behindthecurtain

Students gain hands-on experience in theater production during a Backstage Pathways open house

Dazzling lights, brilliant costumes and crystal clear acoustics all amplify the experience of a live performance. But how does that stage magic happen?   

Around 100 middle and high school students learned some of the secrets to making a stage production sing at a recent Backstage Pathways open house. 

Backstage Pathways is an NJPAC Arts Education program, held on Saturdays during the academic year, for students interested in technical theater and live concert production. Through hands-on learning and master classes with members of the union for stagehands (IATSE), students learn about scenic design, set construction, the operation of lighting and sound technology and more. 

“There are thousands of jobs in entertainment that aren’t on the stage,” said Rosa Hyde, Senior Director, Arts Education Performances and Special Initiatives. “We want to expose students to career opportunities where they can make a good living right out of high school and have the satisfaction of joining a trade.”  

On a Monday in March, the 2,800-seat theater of Prudential Hall was transformed into a classroom for the open house — an introductory look at what the Saturday program offers, and what kinds of careers can be found backstage. 

Students rotated through interactive workshops and explored important behind-the-scenes work including lighting, audio, carpentry, wardrobe and video technology. 

Some of their hands-on work included moving risers, using a camera to project images onto a stage screen and assisting the professional crew with set-up for a New Jersey Symphony performance. 

Music teacher Dr. Steven Sabet brought 20 enthusiastic students from JVJ Stem Academy in Elizabeth. He valued the open house for its educational content and the experience, for his students, of interacting with industry professionals. 

“It’s important to see how shows are put together and realize that it’s not just about the performers,” he said. “It’s the ordinary folk we take for granted, doing the work on  lighting, sound and carpentry.”

From his perspective, an additional benefit for his students was networking with adults. “That’s a huge gateway into the profession,” he said. “If young people want to make their mark in the industry they need to balance their education with [advice from] real-life professionals.

 “We need people to work in this industry for the future.”  

Backstage Pathways — one of several career-readiness programs offered through the Colton Institute for Training and Research in the Arts at NJPAC — is a partnership with RECORD HIGH, a program that provides educational tools and career resources for youth interested in careers in the music and entertainment industry. The program launched in 2024 with support from the Devils Youth Foundation.

The fall semester will begin in early October. For more information, visit Backstage Pathways.