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Volunteers are encouraged to participate in
every area of production here at the Camino
Real Playhouse. Any individual with the
desire to help backstage in many areas such
as: sewing, stage painting, carpentry, the
gathering of props, the design of sets,
sound or lighting assistance, follow spot,
stage crew, or front of house activities in
the, box office.
If there is something else beyond this lists
that you do well and want to share, please
let us know.
Here are a few areas
where you may want to help us out.
LOOK AT
ALL THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
If you want to really get involved in the
playhouse or simply want to find out a
little bit more about all the goings on here
at the playhouse, click the email button
conveniently to the right of this screen and
tell us a little about yourself, your name,
your phone number, your email address and a
little about what you might be interested in
doing. Our Volunteer Coordinator will then
contact you.
The Playhouse is
currently looking for
two "Theatre
Historians"
Description •
One volunteer will help us out by organizing
photos and production materials in archival
scrapbooks. We have the early years up to
4-5 years ago very well organized and have
the material saved since then, but have not
have a person organi9zing the materials
since then. Once caught up, this position
would only require a brief scrap-booking
activity after each new show.
The Second Historian is more of a technical
position and we are in urgent need
of is someone who can convert our VCR
collection of plays produced at the Camino
Real Playhouse into a digital format (such
as DVDs) and to catalog it for easy
reference in the future. As our older VCRs
begin to age ... the history of productions
could be lost in time and we need your help
in this area. If you have the technology and
the ability to use it we can always provide
the blank DVDs you need and, of course, our
undying gratitude.
This Fall we also need a new VOLUNTEER
COORDINATOR
Description •
If you want to meet new people and help
volunteers find their niche at the
Playhouse, forming
long-lasting friendships in the process ...
then the Volunteer Coordinator Position is
the one for you!
Megan McCarver
has held this position at the Playhouse for
the last three years and has done an
excellent job (this is a biased but true
statement since she is the Webmaster's
Wife). She is stepping down this September
so that she can devote time to other
roles at the CCPA. To find out more about
the position of Volunteer Coordinator ... please email Megan. She will call you back
to tell you how much fun she has had and
answer any questions you might have about
the job. She says it is a lot like being a
"matchmaker" and I wouldn't disagree as she
is always working to help new volunteers
make connections with Playhouse managers and
to find their best "destiny" here in San
Juan Capistrano. Some basic computer skills
are required (you have to know how to
email).
BOX
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS
Description •
Box office volunteers
work about 2 hours before performances and
customarily can leave just after
intermission when many season subscriptions
and tickets for future performances are
purchased. The only thing required of a box
office volunteer is good customer service
and a little computer familiarity, as you
answer phones, provide information to
patrons and sell tickets.
VOLUNTEER STAGE MANAGERS
Description •
The Stage Manager is is the person who is in
charge of the backstage, stage and cast and
crew during performances. All actors and
crew check in with the SM before each
performance. The Stage Manager is the one responsible for the
smooth running of a production, from the
first audition to the last performance and
strike. Duties include: organizing
rehearsals, working with the director to
create schedules, recording blocking for
actors, setting the stage, making sure
actors show up for rehearsals and
performances, keeping accurate records of
rehearsals and performances, and working
with the lighting and sound crews
coordinating all light, sound and set cues
for all performances. In addition, the stage
manager communicates with the house manager
to make sure the lobby is clear and calls
actors to places before each act begins.
Stage managers must devote a considerable
amount of time to a production. CRP tries to
line up stage managers for all mainstage
productions at the beginning of the season.
However, we welcome inquiries at any time
about stage managing as with all things in
community theatre ... things change.
VOLUNTEER PERFORMERS/ACTORS
Description •
All actors who appear on CRP's stages are
volunteers, giving their time and talent to
ensure top-quality theater experiences for
San Juan Capistrano's play-going public. CRP
offers a wealth of opportunity for
creativity and growth, guided by our
professional staff. The Playhouse encourages
newcomers and takes pride in the fact that
virtually every production marks the debut
of at least one actor at CRP.
You, too, can become part of service and fun
for the entire family. Auditions are usually
held 6-8 weeks before the opening of a show.
Rehearsals generally run Monday through
Thursday evenings (Sometimes on Fridays too)
and usually one weekend day just prior to
Opening. Mainstage performances run
Thursday-Friday evenings, with a matinee on
Sunday.
THE FRONT OF
HOUSE MANAGER
Description •
This vital
volunteer opportunity is often one of the
most misunderstood roles in a production.
(And to add some
more confusion it is technically "the front
of house" ... not just "front house".)
Since the
auditorium is the “House” the Front of the
house is the lobby, foyer and hallway area
... this person is in charge of scheduling
the staff for each performance. The Front of
House Manager is in charge of all volunteer
ushers, concession and wine sales personnel.
They should make sure the volunteers are
onsite and ready early enough to get the
front of house ready for each show. Duties
include, but are not necessarily limited to,
stocking and checking for the cleanliness of
the restrooms, starting the coffee, stocking
the concession stand and wine bar, and the
vacuuming of the lobby, the hallway, and the
auditorium (or delegating this job) before
the Box Office opens.
