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October 9, 2024Capital Region BOCES Students’ Theatrical Skills Take Center Stage at Proctors
Many students have dreams of gaining fame and fortune on Broadway or in Hollywood, but how many of those students can say they are learning the skills necessary for that in a historic, nationally known theater?
That is exactly what students in the Entertainment Technology program at Capital Region BOCES experience as they learn daily in the historic Proctors theater while preparing for those careers through a partnership between BOCES, Proctors and Fulton-Montgomery Community College (FMCC).
“I have always been a huge fan of theater, so to come here every day for school is just amazing,” said Jade Menzies, a Class of 2024 graduate of the program from Duanesburg.
Students meet daily in the Addy Theatre, Media Lab, rehearsal spaces and even the main theater and have the opportunity to work on productions, said teacher Jeff Knorr.
In their studies, 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.
In recent years, students helped theater crews prepare for a concert by the Albany Symphony Orchestra, worked on Classic Theatre Guild’s production of “T’was the Land of the Night Before …” at Proctors, and learned from the touring Broadway production crew of “Aladdin”.
“Students develop a wide range of skills on modern technologies right here at Proctors, which is why providing hands-on training with current shows in a professional theater is so important,” Proctors Collaborative CEO Philip Morris previously said.
Students can also earn up to a semester’s worth of college credits—16 to be exact-at FMCC— through the program.
“We have had great success with this and in offering opportunities for students to achieve their dreams,” said Jeff Palmer, director of Career and Technical Education at Capital Region BOCES.
Graduates of the program praise the education they received.
“The Entertainment Tech program gave me the tools I need in order to get into the work field, while offering amazing opportunities along the way,” said Class of 2021 graduate Noel Lyman from Mohonason.
“CTE has given me an edge because it allowed me to make many important connections with people in the theater industry,” Menzies added.
Fellow class of 2024 graduate Lamarrion Washington praised the program for giving him a greater awareness of all the industry entails.
“This is a program that will open your eyes to just how much goes on behind the scenes of a lot of the plays, movies and shows you see. This program will also open you up to meeting a lot of other great, eccentric people you can relate to,” the Schenectady High School graduate stated.
For more information on the program, go to https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/entertainment-technology-i-and-ii/
