Getting Involved ...

• Volunteer ...
Most of the house maintenance and improvements are done by volunteers. If you are interested in being a Vermillion Players volunteer, great! If you're not sure exactly what you're interested in, why not begin behind the scenes. Get your hands dirty and paint, saw, drill, glue, help with general repairs, cleaning and organizing or assist in organizing our vast number of costumes. We also welcome volunteers to assist with the technical aspects of producing a show such as lights and sound. The opportunities abound! Experience is not necessary. We welcome involvement from anyone who is interested in trying their talents in the theatrical community.

Click here for Volunteer Application

• Direct a show...
Show proposals for 2009 are now being accepted. If you need assistance or have questions, contact us directly here. 

Click here for a Director's Application

• Donations...
We accept monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and businesses.

Please click here for the donation form.

• Wish List of Items...
Vermillion Players is constantly looking to add to our treasure trove of reusable items. If you are purging your household or the garage of things you no longer need, we may be able to use them. Your donations may even be tax deductible. Following is a list of things we could use. Anything Vermillion Players decides it cannot use is in turn passed onto other charity organizations. Our storage space for furniture is limited, but please keep us in mind and give us a call at 815-844-3221 or contact us here.

• Hand tools
• Power tools
• Painting supplies - New brushes, rollers, craft paints, etc.
• Certain furniture pieces
• Clothing - Dresses, suits, etc.
• Costume jewelry
• Hats - Men's and Ladies
• Ladies purses
• Material to make costumes

• Volunteer Job Descriptions...

Pavilion/Storage Facilities

Pavilion Spring Clean Up:  Every spring before the season begins, we do a thorough cleaning of the pavilion.  This includes cleaning the cobwebs from the corners, powerwashing the building floor and scrubbing down the chairs.

 

Painting:  We like to freshen up the inside of the building where needed with a fresh coat of paint.

 

Pavilion Flood Warning Crew:  We all love having our theatre on the banks of the Vermilion River, but it does have its downside.  Occasionally in the winter and spring heavy rains bring flood waters into our building.  That means we need all hands on deck to move any equipment stored in the building to higher ground.

 

Set Storage Organize/Clean:  We have a variety of set pieces we try to hang onto because we use them again and again.  Anything we take apart, the lumber is kept for future shows.  We need assistance keeping it organized and sorting out the scrap from the things we want to hang onto.

 

Costume Shop Organize/Clean:  We have a closet every kid who likes to play dress-up would be envious of.  Our wonderful costume ladies can always use help going through our costumes to organize them.

 

Pre-Show Pavilion Set Up:  This is the last bit of work to be done before a show.  Giving the floor one last sweep of the broom, setting up chairs, filling the concession fridges with drinks, and setting out the garbage cans. 

 

Building/Equipment Winterization:  When our theatre season comes to an end, it's time to wrap everything up for winter.  This includes moving everything we can onto the stage, covering up the lights in the rafters and moving the pianos out of the building.

Shows

Directing:  Vermillion Players is always looking for directors.  Directing is a huge undertaking requiring previous experience and a familiarity with many aspects of the theatre.

Actor/Actress:  Anyone is welcome to tryout, auditions are open to the public. Stage experience and talent are a plus. You can find upcoming audition notices posted in the Forum. If you would like, you can print out an audition form, fill it out beforehand and bring it with you to auditions. 

Click here to print:
• Children's Show Audition Form
• Adult Show Audition Form (coming soon!)

Sound Crew:  Sound (music & effects) helps to set the mood for the audience and to make the story being told on stage more believable. Mechanical skills and knowledge of electronics are helpful.  Although we can always use a pair of eyes to follow along with the script and cue the sound man to turn on actors mics.

 

Lighting Crew:  Lights also help set the mood for the audience.  There are many aspects to this job and could include any of the following:  climbing the ladder and hanging lights, programming the light cues, or keeping your feet on the ground and running a spotlight.  We could also use help following along with the script during a show and cueing the light crew on what the next lighting change is.

 

Backstage Crew:  Backstage crew members all help make a show go smoothly.  Their job is to move the scenery during blackouts, open and close the curtain and listen to the Stage Manager for direction.

 

Set Construction:  This is probably the area where we need the most help.  Construction experience is a plus for this job, but even a Do-It-Yourselfer can run a screw gun or cut a board.  Most sets are largely pieced together out of standard theatrical "building blocks" – platforms and flats.  This job requires working closely with the director to construct the set he has envisioned.

 

Set Teardown/Storage:  Alas, every show comes to an end and it's time to take it all apart until the next time.  Set teardown goes much faster than the actual construction.  Sets are generally struck and hauled off to storage right after the final performance.  Occasionally, the director for the following show will request particular set pieces be left for use in their production.

 

Artist:  Responsibilities vary from show to show. Scenic Artists usually work with the Director and tech heads to choose the colors, paint styles, and techniques used on the set. They generally paint set pieces to look like brick, marble, wood, grass, and so on – and they supervise the paint crew. The job usually requires artistic talent and some specific painting techniques. Carpentry background doesn’t hurt, either!

 

Painting:  Painting varies from rolling on a base coat to detail work. Generally, no experience is necessary.

 

Props:  This job requires a resourceful individual with a creative streak.  Finding just the right prop for a show can sometimes be a challenge.  Are you up to it?  If you can't find what you need, use your imagination and creativity and make it!

 

Costuming/Sewing:  This is another area we are in dire need of volunteers.  Making, altering, and caring for costumes are jobs that are necessary for every production. The costume crew might need to make clothes from scratch, alter clothes to fit actors of different sizes, change the style of an existing garment, contact rental companies, or scrounge items from grandma’s cedar chest! During shows, costumes often require ironing, cleaning, or emergency repair.

 

Returning Costumes to Storage:  Once a show is over, the next job is getting the costumes cleaned and put back into storage.  No sewing skills required.

 

Concessions:  We can always use an extra pair of hands behind the concession counter.  This requires serving up popcorn, drinks and candy bars with a smile.

 

Box Office:  If you want to work in the box office simply bring your smile along to welcome theatre-goers to the show.

 

Musician/Pit Band:  On occasion, Vermillion Players stages a production which requires a pit band and we are on the lookout for qualified musicians.  We also need pianists for rehearsals and performances, as required.