Okay, I will accept it: I have never been a “theater” person. But recently I have started feeling differently, and this is because I have to go to many employees and volunteers in Arora’s regional destination The Paramount Theater.
They have “converted” outside me.
During my walking in the city, I have often passed paramount as it prepares the broadway series of that day for music production. An aura of enthusiasm and anticipation is in the air around the theater, when the patrons also begin to reach. This is what I imagine walking under Broadway in New York.
It begins with a friendly reception offered by Jane and Scott Glor, which operates the gales service. It continues with people on the doors, “front of the house” staff and the starting team (which includes completely volunteers). Everyone seems really happy and excited.
Many years ago, I wrote about Jane and Scott Glor’s Vallet Service. I recently visited the theater for Matini’s performance, this time to facilitate dedicated volunteers users. I was warmly welcomed by “Front of House” manager Kayla Still, who is also the Ushar program manager. She is clearly proud of the group, and cannot say enough good things about them.
“The Ashra program began when we were just a movie theater and performed the show here and there once. But it has always been a volunteer program,” still said. “It has become clearly tremendous because we started the Broadway series about 11 years ago. We needed more people continuously.”
Nevertheless, it is mentioned that he has 312 Ushers in his database, but the active group has a consecutive 70 and 80 people. He said that paramount also appears to his head users (a rotating group of four people, volunteers), to ensure that there are people to cover each performance. There are usually eight shows each week during a music run, and 22 ushers were on duty during the matini that I participated.
“We have both men and women in the program, and our longest serving volunteer zone McReern, who have been with us for 30 years,” yet said. “We always encourage more people for volunteers. We reach retired people, for students who may need to serve hours and others.
“I love Ushers as a family, and I have grown up to respect them,” still said. “Everything I have learned about the theater is from these ushers. When people start starting from here, they do not leave. They are proud to be a paramount inhush, and I think they show our patron as they come in.”
This pride was clear because I went with Linda Caux, with 26 years the longest serving head Ashra and AD Hard, who served for 16 years. Caux works in six shows each week during a show, and hard is on duty for three or four per week.
Their responsibilities include stuffing and distribution playbles; Solving seating patrons and related problems; Help with coat checks and washrooms; Special care of the mentor using wheelchairs and walkers; And cleaning after performance.
I asked the women what they enjoyed.
“I like everything about this job and the people I work with,” Caux said. “I hand over people their jobs and train new people. There is nothing difficult here and anyone can learn it. I can teach you!”
Caux stated that the group especially enjoys helping senior citizens and mentors who use wheelchairs and walkers.
“When I came to Paramount as a patron, I told my husband that when I retired, I wanted to do a volunteer here,” said Hard. “It seemed like a fantastic place, and would be good to help here.
“Just being here is such a joy,” said Hard. “This is the atmosphere and emotion. We like to take care of our patrons and seniors, and we like all our supervisors. And I especially like to see plays even after several performances.”
The atmosphere of enthusiasm and the theater is a special place I have experienced, it allows paramount and all aspects of its people.
“Everyone from the top works together to run these shows,” Caux said. “I love it here.”
Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for Beikon-News.