Volunteer Work for a HS Senior

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:05pm

I'm a senior in high school, soon to be a freshman in college and my senior class needs to do an 'externship' or any kind of volunteer work for a few months. I've been calling a bunch of broadway theatres to enquire (most have been busy). I'm looking to usher, help backstage, or help with merchandise. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for going about doing this, or which theatres I should check out? Thanks!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:13pm

You need to be part of a union to usher or work backstage. And you get paid to work in merchandise...not volunteer.

Some non-profit theatre companies have volunteer ushers like the Manhattan Theatre Club or Second Stage Theatre Off-Broadway.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:30pm

I think Playwright's Horizons has a program for students to volunteer, but it might just be over the summer.

[Anthony3]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 7:06pm

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids has a volunteer program

you can read more here:
http://www.broadwaycares.org/volunteers/aboutvolunteer.cfm

[kgallo]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 10:56pm

Have you checked out the Spring Awakening street team? Go the their myspace page if yuou haven't, it's on the left hand side under the FAQ.

[myManCape]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 12:04am

No responsible business would ever let any type of volunteer work in a sales capacity. No matter how trustworthy you are it just isn’t smart to let a unpaid person collect money. So merchandise is probably out.

And while I cant speak for your teacher, I would assume they want the volunteer work to befit the community in someway. So volunteering to work for a “for profit” company, doesn’t really help the community, your just helping a business make more money. I would suggest you look into the non-for profit companies, MTC, Second Stage, Atlantic, New Group. There are many, many more.

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 10:43am

I have some yard work that needs to be done

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 10:55am

Try God's Love We Deliver, North Shore Animal League or HRC...the Public might have a volunteer program as well

[Fosse76]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:09am

Broadway Theaters are all unionized and do not "hire" volunteers, so you are wasting your time by calling them. You are better off with calling the not-for-profit theatres mentioned above.

[StateOfJade]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 2:31pm

Thanks for the replies (not the half-assed ones).