HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Supporting the arts can look a lot different than supporting a local business or restaurant. Theatre Huntsville gives people an avenue to lend a helping hand.
"It's easy, you just walk up and you just go and purchase and that is your support. The arts are more ephemeral. Yes, buying tickets is super important and we love for people to come and see our shows, I mean that's why we do them but we need support in other ways, that maybe isn't something money can buy," said Theatre Huntsville's Production Manager, Birdie Jones.
So, what can people bring to the table in order to help?
"Skilled hands - it takes a village to run a theatre. We need people with electrical experience, people with engineering and construction experience, sewers, artists, painters, things that I think a lot of people don't realize are valuable to the arts," said Jones.
You don't have to be an expert to show your support.
"We have jobs for all skill levels. If you're interested in set designing, you don't have to already know how to do set design to come be involved. When I started helping with set design, I did not know a Phillips head from a hex head," said Jones.
Jones mentions that this is the longest she has gone without putting on a show and is excited to get back in the swing of things sometime in August.
"I count myself lucky in that - we've had the project of renovating our studio theatre to work on and that's really helped me get through the pandemic but man, you know, cleaning and vacuuming and sweeping up decades of glitter, it doesn't feed your soul the same way storytelling does, which is what theatre is anyway," said Jones.
The local theatre group makes it easy to get involved. Every Friday from 1 pm to 9 pm Theatre Huntsville invites volunteers to come and help renovate their space.
The Studio Theatre is located on the second floor, south wing of Lowe Mill, at the end of the hall.
Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is located at 2211 Seminole Dr. SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
For more information about volunteering opportunities as well as other announcements regarding auditions, upcoming projects, and other events visit the Friends of Theatre Huntsville's Facebook page. The group does ask that if you want to attend a Friday volunteer meet-up that you RSVP via Messenger.
To be placed on a volunteer email list or to express your specific interests when it comes to which areas you would like to help with, fill out this form.