Most of us have attended a play or musical in our lifetimes. You enter the theatre, have your ticket scanned, are handed a program and someone helps you find your seat. You sit there reading the program, listening to the music and when it is time, the lights come up on a brand new, imaginary place. As the story begins, characters walk or dance their way onto the stage and for the next 2 hours or so, you are transported to a different time and location. Afterward you walk back out of the theatre commenting to each other about the story you just experienced, and behind you, on the stage, the cast and crew prepare to do the show all over again. And that is where the magic happens.

The Far Off Broadway Players have been presenting plays off and on for 40 years. And throughout those years, hundreds of faithful people just like you volunteered their skills both on and off the stage to bring whatever story they are telling, to life! As a patron, you might not even be aware of all the things that happen behind the scenes of a theatrical production. Let us begin with the person who wrote the play or musical, the playwright. All over the world, someone is seated at their laptop or with a pen and paper in hand, crafting and drafting a story they hope to have staged someday. And if they are fortunate enough to have that happen, theatre troupes like the Far Off Broadway Players purchase the royalties to produce it for an audience. A great theatrical production begins with written words on paper and is transformed into a three dimensional story that will immerse the audience into a new world. It is when the story has been selected that the planning begins.

Once a show is chosen, important decisions must be made. Who will be the show’s Director? If it is a musical, who will be the Musical Director and Choreographer? Who will assist the Director? If it is a big show with a large cast, who will be the Costume Designer? What kind of set is required and who will design it? Once those decisions are made, the attention turns to Lighting and Sound Design, Casting, and how big the Stage Crew will need to be. Rehearsal schedules are made, usually 8 to 10 weeks in advance of presenting the show to the public. As rehearsals progress, props are added, costumes obtained or created, and as the show gets closer to opening, cast members appear on local radio stations and television stations. And finally, when it is time, the play or musical is presented to an audience. Even then, wonderful helpers hand out programs and help patrons find their seats. Throughout the whole process, faithful Far Off Broadway Players Volunteers make it possible.

Do you have a skillset that you would like to use to help? Do you enjoy theatre and would love to take part behind the scenes? Then visit www.faroffbroadwayplayers.com and click the Volunteer page. There, you will be able to see detailed descriptions of all the Volunteer positions available to great people like you. Every single show for the past 40 years was made possible by Volunteers both on and off the stage. And the Far Off Broadway Players invites you to take part too! Please visit the website and find out how you can help create the next great production! If you have any questions, please feel free to email the Far Off Broadway Players at faroffbp@gmail.com