Backstage Volunteer Opportunities

BACKSTAGEPOSITIONS

SetBuilding:

Youdont need to be an experienced carpenter to help with set building (althoughwe welcome you if you are!). Our Lead Carpenters and experienced builders willteach you and guide you in tasks appropriate for your skill level. It is also a great way to learn and practicea new skill and get to see your work in the final production. Some sets arerealistic interiors that look just like a room in someones home and others areunit sets with many pieces that move in and out. This is a fun and challenging way to be a partof a production. Set building takes place at a variety of times so you canprobably find sessions that work with your schedule. Keep an eye out for anupcoming Power Tool Workshop where you can get concentrated instruction.

SetPainting:

Youdont need to be an artist/painter, or to be gifted (although there are lots ofopportunities for specialized art work if you are an artist). Much of the scene painting we do at ThePlayers consists of base-coating, solid color painting, and easily paintedspecialty pieces that require only patience and the love of moving apaintbrush. Again, our Lead Painterswill be at every session to guide you in tasks and techniques. Scene painting is great fun and even if youhave never done it before, youll be able to learn techniques that will haveyou painting like Rembrandt. Paintingsessions are at varying times so you cand pick and choose those that work withyour schedule. Theres nothing likeseeing your hard work under stage lights!

SetDressing:

Doyou love yard sales and antique shops?Do you love decorating would you like to have access to a budget and awhole warehouse floor full of interesting objects? Do you have an eye for where to hangpictures, where to put artificial plants, which curtains work best with thedesign of the room? If this sounds likeyou, you will love set dressing. Workingwith the designer you will bring the set to life by adding all the finishingtouches. Youll also be working side byside with the Properties Designer, always a fun collaboration. Youll do a lot of your work later in theproduction calendar, once the set is finished, so its often a whirlwind ofhunting, shopping, hanging, and excitement as you move things into the Audiduring the last week or two (for musicals) and bring the set detail to life.

PropsManager and Props Assistant

Sucha simple title for a very challenging and rewarding job. The props manager makes a list of propertiesneeded for the show using the script.They then work with the director on additions and deletions. You will befinding, buying, or pulling from our extensive prop collection all the thingsthat the actors handle during a play. A love of yard sales, thrift shops,crafts and collecting makes you a perfect candidate! Sometimes you will work in collaboration withthe set dresser as well. Each play hasdifferent prop requirementsOur Town has about six props and Not AWord had more than 50. In addition to getting the props ready the PropManager attends rehearsals (later in the rehearsal period, usually) and allperformances to work backstage with props assistants and the stage manager tobe sure all items are in the correct spot and ready for actors. Note: The Players are very aware of andcareful for prop safety, following strict guidelines for prop firearms, knives,swords, etc.

CostumeDesigner, Costume Assistants, Wardrobe Manager

Ifyou love working with people and clothing you might find your theatre home onthe second floor of the Players Studio, where you will find one of the largestcollections of costumes in the state.What we dont have in stock we build or borrow and every show needs lotsof help with costumes. If you have anytraining or experience with costume design, we need you now! If you areinterested in learning we can pair you with our experienced designers on a fewshows until you feel ready to design on your own.

Ifyou like to sew or have always wanted to learn, we also need you now. Costumes need to be altered, mended ormodified. Bring your skills to the costume assistant position.

Andmaybe you love costumes but dont want to design or sew! We need you to work on wardrobe, which is thepacking, transporting, organizing at the theatre, being a backstage dresser andhelping actors with costume changes, collecting, laundering, and returning ofall costumes used in a show. Dont worryif this sounds like a lotyoull have plenty of help. Wardrobe work is a great way to be backstageduring a show and to be a vital part of the action. Most of your commitments as wardrobe managerwill be during the last few weeks of production and immediately following theshow.

RunCrew

Areyou calm under pressure? Do you loveorder and organization? Do you look good in black and a headset? Our run crews perform set and prop changesunder the direction of the Technical Director and Stage Manager. You will often work with a stagehand script,a detailed list of all the changes and who does what and when. The run crew for39 Steps last season even got a curtain call because they did so much infull view of the audience. This is agreat opportunity to be an integral part of a play if you dont want toact. You will need to be at rehearsalslater in the rehearsal period and for all rehearsals once the show has moved tothe Audi.

Load-Inand Strike Crew

Ittakes a village to get our shows from the Studio to the City Auditorium. Sometimes it means taking an entire set apartand loading it, along with props, costumes, lighting and sound equipment on atruck, moving it downtown, unloading it and reassembling it on the Audistage. It is a brief but intenseexperience with lots of camaraderie and a delicious lunch served by Playerscooks and bakers. Then, at the end ofthe show, it all has to be done in reversewhen the actors and run crews aretired and very much in need of your help.The cast and crew are required to do this job but would welcome you tojoin them for either or both.

Marketingand Publicity

Wehave a committee for Marketing and Publicity that could really use your helpwith everything from graphic design to poster runs. For instance, we need aVolunteer With the Players brochure designed as soon as possible! If you are an experienced graphic designperson you will find lots of fun, quirky, and challenging projects waiting foryou. If you just want to help withlogistics, if you like to write newsletter entries and copy, if you want tohelp communicate with print and TV media, help design our show programs,posters, and other publicity we need you.This work can often be done entirely on your schedule and, again, if youwant to learn we have lots of experienced professionals to help you.

