Volunteer Opportunities
Current Volunteer Openings:
For further information, please contact us or
email us.
House Manager Duties
- Introduce yourself to the Box Office person, the
Director, the Stage Manager, and the Intermission Bar person.
- Close the theatre doors and check to be sure it is
clean and that the chairs are in order. Unlock the side door. Place an
'occupied' card on the chair next to the door to reserve your seat as House
Manager.
- Vacuum the lobby and theatre as needed and plug in the
"OPEN" sign.
- Ask patrons if they would like to be added to the
mailing list to receive announcements of future shows and/or to the e-mail
list. If they are interested, have them fill out the forms with all necessary
information.
- At 7:00 pm check with the Stage Manager or Director
regarding opening the theatre doors, then do so. Announce to patrons that the
theatre is open and that they can go in.
- Stand at theatre doors and check that everyone
entering has a program (the program is proof of ticket purchase).
- Plays start at 7:30 pm - check with the Director or
Stage Manager at 7:25 pm to make sure the play is starting on time, then lower
the lights in the Intermission Bar a couple of times to notify patrons to go
to their seats.
- At 7:30 pm lock the front door, then turn out lobby
lights. Close the theatre doors after patrons are seated (unless they are to
stay open for the show - ask the Director or Stage Manager). If the show is
sold out, keep the front door locked and do not allow any more patrons to
enter.
- Open the doors (and unlock the front door) at
Intermission and turn the lobby lights on. Note the time Intermission starts.
- Check with the Director or Stage Manager after 15
minutes about when to lower lights to notify patrons to return to their seats.
- Turn out lobby lights, and close doors to theatre,
unless they are to remain open.
- Open doors when lights go on after bows. Unlock front
door.
- Pick up programs, cups, and debris after patrons leave the theatre. Lock the side door
in the theatre and unplug the "OPEN" sign.
Stage Manager Duties
The stage manager is very present during the rehearsals and performances of a show.
Opening night of the show, the director "hands over" the show to the stage
manager. From that point on, the stage manager is in charge of coordinating and running
the show.
Prior to the opening of a show, the job duties of the stage manager are as follows:
- Attends all rehearsals
- Opens the building prior to rehearsal
- Gives actors the actor agreement and bio form at first
rehearsal
- Maintains a list of cast members and calls role at
each rehearsal
- Calls cast members unexpectedly missing from
rehearsals
- Notifies cast members of changes in rehearsal schedule
- Writes down blocking for all characters in the show
- Makes sure that trash accumulated by the cast is taken
to the dumpster
- Closes the building (this includes making sure all
exit doors are locked, lights turned off and a/c or heat adjusted) and sets
alarm after rehearsals
- Gives bios to producer or to program designer
- Coordinates with producer
- Notifies cast of mail out and set build dates
Following the opening of the show the job duties are as follows:
- Arrive one hour and 15 minutes prior to curtain to
open the building.
- Advise cast of call one hour prior to curtain
- Set props and stage for first act
- Advise cast to check props
- Make sure that cast is out of stage area 30 minutes
prior to curtain so the house can be opened
- Advise house manager when the house can be opened
- Call time intervals to advise cast of how much time
remains until the show opens (e.g. the house is open, 15 minutes to curtain, 5
minutes to curtain, 2 minutes to curtain, places)
- Once the stage manager has called places, advise house
and light tech by giving thumbs up.
- At intermission, set stage for second act.
- Advise cast of time.
- Give five minute and 2-minute calls prior to calling
places
- Advise house manager and light tech when places have
been called
- At the end of the performance, clean up trash in the
green room, lock up the building and set the alarm.
- Advise cast of brush up rehearsals and engage in usual
stage manager activities on that night.
- Coordinate the set strike following the final
performance of the show.
- After the final performance have the cast and crew make the green rooms ready for the
next show.
Producer Duties
The producer is the coordinator and facilitator of the show. 6 weeks (or earlier) prior
to the opening night of the show, the producer has a meeting with the director and begins
to assemble a crew for various jobs needed. The Producer actively seeks volunteers to fill
the positions.
The jobs are as follows:
- Costumer
- Lighting Design
- Light Tech
- Props Master
- Set Design
- Master Carpenter
- Construction Crew (always includes the cast of the
show)
- Sound Design
- Sound Tech
- Stage Manager
The producer also notifies the director, cast and others of dead lines such as:
- Bios: due 3 weeks prior to the opening of the show
- Director Notes for flier: Due 4 weeks prior to the
opening of the show
- Director Notes for Program: Due 3 weeks prior to the
opening of the show
- Mail Out: The Saturday 2 weeks prior to opening date
- Set Build: Coordinate with master carpenter and
director: Usually 1-2 weeks prior to opening of show depending on the previous
show.
- Tech Day: Coordinated with Director and Light Designer
- Costume Parade: Coordinated with Costumer and Director
and Cast, Monday of opening week.
- Any additional performances added to the run of the show (notify cast and all staff
members by e-mail or phone).
The Producer needs to gather the cast and crew to place flyers for the show around the
central Arkansas area. Also, all receipts for purchases made for the show should be given
to the Producer, who will collect them and turn them in to the Executive Director. Each
receipt should have the purchaser's name, the name of the play, and the purpose of the
purchase (props, set, costumes, etc.) written on it. This will allow the Producer to keep
track of expenses and help stay on budget.
Production Meetings are held one time per week from 5 weeks before the show until they
are no longer needed. The Producer notifies people who need to be at the meeting and
coordinates a day and time. (It often occurs on Sundays prior to the Sunday evening
rehearsal.)
THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING AT THE WEEKEND THEATRE!
