Front of House Openings & Training Materials (June 23)

There are numerous shifts for ushers and ticket taker available, including a few in the next week.  There may be cancellations or positions added, so please continue check for openings throughout the season.
Sign up for a position at http://grsf.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/
Sheri Grossardt, Front of House Team Co-Leader
sharongrossardt@gmail.com

Front of House training materials
These files are provided by the Performance Front of House Manager and the GRSF Audience Services Manger.  The PDF files include helpful information and contact information.

GRSF Preshow and Emergency Procedures

About the shows 2017

Instructions for Ushers

Thank you, Hospitality Team

GRSF company members love the Friends of Will Hospitality Team!  Special thank yous to Karin and Jim Worthley, team chairs, and Terry Hawkings who planned the menus and organized these very much appreciated tech week meals for hard-working company members. If you would like to help contact Karin or Jim. There are more meals ahead. And, thank yoiu to Steak Shop Catering for supplying a steam table, salad bar and commercial refrigerator, and to the many Friends of Will who are hosting each of the meals.

Usher Training, volunteer openings, June 2017

Front of House Training: June 14 or 15
New ushers and ticket takers are strongly encouraged to attend Front of House Training June 14, 6:30 PM or June 15, 1:00 PM at the WSU Performing Arts Center. Returning Front of House volunteers who would like a refresher are also invited to attend. WSU Campus Map

Front of House volunteer openings
There are remaining open Front of House positions, especially in July. Select Volunteer Local to sign up for a position.  There may be cancellations or additional positions added so heck for openings throughout the season. If you would like to be on a waiting list please contact, Sharon Grossardt, Front of House Team Co-Leader

Volunteer Local Tips
To review your volunteer positions go to Volunteer Local.   Select the check your status link;  enter your email address.  A list of what you have volunteered for will arrive in your email.

 

 

You can also cancel a shift online.

Costume Shop and Hospitality Volunteer Opportunities
The  costume shop welcomes new people who would like to help with some hand sewing. The shop is located in Valencia Hall on the Cotter/St. Mary’s Campus at the corner of Villa and Howard.  Contact: Stephanie Jones, Shop hours are
Tuesday-Thursday 9-6; Friday 9-5; Saturday10-6; Sunday 10-4; Lunch is 12:30-1:30.

Thank you to knitters at Yanrology including FOW Amanda Bauer, Jennifer Georgieff , and Blandine Berthelot for knitting chainmail cowls and sleeves for Richard III costumes. GRSF actor Stephanie Lambourn models a cowl.

The Hospitality team welcomes new cooks and hosts to help with June tech week meals.  Menus for June 13 – 18  are in the Doodles below.  Select a doodle to “sign up”; Contact Karin or Jim Worthley to help with the Hospitality/Food Team.  It’s fun and a great way to interact with other FOW and GRSF company members.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Tuesday, June 13, 2017

http://doodle.com/poll/dkk9dcunue2vkfh9

Pasta Bar, Wednesday, June 14, 2017

  http://doodle.com/poll/gbz2u3fz8a9wzh93

Roast Ham and Turkey Dinner, Friday, June 16, 2017

http://doodle.com/poll/4rk8htr7zar4z6m6

Baked Potato Bar, Saturday, June 17, 2017

http://doodle.com/poll/i7web7mw374v5rss

Picnic Supper, Sunday, June 18, 2017

http://doodle.com/poll/8m54quweznbvhbar

The team needs containers for leftovers.   If you have some to get rid of please deliver them to the “food room,” 103 Minne Hall on the WSU campus.

More photos of Season 14 in progress
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/GreatRiverShakes/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/grshakes including the including the one above that shows off Stephanie Lamborn, Rebecca Bernstein’s costume design, and the chain mail knitted by Aaron Young and the volunteers at Yarnology.

 

Season 14 (2017) Volunteer Opportunities

May 16 addition: Hire an Apprentice

We have apprentices who are interested in working and patrons who are interested in hiring apprentices. If any Friends of Will have a job for an apprentice, please contact Valerie Williams, GRSF Education Director.   Email her your name, phone number, email, and a brief description of the work involved. She will share this information with the Apprentices. It will be up to the Apprentice to make contact with the FOW if they are interested in working. Jobs can be emailed to education@grsf.org.

May 15: The news you have been waiting for!

Summer 2017 volunteer opportunities, (Front of house, knitting and more!)  FOW behind the scenes, meet the FOW team leaders and new GRSF Front of House staff.

Friends of Will can now sign up for specific Front of House volunteer positions.   Please read the information below before using Volunteer Local.

• Season 14 opens June 21; closing is July 30.
• Front of House positions include ushering ticket taking and accessibility assistance.
• We are asking people to be flexible with the jobs. For instance, an accessibility usher may be asked to help with tickets in the lobby for a portion of their shift depending on how many accessibility tickets have been sold for that performance or if who is taking tickets some may need help.
• We may add shifts as the season progresses.
• Dress code is a SOLD WHITE TOP and a SOLID BLACK BOTTOM.
• Because Callithump is a fundraiser FOH volunteers are asked to purchase a ticket if they wish to stay for the performance.
• If you have not volunteered for more than 2 years or are a new volunteer please complete the FOW registration form. There is no need to register if you volunteered in any capacity in 2015 or 2016.
• Training for new ushers/ticket takers and for returning Front of House volunteers
  who would like a refresher will be June 14, 6:30 PM and June 15, 1:00 PM at the WSU Performing Arts Center
• Front of House volunteers will also be working with Front of House Manager Kayleen Berwick (left) and GRSF Marketing and Sales Manager Eileen Moeller
  

  Kayleen Berwick (House Manager)

  

  Eileen Moeller (Marketing & Sales Manager)

A recent graduate from Winona State, Kayleen  has enjoyed working with the arts and volunteers in a number of roles throughout her education.  Originally from Illinois, she is looking forward to another Minnesota summer and a great season with GRSF! Eileen is a 2010 graduate of the WSU Theatre & Dance Department, and ecstatic to return to GRSF as a full-time staff member after interning in 2007. She recently moved back to Winona from her hometown in Elgin, IL. She lives in Winona with her husband and many pets. 

FRONT OF HOUSE QUESTIONS?  Contact  Gretchen Erwin, Friend of Will Front of Volunteers House Chair

Do you like to knit?

The GRSF costume shop supervisor is looking for knitters who could  make chainmail for Richard III.  They are making 6 cowls and 4 sets of arms. Contact Stephanie Jones

Behind the Scenes

Many Friends of Will have been helping behind the scenes providing early housing, picking up arriving company members at area airports, and helping them move into their apartments, preparing food for the spring preview weekend, and helping with mailings. The hospitality team chairs are planning meals for the busy tech week rehearsal schedule; distribution team members are busy delivering brochures and posters throughout the region.  Contact a team chair if you have questions or would like to help more!

In the News

GRSF Recognizes Volunteers at Bard, Beer and Birthday
Winona Daily News, April 24, 2017

FOW Team Leaders

Please contact Mary Alice Anderson, FOW Steering Committee chair or a team chair: Tom Hoffmann, Move-In/Out; Patti Neal,Distribution; Rev. Jim Nelson: Transportation; Gretchen Erwin & Sharon Grossardt; Front of House; Brenda Terpstra, Volunteer Liaison/membership; Karin & Jim Worthley, HospitalityFood Team.

Back: Tom Hoffman, Gretchen Erwin, Jim Nelson Jim Worthley. Front: Marsha Yancy, Patti Neal, Brenda Terpstra, Karin Worthley, Mary Alice Anderson, Leslie Albers

May 4, 2017 Update

Winona Daily News stories of interest to Friends of Will

GRSF Recognizes Volunteers at Bard, Beer and Birthday
April 24, 2017

Above and Beyond: Winona Senior High student turns Life around after discovering Theatre|
April 23, 2017

 

Front of House sign up will begin the latter part of May

Front of House Training for new ushers/ticket takers and for returning Front of House volunteers who would like a refresher is planned for:

June 14, 6:30 PM and June 15, 1:00 PM

More information about will be available after mid-May.

Save the Very Special Date! (4/23/17)

Save the Very Special Date! 

GRSF is hosting a party to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday and to honor the Friends of Will. The celebration will be at Island City Brewing Company, downtown Winona Sunday, April 23, 3:00 – 6:00 pm.
Details available later!

Remembering Karen Fawcett (Jan. 2017)

Karen Fawcett, one of the founders of the Friends of Will and passionate GRSF supporter died unexpectedly January 7.  The following text is from a tribute to Karen in the Winona Daily News, January 29, 2017.

When the Great River Shakespeare Festival opened in 2004, Karen was instrumental in turning the passive experience of watching a play into community activity for a growing group of dedicated volunteers.  She and Kathleen Peterson started with a group of 15 volunteers, called themselves Friends of Will, and offered their services to the fledgling theater company to do whatever might need to be done. Within a year, their ranks grew to more than 300 volunteers, and the Friends of Will have been an integral part of the festival ever since.

In a letter to the editor published in 2004, Karen spoke how welcoming visitors to our community enriches all our lives: “Even though we are the local hosts, we are more so the guests of these visitors to Winona,” she said. “As guests, we are welcomed into their lives and perspectives, given expanded understandings of our humanity and graciously invited to see the world with new eyes.” “We who are leaders won’t have to worry that we’ll have to be around forever,” Karen said of the Friends. “This is not a project that will be owned by a few.”  The complete article covers Karen’s many other contributions to Winona,  Influence in many lives. 

Thank you, Karen, for leading the way.