BoxOffice

Helpout with all ticket related tasks from managing season subscriptions to takingtickets (paper or electronic) at the door.Our Box Office committee members will train you on the software andother procedures. This is a great way tomeet the public and will challenge and reward you. Some work required acrossthe season and at performances.

Shopand Paint Shop Maintenance and Studio Maintenance

Ifyou have already had your Studio tour you have seen how well organized andmaintained the shop, paint shop, scenery docks, prop and costume storage,library, sound equipment storage, kitchen, bathrooms and rehearsal areas are. If only this happened by magic! But it takes many people who are goodorganizers and meticulous cleaners. (Remember, its always more fun to cleansomeone elses house!). These spaces are used constantly by people who are sobusy building, painting, sewing, and other show-related tasks that they dontalways have time to keep these spaces like they should be. Once each year there is a Studio clean-upday, which involves many people, but we need help throughout the rest of theyear. You can make your own schedule andget plenty of advice and guidance from experienced Players. Its not aglamorous job but you will be held in highest esteem and can feel proud of yourwork every time you come into our beautiful space.

WorkshopAssistant/Administrator

ThePlayers offer training workshopssingle eventsthroughout the year and workshopleaders sometimes need help with registration, confirmation, or logistics forthose workshops before and on the day of.If you help out you get to attend the workshop for free! This isnt a huge time requirement but it canmake a big difference for the instructor and its a great chance to get to knowpeople.

SocialEvents Planning/Set-up/Clean-up

Oneof the best things about being involved with the Community Players is thefrequent opportunities to engage socially.Each show has a company party and there are often other opportunities toshare a meal together at the Studio including the Annual Meeting. We always need help planning pot luckdinners, shopping for supplies, setting up, and cleaning up, and, of course,enjoying the social time.

Leadand Assistant Producers

Evenif youre not a CEO or head of a big organization (although we welcome alllevels of experience) we need your help producing our shows. It is work that goes largely unrecognized bythe outside worldwe LOVE our producers within the Players familybut withoutwhich there would be no productions. Lead Producers go through one of ourperiodic Producer Training workshops, which are open to anyone. This is a great way to learn about all thehard work behind the magic you see on stage.Our producers do a variety of administrative tasks involving helping tostaff the show, scheduling, communication, planning, coordinating and workingclosely with the director, Players president/board of directors anddesigners. It is a great challenge andextremely rewarding. Assistant producersare also encouraged to attend producer training as they help out with allaspects of producing under the guidance of the lead producer. Producers use ourdetailed Producers Manual, which contains detailed lists of all the necessarytasks.

StageManager and Assistant Stage Manager

Youprobably have/had a job or career or manage/managed a family and as such havethe basic skill set required to be a Stage Manager. You will just need to attend one of our StageManager training workshops or work first under the guidance of an experiencedStage Manager. The Stage Manager is in charge of everything that happens behindthe curtain. And thats a lot. You will work closely with the director toprepare the rehearsal space, run rehearsals, take blocking, coordinate light,sound, and set change cues with the designers, support actors, supervise loadout and load in, manage strike and call the show, among many other duties. Its like being an air traffic controlleronly with people instead of planes. Andit is as much fun as it is challenging, especially if you enjoy big-picturemanagement. The Assistant Stage Managerworks closely with the SM and it is a good place to gain experience if you wantto Stage Manage. The Players has a smallstable of excellent Stage Managers but they get tired and would welcome some newmembers of this elite group.

Ushers

Cometo a brief training, work with some wonderful people, greet and assist thepublic, and get to see a show for free.We always need ushers!

HouseManagers

Justas the Stage Manager is responsible for everything that happens behind thecurtain, you are responsible for everything that happens in front of thecurtain. Among other things, you will open and close the theatre building,supervise ushers, handle emergencies, assist patrons with special needs, manageintermissions, assure cleanliness of the lobby and restrooms, and serve as anambassador for the Players. You willhave access to preparation and training by our experienced House Managers. Again, if you like to be in charge or ifyoure a natural manager, this is a fun job.Your commitment is limited to show nights after you have been trained.

Lighting,Set, and Sound Designers

Inthese key design positions, you will design and install lighting, scenery, andsound. These are specialized positions that require some basic training but ifyou have an interest, the experienced designers at the Players will mentor youand support you as you learn and try your skills. If you are an experienceddesigner or technician, we need you now!

Lightand Sound Board Operators

Theseare highly technical positions that receive a small stipend. You may need to be specially trained andcertified on the Audi boards, or receive special training on Playersequipment. Anyone with past experiencerunning lights and/or sound can shorten the training process and we are willingto train anyone with an interest. Lightsand sound are characters in any show and we need the highest quality work fromour operators. Want a goodchallenge? This is it!

VOLUNTEERFOR A COMMITTEE (Chair or Member)

Ourstanding committees work year-round and are critical to our work. Committee Chairs terms run from July 1 toJune 30, but committee members can be added at any time. Would you be interested in chairing acommittee or serving as a member? Checkout this list of committees and contact us to learn more.

Marketing/Publicity

BoxOffice/Subscriptions

Fundraising

Rightsand Royalties

SeasonProgram

Lighting

Sound

Props

Costumes

Wardrobe

ShopMaintenance

StudioMaintenance

ChildrensTheatre Project

Newsletters(E-news Update and Backstage)

Database/Membership

DirectorsCommittee

InvestmentCommittee

Workshops

Library

Historian

AnnualMeeting

Website

PlayConsideration Committee

NewVolunteer Committee

For more information contact Cindy Dickinson, New Volunteer Coordinator: [email protected]