Ludlow Village Players – Behind the Scenes

Cast and Partial Crew of Suite Surrender

by Jim Gormly, Ludlow Village Players

To be or not to be. Whether it’s better to be chilling by the pool or to be hamming it up with Ludlow Village Players; that is the question. Apologies to William Shakespeare, but as Hamlet said, “The play’s the thing.”, and putting on a play takes a lot of people both out front and behind the scenes.

What you see on the stage in Port Ludlow, the actors saying their lines, moving about, and entering and exiting the set, is only the visible and audible portion of all the effort that has been put into a production. There’s so much more to putting on a production, and just like the actors, volunteers fill those roles.

Do you like to go thrifting? If you do, you’re the perfect candidate for prop master! Imagine combing through vintage and thrift stores to convert a stage into a 1950s living room. Do you like to sew and alter patterns to make a new design? It would be easy for you to transform that jacket from Goodwill into a cloak for an English country gentleman. Are you handy with a circular saw? Join the team that builds a room out of wood, trim, and a few screws. If you like to paint, unleash your creativity by designing a cozy parlor. Are you a detail-oriented person that leaves no stone unturned? If so, you’re a natural as a stage or production manager.

All these tasks and more are critical to the success of a production, including lighting, sound, hospitality, box office, and publicity tasks. The accompanying photograph shows the cast alongside some of the volunteers who supported the 2018 production of Suite Surrender.

Help bring live theater to Port Ludlow while joining a fun community! Volunteering with the Ludlow Village Players offers the deep satisfaction of bringing a production to life, alongside plenty of laughs and the chance to make lasting new friendships with your neighbors.

To volunteer, send an email to volunteer@ludlowvillageplayers.org. You can also stop by our booth at the Port Ludlow Connects Fair on Friday, August 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Bay Club. The Bay Club is located at 120 Spinnaker Lane in Port Ludlow.