Technical Theatre Mentoring Program

Our Technical Theatre Mentoring Program is available to any student who has a desire to learn about sound, lights, costumes, set design, props, back stage crew and even box office management. Our program helps students learn about management, responsibility & commitment as well as reading and math.

The program is structured where an adolescent mentee learns not only a technical theatre position, but also the creative process of developing and realizing a design. Each mentee and mentor is also required to read the literature on which our productions are based, so the experience also addresses adolescent literacy issues. The mentee then becomes a working member of a production run crew under the guidance of a Stage Manager. The mentee learns how to run the equipment, the work ethics of the position, and the responsibilities of a job.

The program is a one-to-one model that includes authentic work experiences. Since 1996, Prime Stage has mentored over 50 students and continues to seek young people from diverse cultures, schools, and other organizations which serve young people in our region.

One mentee wrote this reflection of his experiences in the program:

"I joined the Mentor Program in tenth grade. At that time I was doing horribly in school, I was depressed, and felt like I was doing nothing with my life. I had always been involved in the theater, but my high school never embraced much art. I was introduced to Prime Stage through my school, and it was life changing. They were happy to incorporate me in their productions. Prime Stage has given me the knowledge to work with other theatres and in theater for years to come".

Each position of our program is an important part of the theatre. Mentees are required to attend all technical rehearsal and all performances for the assigned productions. This is a commitment by you and your parents and must be taken seriously. If you have questions about our Mentoring Program please contact Mentoring Director, Joanna Obuzor.

To apply for the program please complete the Technical Theatre Mentoring Program Application.

Prime Stage is a member of The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania.