The Friends of Will team leaders are thrilled to be working with our many dedicated volunteers and especially want to welcome new Friends of Will. Team leaders are busy behind the scenes preparing for this special anniversary season. The Early House chair found homes for 14 people and two cats with welcoming volunteer hosts. The Move in team will soon be delivering housing supplies to the East Lake apartments;; Team Chariot people will be picking up company members at area airports, and the Front of House co-chairs have created hundreds of volunteer positions for ushers and ticket takers. Exciting!
Front of House
Sign up for Front of House (FOH) positions opens May 14. There are more performances this year and the season is longer, which means GRSF needs you! Volunteers will also be able to sign up to help with concessions during the Apprentice production and to help with the Will Run Race. Season calendar
FOH Training
- Thursday June 14 – 6:30 pm
- Friday June 15 – 1:30 pm
- Refresher training session on Thursday July 12th at 1:30 pm
Becca Borchadt, Front of House Manager, will provide the training. Becca worked in the GRSF box office during the 2017 season. Training will be at the WSU, Performing Arts Center.
Hospitality Team Tech Week
The hospitality team will once again be providing meals to company members during the busy tech week. Nine meals will be provided June 9 – 27. This is a fun opportunity to feed and get to know company members who are very appreciative of the wonderful meals and people who provide them. The hospitality team needs new members. If you would like to join the please contact Victoria Esquibell, Company Manger.
Help with Will Run – Sunday July 15
I go, I go – swifter than the arrow from the Tartar’s bow!”
Puck, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
15 volunteers are needed on race day from 7:00 am. – 9:30 am. Volunteers need to be able to stand or bring a chair, stop/direct traffic, give directions to the runners/walkers, etc. Some may be asked to use a stopwatch to some to call out times, and of course cheer people on throughout the race! It is really an enjoyable morning. The weather is almost always great and there are awards. Company members often run and it is fun to see them in a different atmosphere. Select Volunteer Local to sign-up. Questions? Contact Pearson-Langowski.
Help spread the word with the distribution team
The FOW Distribution Team would appreciate your help in placing Season 15 brochures and posters throughout our region, wherever potential theatre goers might be found. Just stop by places where people gather or information is shared – like coffee shops, community centers, bulletin boards, libraries, etc. – and ask if we can leave some brochures or put up a poster. If you can help, please stop by the GRSF office to pick up some brochures and/or posters. Out-of-Winona volunteers can contact Leslie Albers or Mary Alice Anderson to arrange for materials. The 2018 company is in town and starting their work, so let’s do our best to fill the theatre with audiences.
More to know. . . .
The GRSF Employee, Contractor, & Volunteer Policy Handbook has information on costumer service, safety and a few other items of interest to Friends of Will. Click the link to view the manual. It is also linked in the section of this blog.
New volunteers are always welcome. Please share the registration form with people who might like to Join the Friends of Will. FOW who have not volunteered for two or more years should also use the form to we have your current contact information and you’re your areas of interest. Volunteer Local is used only for specific Front of House or Will Run positions.
Friends of Will Team Leaders
Mary Alice Anderson: Chair, Communications
Leslie Albers: Distribution
Tom Hoffmann: Move-In/Out
Rev. Jim Nelson: Transportation
Gretchen Erwin & Sharon Grossardt; Front of House
Mary Polus: Early Housing
Brenda Terpstra: Volunteer Liaison
Karin & Jim Worthley: Hospitality Food Team. Contact: Victoria Esquibell, Company Manager and Acting Chair
Marsha Yancy: Recording Secretary
Visit GRSF.WORDPRESS. COM throughout the season for news and updates about how you can help our Great River Shakespeare Festival!
Hospitality team chairs, Jim and Karin Worthley, along with assistance from Company Manager Victoria Esquibell have planned another series of delicious tech week meals. If you have not helped in the past but would like to help this season contact 
who have not ushered during the past year. Others are encouraged to attend as there are some changes and new guidelines are in place. 
