Have you have ever wanted to be in a play? How about build or decorate a set? Ever want to work backstage making costumes, providing props, smearing on make-up, meet new people, or just get out of the house for a few hours? If so, Community Theatre invites you to become an active participant in its many fun-filled activities. There’s always a need for people to perform the dozens of tasks required to present our plays and films.
If you are interested, or know of someone who might be interested, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, or fill out our Volunteer Form.
FAQ's
CT is a self-supporting, all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Wabash Valley by providing an opportunity to experience the tradition of excellence in theatrical expression. You can help us carry out our goal by playing your part, large or small, at Community Theatre. Please consider sharing some of your time and talents with us this season.
- Learn a new skill. For example, wood-working, making props, sewing, project management, leadership, organization. There are many opportunities where no prior skill is required.
- Act on stage. Perhaps you’d like to try “treading the boards”? (no, you don’t have to work backstage on a show before you can audition at CT.) For many people their first activity at CT is onstage.
- Have a sense of accomplishment. There’s nothing better than to see a show open that you know you had a hand in getting off the ground.
- Make new friends. There are plenty of friendly people who will always greet you with a smile and are happy to see you.
- Spend quality time away from your family, (or with your family).
- Community Service. Perhaps you just want to “give back” to the community you’ve grown up in (or are new to).
As you can imagine, activities at CT revolve around the shows we do. The theatre puts on 5 Main Stage productions every season (August-May) and 2 – 4 Oakley Stage productions (fall and summer). Most work takes place Monday – Thursday from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. The productions are on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon. We make every effort to accommodate work schedules and other conflicts.
Here are some of the volunteer opportunities at the theatre:
- Director
- Assistant to the Director
- Stage Manager and assistants
- Lighting designer and light board operator
- Sound designer and sound board operator
- Costume Designer, sewers, and dressers
- Set designer, builder, and decorator (woodwork, painting, etc.)
- Prop designer and crew
- Make-up designer and crew
- Box office – Taking ticket orders in the box office from patrons over the phone or in person. Box Office work is one of the few activities that take place during the day.
- Ushers
If you’re new to theatre the best place to start is work on a show as one of the crew members. No experience is necessary. But if you have theatre experience, we are always looking for experienced designers, actors, directors, etc.
Here’s some simple steps:
- Join the CT volunteers mailing list to receive the newsletter and other mailings.
- Join the CT GrapeVine, a theatre news, information, & help wanted e-newsletter. We often send emails asking for volunteers. Reply, saying you’re interested and you’re new and we’ll get in touch with you.
You pick the activities you want to do, based on how much time you have. For example:
- A crew member will probably need to commit to 2-6 nights of time. One of these will be during a rehearsal where you can be taught how to perform your duties, and the remainder will be the nights of the performances you will be working on.
- As a crew chief, you’ll attend many of the shows, all of the tech week rehearsals (the week preceding opening) plus other time away from the theatre organizing your crews.
- Costume sewing can be done at home. Dressers would attend whatever performances you sign up for.
- As Assistant to the Director, you’ll attend many if not all of the rehearsals. Rehearsals typically go for 6 weeks, 4-7 days a week, depending on the show and the Director.
- As Stage Manager, you’ll attend some rehearsal and every show. You typically are the first to arrive, and the last to leave. Assistant Stage Managers would attend all shows depening on what is needed.
- Set work is typically done Monday – Thursday from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. You’d work whatever evenings work best for you.
Contact our Volunteer Coordinator if you are interested in joining the CT Family.
