Volunteer Roles for Our Traditional British Panto

A production that has a cast of 45 - children ages 5 and up, youth, adults and grandparents - requires an army of helpers. Experience is not a perquisite. We suggest that you find jobs you would like to try during every phase of the operation. Volunteer early and get your choice of roles. Share the load and enjoy the experience.

We offer an opportunity for youth to earn their Community Service Hours in our behind the scenes roles.

If you cannot volunteer time for the production, consider donating money to offset the casts of work done without volunteers. Donations will be used to purchase costumes and props, and for advertising the show in community newspapers. Thank you.

Rehearsal Assistants

• Newsletter editor (internal for cast and crew)
  • Produce one for each Sunday rehearsal
  • Gather info and layout
  • Printing
• Assistants/ 2 per rehearsal (Sundays)
  • Record blocking (where cast are in each scene)
  • Sign-in and Name tag distribution
  • Assist with measuring, parent contact, handouts, etc.
• Telephone Crew for passing on information about rehearsals, costumes, checking with missing cast, etc.
• Pianist (Sundays and Mondays)

Front of House

• Manager of all areas plus
  • FOH photo Display
  • Ushers
  • Hall set-up
  • Sale of show photos to cast and crew
• Canteen
  • Purchasing
  • Soliciting baked goods
  • Direct sales for 6 shows
  • Rehearsal refreshments
• Ticket Sales
  • Advance tickets with cast and crew (at rehearsals)
  • Door ticket sales
• Strike Dinner for 30 – Sunday evening
• Show Celebration Cake for 75 (after last show)

Programs

• Design and Layout
• Sale of ads
• Printing

Marketing and Publicity

• Plan the campaign
• Preparation of materials to promote the performance
  • Bios of cast
  • Stories for community newspapers
  • Letters to schools and retirement homes
• Media Contact
• Flyer blitzes in communities
• Displays in shopping malls
• Group contacts with Guides, Scouts, Service Groups, etc.
• Design and placement of ads in local paper
• Indoor and outdoor signage

Costumes

• Design and planning for Leads and Chorus
  • Leads – Male, female, animals
  • Chorus – such as villagers, black light, ballet
    • Decide on base costume and additions
• Sewers
• Dressers – during final rehearsals and shows
  • Dame dresser – 1 per dame per show
  • Chorus – 1/show – ironers and detail checkers
• Laundry – all the costumes after the production closes and return to Lakeside

Prop(ertie)s

• Design and supervise construction
• Crafters to create the unusual
• Purchasing
• Handling during the show – 2/show – confirm props are available where and when needed.

Lighting

• Design
• Operation of Board
• 2 Followspot Operators
• Set-up Crew
• Strike (Teardown) Crew

Sound

• Recording of practice music (June)
• Production of Rehearsal Tapes/CDs (June)
• Find and record sound effects that are not live
• Announcements during show
• Sound reinforcement for performers

Set

• Design and supervise construction
  • Meet with Directors
  • Plan work parties based on available time
• Scenic Artist
  • Design the set art
• Painters
  • Work from the designs
• Construction
  • Any set or large prop items
• Set-up Crew
• Strike (Teardown) Crew

Makeup and Hair/Wigs

• Design
• Purchasing
• Application and care
• French Braiders for Chorus

Stage Crew

• Stage Manager – runs the shows
• 2 Assistant Stage Managers –assist at all shows
• Crew to move set during rehearsals and shows
• Set-up Crew
• Strike Crew

Green Room Catering

• Healthy show snacks for cast & crew
• Saturday Lunch
• Sunday Lunch

To volunteer, email us at info@lakesideplayers.com