Chance Theater students get a direct bridge to professional stage and film work

The Chance Theater’s Empire Training Center for the Arts graduated its first Stagecraft and Technology cohort in December 2025 and will begin a second Arts Administration cohort on April 21 in partnership with New York Stage & Film.

The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie launched the Empire Training Center for the Arts (ETCA) in 2025 as a nonprofit workforce program and college alternative for adults. The first cohort completed a Stagecraft and Technology program in December 2025. ETCA leaders Trish Santini and Frank Butler have revised the model to shorter, five-month programs and are now preparing an Arts Administration cohort that will work with New York Stage & Film in April. Key facts: - ETCA offers adults 18 and older training for technical and administrative careers in the performing arts. - The first cohort included four students who trained from July to December 2025 in Stagecraft and Technology and pursued paid job opportunities and industry connections. - Program length was reduced from an initial 10 months to five months, and tuition was lowered with a trust-based sliding scale to reduce financial barriers. - The upcoming Arts Administration cohort begins April 21 and includes about 10 weeks of hybrid study followed by six weeks of paid work with New York Stage & Film at Marist, with housing and food provided during that placement. - New York Stage & Film described the ETCA pathway as a direct bridge into professional work with the company. - Applications are reported as open through March 31 for adults with a high school diploma or GED; the program leaders say local philanthropic support is a current priority for the nonprofit. Summary: The ETCA has moved from a pilot Stagecraft and Technology cohort to a revised program model that aims to deliver faster, hands-on training and industry placements. The next concrete step is the Arts Administration cohort beginning April 21 in collaboration with New York Stage & Film, while ETCA leaders continue to develop local philanthropic support for the nonprofit’s work.