CAST MEMBERS: No experience is required to audition to be a CAST member for a Little Theatre production. Our newsletter always includes information on upcoming auditions, and the Winston-Salem Journal’s Entertainment section (included in the Saturday edition) also gives information on auditions. Being cast in a production requires a major time commitment: six to eight weeks of rehearsals and two or three weekends of performances. Lead roles typically require more time than secondary roles. Even so, there is some flexibility. Rehearsals can often be scheduled around conflicts as long as the director is advised during auditions.

There is an entire cast working backstage during every production to make sure that the people onstage look good! These folks are known collectively as the CREW, and jobs they perform include the following:

PROPS: Props are the items used onstage during a production. There are two phases to the work of the props crews - building/gathering and running crew. You can do either or both. Typically those who gather and build props also help place and strike them during the run of a show, but the STAGE CREW also helps during the run. Props are being built during a three to five week period prior to the opening of a show. Some prop items are warehoused and can be dusted off or refurbished. The props crew is also responsible for returning or storing props when the run is over.

SCENERY: Regular shop calls for scene construction are Monday and Wednesday nights from 7-9 p.m. You are welcome any time you can come for as long as you can work. You must be over 16 or accompanied by an adult to work in the scene shop. Don’t worry if you have never built anything - there will be people there to train you. There is also a SET RUNNING CREW which handles scene changes during the run of a show. You can sign up to assist with as many performances as your schedule will allow.

STAGE MANAGEMENT: "The Ultimate Commitment!" The stage manager supervises all rehearsals and makes sure that communications are shared between the actors, set crew, costume crew, director, and staff. It can be stressful, and you need to be extremely well organized. But it’s also fun! If you want to get a taste of it without taking on the full responsibility, you can sign on as an ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER and work your way up.

COSTUMES: Costuming requirements vary a great deal depending on the size of the cast and the nature of the show. The Little Theatre Costume Shop has a large inventory of costumes that have either been donated or created for previous shows. For most shows, items are pulled from stock and volunteers help alter or adapt them.

For large-scale musical productions and some period shows, costumes are made from scratch or borrowed from other companies and altered to fit. LOTS of volunteers are needed to build costumes for musicals. Don’t worry if you’re not a Betsy Ross. There’s plenty of hand work, machine work, hat-making, seam ripping and frill affixing for all skill levels. During the 3-4 week period before a show opens, costume work is done in the evenings in a workshop set up in the basement of the theatre. Volunteers are also needed backstage during the run of a show to make emergency repairs on costumes. DRESSERS are always needed to help cast members make quick costume changes. We usually need several for each night of the production. You’ll enjoy seeing what goes on in the "back of the house." You can sign up for as many or as few performances as your schedule allows.

SOUND: Volunteers are needed who can assemble the sound effects required and design the sound for a show. Some musical research may be required to find just the right tunes to incorporate into a production. Once the sound is designed, SOUND BOARD OPERATORS are needed to run sound during the show. As with other running crews, you can sign up for as many performances as you can fit into your schedule.

LIGHTING: Volunteers are need to help the lighting designer create and hang the lights for a show, and LIGHT BOARD OPERATORS are needed to help run the light board. Training is available for those who would like to learn.

MAKE UP/HAIR: Volunteers are needed to assist actors in putting on make up and styling hair on performance nights. You do not have to be a professional make up artist or hair stylist to participate. Training can be provided. You also do not have to sign up for every performance night. There are usually one or two dress rehearsals for which hair and make up are done before the show opens.

In addition to the CAST and CREW, another group of volunteers work at the theatre and help to ensure a successful run. These are the people who "RUN THE HOUSE."

HOUSE MANAGERS/USHERS: House managers work on performance nights to oversee the training and placement of ushers and to coordinate other details (assisting with handicapped patrons, flashing lights, closing doors, etc.). As with other volunteer areas, you can work as few or as many performances as your schedule allows.

BOX OFFICE: Volunteers assist in the box office during regular Little Theatre office hours and on the evenings of performances. You can help sell tickets or work at the table where reserved tickets are held for people who have already purchased them. People skills are a real plus here, as you will be dealing with customers over the phone and in person. It’s a fun office - you’ll have a good time and hang out with some great people. The time commitment can be as much or as little as you can manage.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: If you enjoy stuffing envelopes, updating databases, photocopying, filing, labeling, answering phones - that kind of stuff - have we got a job for you! This kind of work comes and goes but we almost always have something we need help with. This office, along with the box office, is a great place to help out if you have time while the kids are in school. In the same vein, we also need people who can hang posters around town.

In addition to all of the previous areas listed which deal with specific Little Theatre productions, there are other groups that work throughout the year taking care of the business and administration end of The Little Theatre. There is always a need for hard-working, dedicated individuals to serve on its BOARD OF DIRECTORS and as non-board members of some of its SUB-COMMITTEES. These committees include:

MARKETING

FUNDRAISING

VOLUNTEER

PLAYREADING

In most cases, volunteers will receive one or two free tickets to the production they are working on; check with the staff member you are helping to find out if there is a minimum amount of time you need to work to qualify.

We have the best group of volunteers in the Triad. The opportunities for involvement in The Little Theatre are almost endless. If you are interested in volunteering at The Little Theatre, please fill out our online registration form. Come join us!!