YMT VOLUNTEERS
(sample information only ..... the information below was valid only until February, 2011 - for current information on this topic, please contact the school)
Each year many volunteers contribute many hours to making Yale Secondary School Musical Theatre work. Volunteers bring expertise, energy and an important community connection to every job – and simply stretch what YMT’s Musical Theatre staff and artists can do.
Volunteers are respected, appreciated and made part of the Yale Secondary School Musical Theatre team. If you have a few hours or many, occasional time or regular, particular skills or a desire to learn something new – contact us. We’ll match your interests with our needs.
Observers continue to marvel at the significant role volunteers play in the operations of YMT’s Musical Theatre performances. Members of the Yale Secondary School Musical Theatre Volunteers possess a unique sense of ownership that drives them to provide undeniably wonderful service that patrons and artists have grown to cherish.
Usually, there are three crews in the company, each one responsible for a different branch of theatrical expertise. Each crew has a crew chief and an alternate crew chief who provide leadership and motivation as well as crew-specific tasks.
The three crews or teams are:
* Stage Crew or Team - The Stage Crew or team’s mandate is to provide technical support in the areas of sound, lighting and staging for Yale Secondary School Musical Theatre. The Stage Crew consists of a chief, an assistant chief, and other crew members. A new Stage Crew volunteer doesn't need previous experience in theatre.
* Creative Resources Crew or Team - this crew or team works on media production (posters, programs, handbills, promotional videos, photos and lobby displays)
* House Crew or Team - This crew or team’s mandate is to meet the public as ushers and ticket takers, to ensure the safety and security of our patrons and to act as tactful ambassadors of goodwill to the public attending performances.
For some productions, there are also volunteers who join the cast and musicians.
In past years, our volunteers have provided these services:
* Actors
* Musicians
* Delivery person (Props, scenery, costumes)
* Photographer
* Scenic artists
* Props builders and collectors
* Program Designer
* Physician willing to care for our artists
* Data entry - update marketing contact information
* Press clippings - clip and filing news items
* General filing
* Makeup artists
* Maintaining our photos collection
* Opening night reception manager
* Wardrobe maintenance/restocking
* Concessions
* Skilled carpenters (set construction)
* Movers – sets; furniture and props
* Seamstresses
* Volunteer coordinator
* Box office volunteers
* Head usher - assist with usher training and front-of-house responsibilities
* Ushers
* Security
* Choreographers
* Group ticket sales
* Sponsorship sales
* Program advertising sales
* Press releases
* Media relations person
* Event planner
* Press manager
* Electrician
* Lighting Designers and operators
* Sound Designers and operators
* Marketing for education programs
* Lobby display designer
* Graphic designer
* Backstage crew
* Fly gallery operator
* Follow spot operators
* Special Effects designers and operators
* Animal Trainers
So you can see, there is a myriad of tasks that have to be done and something for anyone interesting in helping us to do! If you are interested in joining the YMT production team as a volunteer, please contact the school. We look forward to hearing from you.
You can get more information on what each task involves by checking the page on "Production Staff" elsewhere on this website.
For the names of all those volunteers who have contributed to the success of YMT productions, please see the list of names include on each production program (see Past Productions). YMT couldn't have done it without them!
