Our productions involve over 400 volunteers annually. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people while you support your community theatre.

We have a variety of volunteer openings onstage, backstage, and in the office for all levels of experience, skill and time commitment.

If you would like more information on any of these volunteer positions or would like to sign up, please fill out our Volunteer Application and mail it to us at PO Box 1852, La Crosse, WI 54602-1852 or drop it off at the theatre at 118 Fifth Avenue North. We'd love to have you join us!

Volunteer Opportunities

Acting: Actors

Anyone who ever wanted to act, from one with no experience to the most seasoned actor, is welcome on our stage. Part of what makes LCT successful is the diversity of our participants. Beginning with auditions and ending with the final curtain call, staff and support volunteers are there to help. Many novices worry about learning all the lines or being frightened onstage. Don't let that stop you! During the weeks of rehearsals your role and character will become second nature!

Time Requirement: 5 days per week for 5-8 weeks of rehearsal; approximately 3 hours per day; plus 10 performances

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Technical: Costume Crew

Seamstresses are instrumental in building costumes as well as putting finishing touches on projects. Anyone who can sew—from simple alterations to full-scale construction—can easily become involved as much as your time commitment allows. Hours and times are very adaptable—you can sometimes work at home!

Time Requirement: Flexible, and remember, we can pass along some time-saving tricks to costume construction!

Call the costume shop at 608-782-5545 or e-mail Mandy.

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Set Crew

Volunteers who enjoy building and painting are great for this area! The Set Crew assists the Technical Director in constructing and painting the set and large prop pieces. Set and prop construction is a great place to learn some basic carpentry skills. Training is provided to those without experience. Lots of base coating and detail work is needed on each set. A lot of our effects are done with paint. We can train you on the detail work! The variety in experience levels of painters provides a great opportunity to work together to learn new techniques and share ideas.

Time Requirement: Normally days 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact the Scene Designer/Tech Director at (608) 784-9292 or e-mail Dillon for the schedule!

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Running Crew

This is the perfect opportunity to learn and experience what happens behind the scenes of a theatrical production. Crew members are responsible for any sound or special effects needed from backstage and changing the set during scene breaks and at intermission. Running crew is also used to set props both backstage and onstage before and during performances.

Time Requirement: 5 rehearsals one week prior to opening and 10 performances

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Light Board Operator

During dress rehearsals and performances the Board Op runs the computerized light board in order to properly light the show. The booth containing the light board is connected by intercom to the Stage Manager who will give the Board Op the cue to go to the next light cue. The board itself is simple to run—in most cases a button marked "GO" is pressed when the Stage Manager says "GO!" The Board Op will be trained what to do in case of unusual circumstances, such as how to go back if a cue is skipped or how to change a lamp in a light if it has burned out during the run. A commitment to teamwork is needed.

Time Requirement: 5 rehearsals one week prior to opening and 10 performances

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Followspot Operator

The followspot is used to accent the overall lighting of a show. Training on how to run this instrument—along with a lot of practice—is where you begin! Usually the spot is used in our musicals to highlight a solo or dance.

Time Requirement: 1 rehearsal prior to tech week, 5 rehearsals one week prior to opening, 10 performances, and additional work calls as requested by the Designer

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Props Coordinator

Props are anything that is not an actor or part of the set! If you enjoy antiquing and flea marketing, this is the area for you! Props people are responsible for finding/borrowing/buying/building all the "dressing" on the walls and the hand props used by actors. This can also include real food or drink for each performance.

Time Requirement: Flexible! You will be given a deadline when everything needs to be at the theatre, and you can work on your own time!

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Sound Operator

If you enjoy messing around with your stereo or CD system at home, then have we got a job for you! Novices will be trained to run our sound equipment. You will get to learn how and why we use microphones, how to record and run cues, and how to manually mix the various sound sources together. You will be responsible for helping set up the sound: mics, taped cues, etc., prior to tech rehearsal. The timing, execution, and levels of the cues are set during the tech rehearsal. Once the show opens, you run the sound.

Time Requirement: 5 rehearsals, 10 performances, and additional work calls for setup and recording.

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Production Stage Manager

This is the right hand of the Director. During rehearsals, the Stage Manager keeps a record of all the movements on the stage, a running list of anything added that is not in the script, and prompts the actors with their lines during rehearsals. During performances, the Stage Manager "calls" the show: sits on headset backstage guiding the tech crew members through their cues. The Stage Manager is also responsible for coordinating locking up after performances with the House Manager.

Time Requirement: 5 days per week for 5-8 weeks of rehearsal for approximately 3 hours per day and 10 performances.

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Front of House: House Manager

The House Manager works one or more (you decide!) performances during the run of a production. He or she comes in one hour prior to curtain and stays until the end of the performance. Duties include supervising the ushers, collecting money for reserved tickets, assigning seats to patrons without reservations, being on tap for any seating problems, checking in with the Stage Manager to find out when to open the theatre doors, adjusting the heat/AC, and generally overseeing the smooth running of the performance from out front. A list of duties is posted in the box office for easy reference. Must have some computer experience.

Time Requirement: 1 hour prior to curtain time until the end of the performance for 1 to 10 performances

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Ushers

Ushers greet the public, take tickets, help patrons find their seats, and hand out programs. Ushers are friendly and helpful. This is a great way to get started and meet a lot of people. Many ushers volunteer in groups with their friends! We use six ushers per performance.

Time Requirement: 1 or more performances per production (it's up to you!); 45 minutes prior to curtain time until the show begins

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Cookies/Pop Sales

Refreshment sellers sell pop or cookies in the lobby during intermission. This is an easy way to get involved, especially on the night you are seeing the performance.

Time Requirement: 1 or more performances per production; approximately 15 minutes during intermission

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Administrative/Miscellaneous

Mailing Crew

The mailing crew gets together about a month before each production opens. They stick mailing labels on the newsletters and bundle them It's a great chance to socialize, too.

Time Requirement: a little over 1 hour for the newsletter mailings (depending on the number of volunteers) and 4 or 5 hours for the annual brochure mailing

Publicity

Publicity volunteers will do things like deliver flyers and posters to local businesses, the library, the colleges, etc. Sometimes you might be handing out coupons on the streets downtown.

Time Requirement: variable. Set your own schedule.

Office Work

We frequently could use help with office tasks such as filing, copying, mailing, and data entry.

Time Requirement: variable. These projects would usually be done between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays.

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