How to Volunteer at a Community Theatre: Roles, Time and Skills
Community theatres run on volunteers. Behind every production there are people selling tickets, showing patrons to their seats, building scenery, sewing costumes, running the lights and keeping the accounts. Many of them never set foot on stage. If you love theatre and want to be part of it, volunteering is the easiest way in. This guide explains the main volunteer roles, how much time each takes and how to get started, using Apple Hill Playhouse in Delmont, Pennsylvania, as a real example.
Why volunteers matter so much
Most community theatres are small non-profit organisations. Ticket income rarely covers the full cost of rights, scripts, sets, costumes, lighting, heating and insurance. Apple Hill's own non-profit status page said as much: revenue from ticket sales was only part of what the company needed, and gifts and grants were key to its survival. Volunteers fill the gap by giving time instead of money, which keeps ticket prices affordable.
Volunteering also builds the community around a theatre. Regular ushers get to know the audience, crew members become friends, and many volunteers eventually take on bigger roles as directors, designers or board members.
Front-of-house roles
Usher
Ushering is the classic first step, and Apple Hill described it as the perfect way to get involved. Ushers were needed at every performance to help patrons find their seats. They arrived about an hour before the show, sometimes folded programmes before the house opened, and then showed people to their seats. Once the show started, they could take a free seat and enjoy the performance. The time commitment is small, you meet lots of people and you see the show for free.
Box office and ticketing
Box office volunteers take bookings, answer questions and hand out tickets on the night. The work requires care with money and personal details, and it helps to be comfortable with computers or ticketing software. Apple Hill's box office opened before each performance and, in busy periods, during weekday daytime and evening hours.
Concessions and hospitality
Many small theatres sell drinks and snacks at intermission. It is a surprisingly important job, because concession income helps pay the bills. A 2001 newspaper review described Apple Hill's producer herself behind the concession stand on opening night, selling pop and answering questions. At small theatres, everyone pitches in.
Backstage and technical roles
Set construction and painting
If you enjoy practical work, set building is a great fit. Volunteers help turn a designer's plans into flats, platforms and furniture, then paint and dress them. You don't need to be an expert; crews are usually happy to teach willing helpers basic carpentry and painting.
Props
The props team finds, borrows, makes and looks after every object an actor handles, from teacups to swords. It suits organised people who enjoy hunting through thrift shops and attics.
Costumes, hair and make-up
Costume volunteers measure actors, adapt clothes from stock, sew new pieces and handle repairs and laundry during the run. Apple Hill's apprenticeship programme described learning how costumes are chosen, built, altered, cleaned and stored, which gives a good idea of the range of tasks.
Running crew
During performances, running crew members move scenery, set props and follow cue sheets. Lighting and sound operators run the boards. These roles require attendance at technical rehearsals and every performance, so they suit people who can commit to the full run.
Stage management
Stage managers organise rehearsals and run the show once it opens. It is one of the most responsible volunteer roles and a natural step for experienced crew members. Read our guide to what a stage manager does in community theatre.
Behind-the-scenes organisation
- Board members set policy, manage finances and choose seasons. Apple Hill's 2004 board included a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and several directors, all listed on our About OPAC page.
- Marketing and social media volunteers write press releases, design posters and keep audiences informed.
- Fundraising and events volunteers organise galas, raffles and special nights. In its later seasons Apple Hill held an annual gala, karaoke nights and a bingo night.
- Donations of goods also count. Apple Hill published a wish list of items it needed for its operations, a simple way for supporters to help without giving time.
How much time will it take?
| Role | Typical commitment |
|---|---|
| Usher | One performance at a time; arrive about an hour early |
| Box office | Regular shifts before and during a run |
| Set building or painting | Evenings or weekends in the weeks before opening |
| Running crew or lights and sound | Technical rehearsals plus every performance |
| Stage manager | All rehearsals and performances for one production |
| Board member | Regular meetings year-round |
How to get started
- Go and see a show. Get a feel for the theatre, its audience and its building.
- Contact the theatre. Most have a volunteer form, a volunteer coordinator or a box office that can pass on your interest.
- Be clear about your availability. A reliable volunteer for two evenings a month is more useful than an enthusiastic one who cannot commit.
- Start small. Ushering or helping at a work day is a low-risk way to see whether you enjoy it.
- Ask to learn. Community theatres are full of people happy to teach their skills.
Skills you will gain
Volunteering at a theatre builds teamwork, time management and problem solving under pressure. Technical roles teach practical skills in carpentry, sewing, lighting and sound. Front-of-house roles build confidence and customer-service experience. For students, it can be valuable on college applications and may even count towards eligibility for some awards; Apple Hill's own memorial scholarship required significant service to the company, which could include ushering or helping with load-in and strike.
Conclusion
You don't need to act to belong in a theatre. Whether you have one evening a month or several weekends a season, there is a role that fits. Apple Hill Playhouse relied on volunteers for more than sixty years, and theatres everywhere still do. Start with a single shift and see where it takes you. You can read how Apple Hill described its own volunteer opportunities in the get involved archive.