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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 Watson-Curtze mansion

A common piece of advice in creative writing–or any writing for that matter–is “write what you know.” The Nonprofit Partnership seeks to use the essence of that message through what they call “skilled volunteering.”

The Nonprofit Partnership discussed the concept of skilled volunteering at a YEP! (Young Erie Professionals) social event at the Watson-Curtze mansion on Thursday evening. Speaking to the room of professionals from a range of disciplines, The Nonprofit Partnership director Robert Wooler emphasized that volunteers should let their “interest drive [their] engagement.”

In a lot of ways, skilled volunteering leads to a quid pro quo relationship.

The Nonprofit Partnership is a membership-based organization providing education, training and tools to area nonprofits. Its members range from the American Heart Association to the Erie City Mission to the Erie County Historical Society (hence the event at the Watson-Curtze mansion.)

The partnership pairs professionals with specific skill sets (think web technologies, marketing and communications, finance, etc.) with the needs of its member organizations.

Wooler described volunteers’ work as “small bites.” Oftentimes, the work is project-based, but volunteers can make more permanent commitments.

At the end of the volunteer experience, there is a tangible product that the volunteer can add to his or her resumé.

“Each member of the team gets what they need going forward,” said Wooler.

For professionals looking to forge a deeper relationship with an area nonprofit, the partnership recruits nonprofit board members.

The Nonprofit Partnership is hosting a training dinner for potential nonprofit board members on April 25.

To lend your skills to The Nonprofit Partnership, contact Robert Wooler at rwooler@thenonprofitpartnership.org.

Photo courtesy of City Profile