're having a problem, we can try to work on that together."

In addition to supervising the staff carpenters and theatre students working in the shop, Stroemel also teaches courses in rigging and technical direction and supervises a graduate student teaching Theatre 180 (Introduction to Stagecraft).

Stroemel said he loves the unpredictable nature of a job that allows him to constantly solve problems.

"Every single day is completely different than the day before," he said. "It never gets boring."

Stroemel's Penn State experience started with a bachelor's degree in advertising in 1980. After a stint as owner of a Domino's franchise in New Jersey, Stroemel returned to State College to run the Papa John's, 1341 S. Atherton St., for about a year before starting as a staff carpenter at TAPS.

Moving up to staff technical supervisor and then technical director for the School of Theatre about four years ago, Stroemel completed his MFA in theatre at Penn State last year.

He has been a technical director for nearly 75 shows since he began working in theatre in 1985.

And that's only the beginning.

For the past six years, Stroemel has filled his nights with practices and games as coach of the Division II men's club hockey team.

Stroemel, who played hockey in high school, began his initial involvement with the team eight years ago by responding to an advertisement.

"I saw an ad in the paper for an assistant coach, and it had to be someone who could drive university vans," Stroemel said shrugging his shoulders.

If his technical directing, pizza-making and hockey-playing skills don't define Stroemel as a well-rounded individual, he also plays guitar and sings Wednesday nights at the Allen Street Grill, 100 W. College Ave.

Stroemel began to play informally as a Penn State undergrad just for something to do with people in the dorms.

To avoid bothering anyone with their jam sessions, Stroemel said he and his friends used to seek out unlikely performance spots, often stopping the elevators between floors to play.

"The bathrooms were really great for reverb," he said.

Returning to State College, he formed the band No Angels with several members of the Phyrst Family. Members of No Angels still play together once a year as the Shamrocks.

This year, the Shamrocks will open at 9 a.m. Saint Patrick's Day at the Phyrst, 111 1/2 E. Beaver Ave., for the hardcore green beer-drinkers.

A former Theatre 180 student bartending at the Allen Street Grill knew of Stroemel's ability through open mic nights at the Phyrst and recommended him for a trial run at the Allen Street Grill.

His well-received folk, classic rock and novelty tunes earned him a permanent spot.

"Some nights, it's packed, and some nights, it's not so packed," Stroemel said. "But there's always a few people there you can connect with."

Val Narehood (graduate-theatre) said his casual, laid-back personality carries over from the shop to the stage.

"We always have a fun time when we go," Narehood said. "He's just a multi-talented, all-around good guy."

Eric Broadwater (graduate-theatre) said Stroemel plays the classic rock bar standards and always maintains a conversational style with the audience.

"He works a crowd, let me tell you," Broadwater said.

In addition to traditional bar covers, Narehood said Stroemel also adds some originals and unique, sing-along type tunes.

"His 'Stairway to Gilligan's Island' is worth any cover," she said.

While technical direction and playing the bar scene may seem like polar opposites, Stroemel said the number of techical theatre people who are musicians is higher than most people might think.

"The best bands out there don't just play music, they're doing a little theatre, too," Stroemel said. "To me, it's all related. It's all entertainment."