Community Theater Volunteer
Insider Info
Wanted: A person who loves the arts and has some free time and a little
sensitivity. A person committed to the community and the theater.
The American Association of Community Theatre represents the interests
of more than 7,000 theater groups across the United States. Julie Angelo,
former executive director of AACT, estimates there are a million volunteers
with those theater groups. Volunteers do everything from handing out programs,
to set design and fund-raising.
Ron Dodson is the past president of a theater company. He says a love of
and commitment to the arts are typical qualities of theater volunteers. "Theater
tends to be something that you feel you want to do, and should do for your
community," he says.
"What makes a good volunteer varies a lot," says Angelo. "Some like to
do short-term things, others like long-term things. Some wield a paintbrush,
and there are those who have some stage ability."
"All our people -- board, actors and technicians -- are volunteers," says
Billie Williams with Fontana Community Players in Fontana, California. She
says it takes about 100 volunteers, each putting in four to 40 hours a week,
to do a production.
Volunteering provides people young and old with opportunities to develop
talents, learn new skills and find self-confidence. "Kids come back and say
they learned to speak in public," says Williams. "It makes them able to meet
people and not be afraid, and stand up in front of people and speak."
"I started out helping with costumes when [my] children were small and
I couldn't be away for long," says Dottie Griffith. She's a volunteer with
the Twin City Players in St. Joseph, Michigan.
Her work with costumes led to several stage appearances. "I shook my first
time on stage. I was so frightened," she says. What sort of person makes a
good theater volunteer, according to Griffith? "I think you know within yourself
if you want to be among those people," she says.
When Billie Williams was young, her mother took her to see a play for her
birthday. The experience changed her life.
"I thought it was fascinating," remembers Williams. "I'd seen movies, but
thought there was something really interesting to see people up there on stage."
Theater has been her passion ever since. She pursued theater in school
and community theater groups right through college. She then taught theater
at the high school level for 20 years. After retiring, she volunteered for
the Fontana Community Players theater, and served as the group's chairman.
She's now a member emeritus on the board of directors.
There's little time for acting, but Williams says it is still a thrill
to get up on stage. "When you hear people laugh and applaud at what you're
doing, it's exciting," she says.
How to Get Involved
Look for community theater groups in the phone book. However, since many
theater groups are too small to have a separate listing, you should also call
your local chamber of commerce or arts council.
If there isn't a theater group in your area, Dodson suggests starting your
own. "Find a person in the community who is interested in reading plays, then
find someone at church that likes to do lighting and sound, and follow those
lines," he says.
Associations
American Association of Community Theatre (AACT)
Internet
:
http://www.aact.org
Links
Starting a Community Theater Company
Find helpful resources for those interested in starting a community
theater
Playbill
Find theater news and resources
Community Theater Around the World
Read about community theaters around the globe
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