Volunteer ushering at New World Stages

[winston89]

Posted: 12/12/11 at 8:59pm

Has anyone done volunteer ushering at New World Stages before? I got an email back from them saying that I have been selected to volunteer usher for both Rent and Avenue Q (a week apart.)

Now, i am aware that people do this as a way of seeing the shows for free. This is the reason why I am doing it as well. However, I was wondering if anyone knows if this is generally an enjoyable experience or not?

[Shunterk]

Posted: 12/12/11 at 9:14pm

During my New York trip over the summer, I volunteered for both shows and it was an immensely pleasurable experience.

For Rent, it was during Previews, and Ben Brantley was there that night. They don't really care about how early you get there (As long as you're early) and you get to see a lot of interesting pre-show activities. Adam C-B just did really weird warm ups the entire time while Matt Shingledecker did push-ups for like 30 minutes. Once the show started, we were seated, given comp tickets and playbills. We helped at Intermission and cleaned up extra playbills after the show.

For Avenue Q, it was the same, except we stuffed playbills before the show and it was a bit less exciting as it's been there for a while.

Either way, a lot of fun and a great way to see a show for free. I wish all theaters had this program.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/12/11 at 9:15pm

Seeing those shows for free sounds like an enjoyable experience to me!

[michellek45]

Posted: 12/12/11 at 9:23pm

How do you sign up for this? It sounds like a cool opportunity.

[winston89]

Posted: 12/12/11 at 9:33pm

Michellek45,

It's right there on the New World Stages website. They give you an email address, and tell you to pick the show (or shows) you want and three dates that work for you. I would have preferred for this to be on a Friday, since I work during the week. Since I have very open availability when it comes to that, I just opened up the calendar on my computer and picked three random dates. I didn't think that I was going to get anything, nor did I think that I was going to hear back from them at all. Granted I was surprised when they got back to me as fast as they did.

But, it sounds like it was an enjoyable experience and I don't think that it sounds like I should complain for getting to see Rent and Avenue Q for free ( and a week after one another.)