USHER
VOLUNTEERS
Description •
Our usher volunteers take tickets at the
auditorium door, distribute programs, and
help patrons find their seats. They also
sell refreshments at intermission. Ushers
are given complimentary seats to see the
performance, but must be prepared to help in
emergencies and on sold-out performances are
asked to relinquish their seats to paying
patrons. Volunteer Ushers are given
appropriate training to fulfill that
responsibility for experience Playhouse
Ushers or our Volunteer Coordinator. To
volunteer to serve as house manager or to
usher for mainstage productions, contact
Megan McCarver at 949-388-6477 or simply
fill out our online form on our volunteer
page on this website. Without volunteers we
simply could not do what we do.
LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR
Description •
The lights for a play are controlled by a
computerized lighting system located in the
light booth above and behind the audience.
The Light Board Operator runs a light check
before each performance, follows direction
from the Stage Manager to execute the light
cues, and shuts down the lighting system
after every show. Light board operators in
community theatre often are involved with
the director in helping to set up and design
lighting ... sometimes we utilize theatrical
lighting designers and volunteers can "learn
the ropes" by working with our designers. If
you're interested in learning about
theatrical lighting, you can volunteer to
help the lighting designer hang and focus
lights. In addition, you'll have a chance to
learn about special lighting effects used in
a play, such as black light, strobe
lighting, and film projection. You must be
comfortable with heights to help hang
lights, but there are other jobs in the
lighting area that don't require standing on
a ladder.
SOUND OPERATOR
Description •
The Sound Operator plays all recorded or
live sound effects that occur during a
production. and makes sure the levels for
stage microphones are correct for patron
enjoyment. He or she works from a console at
the back of the auditorium and communicates
with the stage manager via headset. In some
simple productions ... the light board
operator doubles as Sound Operator, but it
is preferable to have one volunteer at each
position. We would prefer a volunteer with
previous experience with the sound equipment
at CRP, but will be happy to train a new
volunteer to serve as sound operator.
SCENE SHOP VOLUNTEERS
(Needed for All Plays)
Description •
Many hands are needed to put a show together
in the weeks before it opens. The CRP
Technical Director (or even Tom Scott
himself) can teach you all you need to know
to volunteer in the scene shop to help
create the magic of a production. Volunteers
are needed to help build, repair, and move
scenery pieces, flats, and platforms. In our
scene shop you'll have a chance to work with
wood, metal, foam, plastic, and fabric,
using both power and hand tools.
You might want to help with PROPS. Property
volunteers help gather or create all the
props that will be used in a production.
Props include everything the actors hold or
use on the set, and all items of furniture
or decoration used to "dress" the set.
Volunteers may need help building and
painting props or finding appropriate props
in CRP's extensive property collection.
You might want to help with SCENE PAINTING.
You don't have to be an artist to paint at
CRP, but it does help. Our scenic designer
can teach you techniques to make scenery
look like marble, stone, wood, and wall
paper. You'll learn and practice rag
painting, spattering, sponging and dry
brushing. But sometimes we just need a crew
of volunteers that aren't shy to roll on a
coat of paint on scenery flats prior to a
bit of artistic expression.
THE COSTUME CREW
Description •
This important volunteer position offers
jobs in hand sewing, construction of
garments, gathering accessories, setting up
dressing room assignments or returning
costumes to stock. During performances our
Costumer helps assists actors with quick
costume changes or helps with the pesky
emergency repairs.
VOLUNTEER
RECOGNITION EVENTS
Each year we honor our volunteers with an
evening of good food, good friends and good
cheer. The volunteer recognition party is
scheduled at the end our season following
the final performance of the last show
before the next season begins. Our
volunteers are the stars of our playhouse.
Thank you for your hours of service to the
playhouse, to the arts and to our community.
We occasionally have additional "thank you
events" for our volunteers ... our most
recent one was February 12th 2006 ... food,
festivities, fun and accolades ... thank you
all for your continued support.
SHINING STAR AWARDS
In recognition of
volunteer efforts above-and-beyond the call
of duty the Playhouse gives a Shining Star
Award and The Show Must Go On Award. Here
are some recent recipients.
Bruce Alexander
The 2007 Founder's Award!
Nick Charles
The
2007 Show Must Go On Award!
Gary McCarver
The
2008 Show Must Go On Award!
Diedra Miller
The 2007 Shining Star Award!
Arnie
Hershman
The
2008 Shining Star Award!
Special thanks to all the many volunteers
who drop
whatever they are doing to help out at the
playhouse in the box office, the
concessions, the wine bar, the tech booth,
front-house and backstage ... we couldn't do
what we do without you all. Here are just a
few of our volunteers.
 SPOTLIGHTING
LOCAL THEATRE HEROINE
B.J. Scott ... the founder of the South
Orange County Community Theatre received the
prestigious Spotlight Award from the
American Association of Community Theatre (AACT)
in 2002.
CLICK HERE
or on the picture of BJ to learn all the
details about this well deserved
recognition. Audiences have fond memories of
BJ's roles on stage and actors have grown
and thrived under her direction. She has
touched the lives of many.
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