Backstage Pass
Backstage Pass is full for the season! Please fill out the registration form or email weissman@operaphila.org to be added to the waitlist.
This vocational training program helps high school students set the stage for an exciting career behind the curtain in theater, concert, opera, television, film, corporate events, and more. Participants of the Backstage Pass program discover the ins and outs of each job, networking on their journey of learning to launch their careers and find future employment.
Over the course of this program, students will meet industry professionals, visit theaters and workshops, and build their skills through professionally taught, hands-on training sessions.
Sessions begin in November and will be conducted on Mondays from 4:00-5:45 pm. through May 2025.
Each student receives a $250 stipend upon their successful completion of the program.
Technical Session Subjects:
- Carpentry
- Costumes
- Front of House
- Lighting
- Props
- Sound
- Stagehand 101
- Stage management
- Wigs and Makeup
Additional Sessions
- Site Visit to Philadelphia Scenic Works
- Personal Finance Workshop
- Show visits, including the the Academy of Music, 1812 Productions, the Wilma Theater, and more!
- Training at PhillyCAM
Backstage Pass @ PJJSC
This season, Opera Philadelphia is excited to bring its Backstage Pass program to the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center. Through this initiative, high school-aged students at the center will receive hands-on vocational training in the world of technical theater. In weekly interactive sessions, participants will explore backstage roles—from carpentry to costumes—guided by industry professionals. The program also includes networking opportunities and a special visit from Delaware Shakespeare's Community Tour, providing students with valuable skills and insights into the production process. Upon completion, students will receive a certificate and may qualify for additional paid training opportunities, such as the Mann Center's Music Industry Apprenticeship Program (MIAP).
Thank you to our wonderful partners for making this season of Backstage Pass possible: FringeArts, IATSE, MADE Fashion Institute, Philadelphia Scenic Works, Philadelphia Theater Company, and PhillyCAM.
For more information, call 215.893.3600 or email Abby Weissman, Assistant Manager of Youth and Community Programs, at weissman@operaphila.org.
