become a member
To get involved and change your life, just walk through the door...
Become an Elmwood Playhouse Member now or renew your membership online:
You can change your life just by coming down to play with us for a few hours. Our members all have special Elmwood stories, having worked and played here for decades. Lifelong friendships have been built, many have met and married their spouses by coming here, and quite a few have found careers on the great white way, film, and TV by using what they’ve learned here. It all starts with walking through the door. We always have immediate openings.
You’ll meet new people and socialize more. Learn new skills and discover talents.
Build professional networks and contribute to the community.
Most of all, you will laugh and have FUN!
Share your talent!
Life energy is the key to our success as an award winning theatre. As a not-for-profit organization, Elmwood Playhouse relies completely on the hard work and energy of volunteers. Experience the behind the scenes world of what it takes to get a production off the page and onto the stage.
For more information on how to become an active Elmwood Playhouse member, call 845-353-1313 or stop by for a visit during office hours: Tuesday - Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm, Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm. You can join us at any monthly membership meeting and stay for the performance workshop. Meetings are generally the first Monday of each month at 7:30 pm.
"I don’t want to be onstage" … but you can act
Behind the scenes, we cook, sew, swing a hammer, make repairs, sweep the stage, serve on a committee or use a camera. Everyone is valued and needed. For example, do you like to read? The Play Selection committee functions much like a book club with an agenda. Plays are submitted, read, and discussed with consideration of producing that show at Elmwood. A season is developed, directors are met with, and lastly, rights to the properties are secured. Thanks to this very important committee, another year of live theatre is born. Of course we need Actors, Directors, Designers, Producers and Running Crew, but here are just a few of the other essential activities you might enjoy:
opportunities
Hospitality Ushers - help to seat the audience, hand out Playbills, collect tickets and sell goodies at intermission. (And smile at the patrons!) If there's an empty seat in the house you don't have to peek through the curtain to see the action. |
Party Planning & Production – (for in house opening and closing night parties at the theatre.) Planning, menu selection, shopping, and coordination of volunteer cooks & clean up - everybody pitches in. |
Lighting & Sound Operators - Lighting Board, Spotlight and Sound Operators are needed for every performance. No experience necessary, will train. |
Talent Scout – we are actively canvassing local talent and performance groups for our Sundays@7 second stage series showcases. |
Set Building & Painting – Experienced carpenters, painters, & craftspeople are especially appreciated but everybody has to start somewhere. All skill levels are needed, sometimes it just means holding the other end of a board or painting some walls black. And lunch is served! We build our sets during the approximately four-week break between shows. |
Photographic and Graphic Artists – Photographers needed to shoot headshots, publicity, performances and activities for newspaper, magazine, cable advertising, and web publishing. Graphic Artists wanted for brochure, flyer, newspaper and web design elements. |
Technology Guru – Design, trouble shoot, and find solutions for sound, lighting, special effects issues. |
Wardrobe Assistant – Work with costume designer. Inventory, pull, and categorize wardrobe items. Sewing skills great, but not mandatory |
Box Office & Mailing Assistants – temporary light office help for envelope stuffing and label sticking, especially at the beginning of our annual Season Subscription and Membership Drive. |
Dresser - Orchestrates quick costume changes required during the course of a performance. |
Make Up and Hair Specialists – some shows require a lot more transformation than others, if you have a natural talent working with hair and makeup, we can teach you make up for the stage. |
Play Selection Committee – Help nominate and select the next season’s shows. Most love to read, have a sense of humor and be ready to argue for your nominees. |
Librarian – We’ve gathered a lot of history since 1947 and like everyone, we are digitally cataloging our lives. Library of scripts, technical books, photos and publicity materials to be maintained. |
Nyack Events – Staff needed for the Elmwood Booth at Nyack Street Fairs, Construction crew and costumed riders needed for the Elmwood float in the Nyack Halloween Parade. |
Script Person – A person who is “on book”, reading the script during rehearsals and feeds lines to the actors when they “go up” (forget a line) in rehearsal. |
Building Maintenance – Can be a challenge when the building is prehistoric and in continuous use. Our building manager is delighted with any additional help. |
Newsletter Editors – “The Player”, our monthly Elmwood newsletter, needs copywriters, editorial contributions, photography and artwork. |
Musical Directors and Musicians – Needed for musical rehearsals & performances. *musicians take note: this position has a special provision, contact theatre for details. |
Tour Guides – Conduct “back stage” theatre tours at our open membership meetings for guests joining us for the first time. |
Board of Directors - Business background helpful but not mandatory. Requiring one evening per month and serving as chair liaison to a committee. |
Cooking / Catering – There are some amazing chefs at Elmwood who fill our tummies at work calls and parties with delicious eats, but your secret recipe might be our new favorite. |
Special FX Artists - Must love blood, guts, monsters, etc. Will train. Mwwah-ha-ha-ha. |