Volunteer Teams
As part of our production, it is required that all participating families volunteer for small jobs that help with the production, ex: ticket takers, dressing room assistance, child care for the pre-ballet & primary classes, backstage prop handlers, advertising, etc. Our volunteers are a very important part of putting together our show!
Below you will find a list of our general volunteer jobs and their descriptions. Depending on our show, not all responsibilities listed will be required, but they are there to provide a general idea of what each team entails. Volunteers will be assigned a specific part of their team, and each group will recieve more detailed guidelines upon assignment.
Set Design/Construction:
Building/constructing of set pieces and props. Repairs & maintenance to existing props.
Costuming:
Help with maintenance of costumes, alterations, embellishments, label and record costumes, and costume distribution and organization during and after dress rehearsals and performances. Hand sewing and emergency fixes of costumes during performances. Sewing skills are helpful, but there is still plenty to do that does not require sewing skills!
Publicity/Marketing:
Help promote the show through press releases, distributing fliers at local businesses, listing performances in publication calendars, and through social media, etc. Obtain ads for our programs.
Backstage/Tech Crew
Responsible for manipulation of curtains, backdrops and sets, setting out props, running the music/lights, etc. A basic working knowledge of production procedures is helpful, but not required. Tech crew must be available for at least one rehearsal during show week (more preferably) and one performance. Those responsible for music and/or lights must be available the entire week and for both shows.
Load In/Load Out
Help move the set in to the theater from storage, set up stage flooring, backdrops, props, and costumes at the theater. Strike/break down and remove all pieces, load into trailer/truck, using care to not damage show pieces during the return to storage following the final performance. Generally, load in is completed in one day, and load-out is completed on the day of the final performance.
Front of House
Involves ticket taking, theatre ushers, running the lobby and house, enforcement of house rules, & managing audience experience. Work in concessions, boutique/merch sales, sell flower-grams & facilitate their delivery. Decorate theatre lobby.
Childcare (Ages 3-7 years)
Supervise the room where the younger dancers await their performance time. You will be expected to make sure dancers have used the restroom, are dressed in costume, and are backstage before their dance cues. Only dancers in the performance are allowed in the childcare area; younger siblings are not permitted.
Dressing Rooms (Ages 7+)
Manage dancers in dressing rooms, help dancers dress (hook & eyes closures, pins, etc.), have hair pieces and accessories worn correctly and secured. Organize costumes, report any damage or repairs that need to be done. Assure labels are on all pieces and returned to garment racks. Assist with dancers' needs, quick changes and keeping dancers on the performance schedule.
* These notes are derived from our 2021 Nutcracker performance, and are therefore subject to change depending on the needs of our current show.