HFI’s Career Pathways/Professional Development Program allows students to gain insight into theater industry jobs and it provides teachers with industry exposure that will benefit their general knowledge.
Students learn there are so many other opportunities beside simply performing and increase knowledge about careers they may not have previously considered – stagehand, management, marketing, wigs, costumes, lighting and sound, education possibilities and more. HFI facilitates side by side with experts within the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, so students learn firsthand what it takes to succeed in the business.
Exposure to all facets of Broadway is valuable for Maryland teachers too. HFI provides professional development opportunities for one-on-one consultation and tutorial on sound/lighting operations both on-site at the Hippodrome Theatre and at local schools so teachers can learn about their own equipment. HFI arranges and pays for an IATSE stagehand to work with teachers at schools to provide training, insight, and feedback regarding theatre spaces with a special focus on sound board and lighting operations. Teachers are encouraged to invite a small group of students who will observe the training. HFI’s “teach the teacher” approach has helped theater departments use existing equipment that before the program, personnel did not know how to operate.
