How To Get Involved In Las Vegas' Theater Community

The Daily Meal Staff|July 21, 2014 6:00 am EST

Las Vegas' theatre community is looking for help. You can volunteer by acting in productions, preparing sets and sound equipment (including lighting) or simply donating to the cause. Various amateur and professional theatres performing everything from current, unknown productions to Shakespeare and ballet need your help with their everyday operations. All you have to do is contact them to become part of this exciting world. No matter your age or stage experience, any of your talents can be utilized to ensure that the independent theatre circuit continues in this town.

Las Vegas Little Theatre
3920 Schiff Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89103
(702) 362-7996
www.lvlt.org/volunteer.html

Jack Bell and Jack Nickolson founded Las Vegas Little Theatre in 1978. It started as a converted storefront with a seating capacity of 48 and has grown, through determination and donations, to a substantial member of the amateur theatre community. LVLT is always looking for talent (including actors, directors, musical directors and choreographers); technical assistance with props, designs, stage managers, lighting and crew; box office/front-of-house staffing and administrative assistance. If you prefer to make a monetary contribution, you can discuss that with theatre staff, too. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Cockroach Theatre
1025 S. 1st St., Suite 110
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 818-3422
www.cockroachtheatre.com

Although Cockroach Theatre's name may be amusing, there is nothing more serious than this community theatre group. When it was still but a lowly egg, the theatre ensemble held a midnight performance of "LINE," by Israel Horovitz. Run by friends who studied together in UNLV's theatre department, this humble beginning led to a form of innovative theatre that has found its niche in the Las Vegas Arts scene. Its second production was "Savage," an original piece by Shawn Overton. From that point, it grew to the Nymph stage of holding performances in various unique venues across the valley (including junkyards, found spaces, warehouses, etc.). Its crew learned how to adapt and produce plays in limited and unusual spaces. After a short personal hiatus, the Nymph morphed into an Adult cockroach in a permanent location. Hard work by volunteers, donors and staff members brought to culmination the Art Square Theatre in downtown's Arts District, but with a new home, the theatre still needs your help as a volunteer to keep the productions running.

Sign Design Theatre
3021 S. Valley View Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89102
(702) 405-7446
www.signdesigntheatre.org

Sign Design Theatre Company has been giving children ages five to 18 in the signing community the opportunity to perform on stage for over 25 years. This group has established partnership programs introducing ASL to local public and private schools, and full-length musical productions (such as "The Wizard of Oz"), opening up the musical theatre world to the deaf community. Members are taught ASL, theatre arts, dance, costume, make-up, prop and set design. Parents act as volunteers, encouraging teamwork, creative thinking, independence, responsibility and community service. The theatre's mission is to educate, reach out and increase awareness of the deaf community. The group is always looking for performers and volunteers, so please feel free to contact it to truly make a difference.

Nevada Ballet Theatre
1651 Inner Circle
Las Vegas, NV 89134
(702) 243-2623
www.nevadaballet.com

Volunteers have always been an invaluable part of the ballet world. From humble hopes in 1972 to the fruition of their dreams, Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) has searched for reliable and committed volunteers with a passion for dance to join their team. You may be called upon to join the "street team" to promote performances to local retailers or may prefer to help in the administration offices in Summerlin. Special events such as benefit shopping soirees or fundraisers also need assistance, especially for the Future Dance program. Future Dance actively engages children in the arts to promote positive habits while they are still young, to help develop a strong work ethic and healthy self-esteem. This takes educated, high-quality instructors which, of course, means funding. If you care to help as a volunteer or make a donation, rest assured that you will make a difference in keeping dance a viable alternative for future generations of children in the Las Vegas area.

Las Vegas Shakespeare Company
Cultural Corridor Theatre Center
821 Las Vegas Blvd. N.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 527-6800
www.lvshakespeare.org

In September of 2015, the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company will reopen its doors at the renovated Cultural Corridor Theatre Center. Its mission has always been to present professional-quality theatre productions to emphasize the works of William Shakespeare and to present them to Nevada residents. This company supports all of the artists, affording performers, directors, administrators and technicians the opportunity to work and perform the bard's works on a year-round basis. LVSC brings to life the plays taught in school and enjoyed by generations of readers, providing opportunities for the general public to see Shakespeare as performed by a professional, quality company that is passionate about sharing the works they all love. It's a vehicle not commonly seen in Las Vegas, and, as such, the company desperately need your donations and assistance to make this happen in its new venue.

Sharon Damon is a preschool specialist, avid reader, passionate writer and creative baker/ cook. She has been a cooking instructor at a local Rec Center in Henderson, NV since 2011, and has written for Examiner and other publications since 2010. She knows her way around the keyboard and the kitchen! Sharon moved from a small city in Canada to Las Vegas 6 years ago, to marry the love of her life, and has since been swept up in the whirlwind known as Sin City. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.