Teens working part-time jobs usually stand behind cash registers or at fast-food windows, but a group of local youth are instead setting up lights for performances at dance studios and museums.
At Joe's Theater Tech Program, operating out of Mount Rainier-based Joe's Movement Emporium, 7 local youth are paid an hourly wage to learn theater-tech skills and receive tutoring.
Program administrator Suzy Wald spearheaded the program. She said the idea came after Joe's hired local youth to help plan events for its version of the Prince George's County Parks and Recreation Xtreme Teens program.
"[The youth] were eventually trained to do sound and lights, and they started getting jobs," Wald said. "It was enough [work] where we inspired to get funding to train other local youth."
Program coordinator Jenny Cisneros said participants applied either for part-time employment or because of an interest in theater technology.
"It's really hard to find a job, especially because of the economy," Cisneros said.
The youth go on field trips every Saturday to venues like the Dance Place in Washington, D.C., to see how technicians prepare the sound and lighting for events and performances.
Cisneros said the youth gain valuable skills that translate into jobs, especially freelance work in helping prepare for large-scale performances and events.
"With theater work, you just can work anywhere. There are actually a lot of jobs," she said. "They may need you only for an event, but there are a lot of events."
Jazmyne Walker, 16, of Hyattsville applied for the program to earn extra money and to receive tutoring.
She said one of the most valuable things she has gained through the job — her first ever — is learning how to work well in a group.
"I learned about teamwork. I'm not really good at working with a team, but I think I'm getting better at it now," she said.
She said the tutoring has helped her with her studies. Tutors work one-on-one with youth for two-hour sessions so that they can focus on the material, Cisneros said.
Head tutor Nadja Bonhomme said the youth are treated as employees during tutoring sessions and are paid for those hours. That means cell phones are off and the youth can be written up for infractions or even fired if they don't behave properly.
"There's a difference between how you would conduct yourself at school as opposed to how you conduct yourself at work," Bonhomme.
Jeniffer Leon, 18, of Hyattsville said she joined the program because she wants to be a film director. The 2008 High Point High School graduate said she took all of the arts classes offered at the Beltsville school.
"I was not into the whole academic thing. I was more into the arts," she said.
Leon said experiences during the program such as setting up stage performance lighting only strengthened her desire to pursue directing.
The program has exposed participants like Jazmyne to new experiences like setting up stage lighting at the National Air and Space Museum. She said it's made her think twice about working a part-time job for extra money.
"Why do something like flipping hamburgers and be miserable when you can do something you like and get paid?" Jazmyne said.
E-mail Elahe Izadi at eizadi@gazette.net.
