Volunteer

We are Theatre creating Community creating Theatre! Come play with us. 

Volunteer with the Bartell:

When you volunteer with the Bartell Theatre Foundation, you become part of the family!  Not only can you sign up for training and opportunities with the Foundation, but all our resident (participating) theatre companies use our database to find volunteers too.

Bartend!

The bartender is responsible for setting up the bar and lobby candles, serving before shows and at intermission, and restocking and cleaning up the bar. Bartenders must be licensed by the City of Madison or have a licensed bartender available to supervise them.  Instructions on obtaining your license are below.

TRAINING REQUIRED!  email Shoover@bartelltheatre.org to schedule.

• Goal:  A comfortable and welcoming experience for all patrons, great bar sales!
• Time commitment: Bar must open 1 hr before earliest show time and close after last intermission. Arrive in time to set up, and leave after restocking and taking out trash & recycling.
• Requirements: attend training session, hold City of Madison Operator's License
• Receives: Tips! (sometimes as much as $50/night!) Matinee bartenders (shows beginning before 5pm) also recieve one Bartell Pass good for any resident company show for one year.
• Reports to: Managing Director (keep House Managers informed during your shift)

To sign up for shifts, visit the Signup page.

Other Volunteer Opportunities:

• Technical and maintenance days always require people ready to pound a nail or pick up a paintbrush!  Get on our volunteer list to be emailed about Tech Days (2 wks/year) and other opportunities as they arise.
• Usher/Box office manager/ House Manager: Each resident company manages its own House Volunteer program, with House Managers recieving two Bartell Passes good to any resident company show for one year.
• Production, Administrative, Technical volunteers: Community theater requires a LOT of volunteer hours!  If you are interested in graphic design, publicity, website management, stagehand, board operation, carpentry, set, sound, or light design or production management, contact our Resident companies.

Sign up for communications and opportunities

• If you have not registered, click the Volunteer Signup link to sign up.
• Madison Theatre Guild -- Call Terry Kiss Frank at 845-9140 or 695-6141. After Oct 8, visit www.madisontheatreguild.org to sign up.
• Mercury Players Theatre -- register at www.mercuryplayerstheatre.com, click on "volunteer" in the right sidebar.
• StageQ -- Visit our website (stageq.com) or email us at volunteer@stageq.com.
• Strollers Theatre -- Each show will have a specific mysignup.com page available a week or so before opening. Watch our website, http://www.wix.com/strollerstheatre/strollers-theatre-ltd, our FaceBook page, or email strollers.board@gmail.com

Get your bartender's (Operator's) license

1. Take an Operator's Course.  You can do this online in less than two hours for as little as $16. Visit the City BST Instructions page for links to currently approved courses.
   
2. Once you have a certificate stating that you passed the course, download the Operator's License application from the City of Madison website.
3. Fill this out and print it.  Use the Bartell Theatre Foundation as your employer.
4. Either:
   • Take it to the Clerk's office ( with a photo ID) and submit it with your certificate OR
   • Take it to a bank with your certificate and a photo ID, have your signature notarized and mail it to the Clerk's office.  Some fees may apply.
5. You can purchase a provisional license and start working right away or wait for the ALRC to approve you (usually 1 month.)
6. Bring a copy of your license to the Bartell Theatre.