Volunteering is great fun and there are many ways you can get involved.
If you have seen a play, you probably didn't realize just how many people it took to get it on the stage. Many more people are involved than just those who were acting and entertaining you! These volunteers are not necessarily experts or professionals. If you can hold a paint brush, or sew a seam, you have skills we need!
| Here are some ways you can volunteer: |
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Makeup -
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| All actors (even the men) wear makeup, even if they look great without it! Stage lights bleach the face of people and the audience can be far away. We have to make skin darker and add accents to eyes, lips and cheeks so when the lights come on the actors look normal to the people in the audience. We can also get pretty creative. Need to look sick? Older? Evil? Maybe even dead? We can do that with makeup! Volunteers in this area use our extensive stock of makeup on each actor for dress rehearsals and for the show itself. |
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Props -
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| Props are the "items" used on stage. There are "handheld" props (actors carry them on and off the stage) and stage props (items used to make a scene look real, like pictures on the walls or a lamp). There are several ways to help in this area. Sometimes we have to do research on what a prop should look like or how it should be used. Sometimes we have to search for a prop. Sometimes we have to MAKE the prop. During rehearsals and the show we have to track where the props are and make sure the actors have them when they need them. Props move around, so we need plenty of help to track them down and put them where they need to be for each particular character in each particular scene! |
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Lights -
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| Long before the show, the lighting people make sure the right lights are connected to the control boards. Ladders and hardware are moved and adjusted, then connected to the control boards. Lighting people have to be very familiar with the play and know when to turn various lights on and off and how to get them to do some pretty tricky things. Careful timing makes a good show great! |
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Sound -
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| These folks have control boards that allow them to adjust the microphones on the actors. They have to keep strict track of which microphone is on which actor and then be ready to turn it on before they appear on stage and turn it off when they leave. There are special controls that help them make the actor sound as clear as possible to the audience. Sound people have to be VERY familiar with the show, and the actors! |
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Microphones -
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| Clips and tape, wires and connections. Each actor that speaks must have a microphone connected in the most "invisible" way, but where they can be clearly heard. Consideration is given to any costume changes the actor may be making. Each microphone is assigned to an actor and they have to be set up especially for that person for each rehearsal and show. Someone has to install new batteries, adjust, bag and attach accessories for each person at each show! |
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Costumes -
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| Each play has its own needs for costumes. We have many costumes in our stock but there are always special costuming needs. Sometimes we have to actually SEW if changes, such as repair or fitting adjustments are required. We may need to research costuming for a play and then try to find clothing we can adapt. Our budget is small, so creativity in this area is often a necessity! Used clothing and velcro can make elaborate costumes possible! |
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Dressers -
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| There are times actors need assistance with costume changes. Most actors dress themselves, but sometimes a costume is difficult to put on or has to be done very quickly DURING A SHOW. That is when a dresser is mandatory! |
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Caterer - Caterer? Food?
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Yes! We need food provided for rehearsals and on show nights. Part of our budget lets us provide a short meal or snack so anyone associated with the show can come directly from work and get their makeup done, costumes on and microphones set. The caterer feeds them with "non messy" finger food that can be easily and quickly eaten. The caterer doesn't have to make fancy food, just tasty, quick food for a group!
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If you would like to help, email us or
call 479-876-1481.
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