By Doris Faltys
Theater companies in Olympia could not thrive without the assistance of committed volunteers.
“They put in between 5,000 to 7,000 hours per year at 350 events,” says Chad Carpenter, Director of Events Services at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts. “They are the ones who make the show. Some volunteers have been with us since the day we opened 27 years ago.”
Ann Rockway has been a volunteer usher for Harlequin Productions and The Washington Center for the Performing Arts for ten years.
“I wanted to help out,” she says. “A friend of mine was an usher and said it was fun so I decided to give it a try.”
Rockway shares that her favorite performances to usher are modern dance and contemporary theater. She also likes to usher in The Washington Center’s Back Box for jazz or comedy performances. The benefits are many, according to Rockaway. “I see live theater for free while supporting the arts and meeting interesting people.”
Each company has its own way of training volunteers. Training sessions might be formal and offered on a regular basis once a month, or more relaxed, where the volunteer is assigned to shadow someone else for training.
“We have 6-9 volunteers per show. New volunteers are usually brought in by a friend,” describes Korja Giles, Volunteer Coordinator for Harlequin Productions. New volunteers are welcomed by email and then assigned to a mentor. “It is a great way to see a variety of shows and help support the arts in Olympia,” adds Giles.
Olympia Little Theater was founded in 1939 and boasts the title of the oldest live theater in Olympia and one of the oldest in Washington State. According to the Olympia Little Theater, “the volunteer opportunities here are extensive as volunteers not only make the show, they run the company.” Volunteers can select to assist as House Manager, Director, Lighting, Props, Actor, Hair Design, Fundraising, Photography and Gardening.
Olympia Film Society, (OFS), is a nonprofit film, music, and art community staffed by volunteers. Before counting back of the house volunteers, OFS utilizes more than 100 volunteers per week. Approximately, 15 films are screened per week with two Ticket Takers, two Concessionaires, one Lobby Supervisor, and one or two Projectionists. People also assist as Office Volunteers, Gallery Curators, Housekeepers, Committee Members, Program Writers, and much more.
The OFS was formed in 1980 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3). Its mission is to “enliven and enrich the community by presenting and fostering the development of independent and underrepresented film, music and allied arts.”
“We wouldn’t have an OFS if not for its volunteers. The many hours of volunteer work make it possible for OFS to screen movies and produce concerts that you would not be able to see anywhere else in the area,” shares Tim Sweeney, Vice President of the OFS Board.
“Each volunteer is an ambassador for the arts in our community,” says Carpenter from The Washington Center. “Not a single day goes by,” he adds, “that a volunteer doesn’t teach me something. They come from all walks of life. I even have a retired rocket scientist. They have a lot of fun. They make me laugh.”
Whether your passion is musical theater, drama, jazz, dance, foreign films, or comedy there is something to fit the bill here in Olympia. If you have the time and energy to put in a bit of volunteer time, the cost is free, but the benefits are many.
Here is contact information for four Olympia theaters that rely on volunteers.
- Harlequin Productions – Volunteer – 360-705-3375
- Olympia Film Society – Volunteer or 360-754-6670
- Olympia Little Theater – Volunteer or 360-786-9484
- The Washington Center for the Performing Arts and The Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts – Volunteer or 360-753-8585
