Goodell Gardens has changed its site layout since last year, and it wants to make sure that folks who come to the festival can find a place to park. The parking guide volunteers will also count visitors and collect donations for the festival.

Parking guides will work in teams of four (or more) for two-hour shifts. Volunteers are needed to work on Saturday, May 18, from 9 to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1 to 3 p.m., 3 to 5 p.m., or 5 to 7 p.m. Goodell Gardens will provide walkie-talkies, bottled water, cold snacks and training. Volunteers will earn credit toward Goodell Gardens’ volunteer rewards program.

If you are interested, please contact Amber at 734-6699 or via e-mail at info@goodellgardens.org and let her know which hours you are available to help.

Auditions for the extravaganza, which will include singing, dancing, historical skits and more, are scheduled Monday and Tuesday, March 18 and 19, at 6 p.m. at the Erie Playhouse Rehearsal Hall, 1158 E. 12th St.

Participants will take part in eight performances between June 25 and June 30 at the Bayfront Convention Center.

Auditions are open to anyone age 7 or older; the show will include a large cast of children. No previous experience is necessary.

Singers should bring 16 bars of a song of their choice. Dancers should be ready to learn some steps and show off their skills; a combination will be taught at the auditions. Actors should prepare a short dramatic monologue.

For more information on the auditions or the pageant, call Richard Davis of the Erie Playhouse at 454-2852, Ext. 2 or e-mail him at richardd@erieplayhouse.org.

The Heliotropes, Silverlight, Eric Brewer and Friends will perform at the benefit.

The event will also include a silent auction of signed memorabilia, event T-Shirts, gift baskets and a raffle.

The concert will run from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Brewerie at Union Station, located at 123 W. 14th St.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.stringsforacure.com.

The StringsforaCURE Foundation helps women and men diagnosed with cancer, with an emphasis on breast cancer. Its focus is on education, comfort and support.

For more information on StringsforaCURE, check out its website.

Photo by Jack Hanrahan/ Erie Times-News.

Like the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Playhouse depends on volunteers to help their performances go off without a hitch.

Have a stunning voice? Play an instrument? Enjoy fundraising? All of those skills can be put to use at the Erie Playhouse.

In fact, on its website, the Erie Playhouse calls volunteers the “backbone” of their operation.

Here’s how you can get involved:

Take the stage

Auditions for Erie Playhouse productions are usually four to six weeks before opening night. Check out Showcase for current listings.

Play a tune

Musicians are encouraged to try out for the playhouse’s pit band. According to the Erie Playhouse website, “the volunteer pit musicians have played everything from Gershwin to Sondheim as well as Hammerstein, Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bernstein, Menken, Yeston and many others.”

If you are interested in lending your musical talents, call 814-454-2852, ext. 6 or e-mail Andrew.

Usher in patrons

The Erie Playhouse says that ushering is their most popular volunteer opportunity. Ushers seat patrons, collect tickets and sell 50/50 raffle tickets.

Ushers are needed for Mainstage productions, concerts and special events.

If you are interested in ushering at the Playhouse, email or call 814-454-2852 ext. 0.

Volunteer behind the scenes

“The Wing,” as the playhouse calls it, is a group of volunteers who work to  support the playhouse. Their tasks range from fundraising to selling gifts to operating the concession stand.

Members of the Wing meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Erie Playhouse.

To join the Wing, contact Danielle Dickson, Wing President, or visit the box office.

Join the board

The Erie Playhouse Board of Directors is actively looking for new members. Board members use their professional skills to help advance this nonprofit.

The Erie Playhouse prefers potential board members to have experience in one of these fields: Legal, accounting, marketing, strategic planning, financial, human resource, community relations or production-related experience.

A board position requires a 5 to 10 hour monthly commitment. Board members serve three-year terms.

To apply, fill out this online form.

Whatever your skillset, the Erie Playhouse will find a way to put it to use.

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I’m always looking for more volunteer opportunities to feature on Volunteer Erie. Let me know about your organization at catherine.cloutier@timesnews.com.

The cultural treasure in the heart of Erie’s downtown is looking for volunteers to fulfill number of roles (some with the perk of free admission.)

Here’s how you can get involved:

Usher in patrons

Concert ushers provide customer service to the audience at the Erie Philharmonic. Volunteers are needed for the weekly Saturday concerts. The reward: free access to the music.

Raise money

Fundraising volunteers plan and run events. The Erie Philharmonic asks that they be detail-oriented, creative and results-driven.

Help out at the office

Someone’s got to do the mailing, filing, phone calls, etc. Do you like that kind of stuff? You can make a volunteer commitment or lend your time as needed.

The Erie Philharmonic encourages anyone with a skill to share to contact Brittany Hall at 814-455-1375 ext. 10 or bhall@eriephil.org.