Area high school students interested in a career in theater gained real-life skills this month preparing and working backstage of a theatrical production at Proctors.
Students in the Entertainment Technology program helped stage earlier the Classic Theatre Guild’s production of “T’was the Land of the Night Before” in the Addy Theater at Proctors.
Senior Bryan Reed served as stage manager and classmate Michael Egan was the light board operator for the production, which debuted Dec. 9 and ran through Dec. 18.
“The show is very exciting and it has given me the opportunity to explore another field more in depth,” said Reed, who attends the program from Scotia-Glenville High School.
“It is interesting and fun being able to program cues and experiment around with different lights, color and direction,” added Egan from Colonie Central High School.
Numerous other Entertainment Technology students from schools as far afield as Cohoes and Middleburgh helped with the production, designing and preparing backdrops and the stage for the eight-show production.
“We’re all very proud of the work and participation that the students have been putting in the last few weeks,” said Teacher Jeff Knorr. “They’ve been working on their own projects, participating with show productions and observing professional productions as part of their work-based learning experience.”
Learn more about our Entertainment Tech program
Housed in historic Proctors, the Capital Region BOCES Entertainment Tech program prepares students for careers in the entertainment industry – whether in theater, film, music or other media. Throughout the two years, students learn about the many jobs and the skills needed to work in the entertainment industry, including set design/carpentry, lighting/stage electrics, sound design/recording, costuming, stage management, film/media, etc. They meet daily in the Addy Theatre, the Media Lab, rehearsal spaces and even the main Proctors theater and work on productions or learn from the crews that are working on those shows.