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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 19, 2004 Ashland teens volunteer their summer days to help with the Green Show By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings A love and curiosity for the theater has guided 11 Jackson County teens to volunteer their time to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Green Show this summer. The teens learn first-hand what it takes to put on the popular outdoor show and do a variety of duties from moving equipment before and after the performances, sound checks, answering patrons questions to making sure the audience isn't doing anything distracting during the performance, such as taking flash photography or talking on their cell phones. As the dancers stretched offstage, preparing for Thursday evening's performance, 16- year-old Sarah Thompson of Ashland swept the outdoor stage in the middle of the OSF Satsuki Doi | Ashland Daily Tidings Sarah Thompson and Kart Siders (at top) help clean up after the OSF Green Show. Above, little guitar player Eli Edelman, 3, of Ukiah, Calif., accompanies Green Show professionals during a recent rehearsal. Bricks, making sure there were no rocks or slippery spots to hinder the dancers. "It's been great," said Thompson, who is involved in the drama department at Ashland High School. "We're part of the crew and are treated equally. I love being able to contribute to the art that's going on." Thompson said she plans to major in theater in college and is grateful for the experience. "I've learned so much about the theater and what it takes to be a professional and to put on a show," she said. "Many times, the dancers come off stage out of breath and go back on stage a minute later, smiling and full of energy. It's very inspiring to see what they do. ... I can't imagine not doing theater. It's important for humanity. It's a way to connect with other people." The teen volunteer program was started in 1997 to give additional help to the Green Show crew and to give area teens a valuable experience, said Kit Dickey, OSF volunteer coordinator. The majority of the teens are part of their schools' drama departments and want to have professional experience for college and beyond, she said. "Rubbing shoulders with those who have made theater a career is such a good experience for them," Dickey said. "The kids learn how much detail, preparation and hard work it takes to put-on a professional theater company. And they see how important those behind the scenes are." Before the show began, 14-year-old Robert Smith, of Ashland, goes through the crowd, selling bottles of water. He has been volunteering for only a few weeks, but said he has enjoyed his interactions with the crowd. Many times, they ask Smith questions about Ashland, such as good restaurants to eat at and why the Lithia water tastes so nasty. "I like that I'm able to meet and help people," he said. "It's a new experience for me, and it's quite fun. I like letting people know the right answers." He said one of the oddest questions he has been asked was when someone wondered where the festival was located. "I was like, 'Ugh, it's right here,"' he said. "I thought that was quite weird." Green Show Deck Manager Jess Carr said the teen volunteers are an invaluable resource. "(We) couldn't do it without them," she said. "There's so much to do. I've been so impressed that they are always here when they're scheduled to show-up and do a good job. ... And a few of them just show up everyday even when they are not scheduled and just want to help. They're real eager to learn." Sue Carney, Green Show music director, composer, arranger and musician, has performed at OSF for 19 seasons. She said one of her favorite experiences has been working with the teens. "Our volunteers mean everything to us," she said. "They make our jobs possible and do all the needed work like carrying all the heavy items and making sure everything is ready for the show." Carney recalled volunteering for events as a teen, such as helping with her town's rose float parade, and said she understands the importance of volunteering when you're young. "Kids need to get experience when they're young and see what it takes to be a professional in any job you do," she said. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams