The Black Hills Community Theatre's new season of shows means new theatrical opportunities for community members on stage and behind the scenes - but it also means the community theater needs some help.

"Not everybody wants to perform on stage and not everybody can handle being in front of a hundred strangers," said BHCT veteran Mikal Kraklio. "But maybe they still love theater and want to contribute. They can: Acting on stage is a very small percentage of what it takes to put a show together."

According to Kraklio, "it takes a village" to put a show together.

Kraklio will direct and has designed the set for the community theater's upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella," and while he isn't concerned about finding enough people to help with the technical aspects of the production, he said the average production easily can require the help of up to 100 "techies."

"Techies" are what people who design, construct and operate the technical elements of a show are often called. Techies do everything from build the set to tear tickets, and it takes a lot of people helping out behind the scenes to keep a show going.

"A lot of people don't realize the amount of work that goes into a production," Kraklio said. "They don't know who made the costumes, who focused that light or who painted the set. In a lot of ways, the tech people are considered the unsung heroes of theater."

For some, it may be a thankless job, but Kraklio pointed out that for others, it is their personal art.

For Jim Burow, BHCT's technical director, the technical aspects of theater are his art, his job and something he enjoys teaching others. Also, although Kraklio isn't worried about finding enough people for his "Cinderella" tech crews, Burow and BHCT Executive Director Angie McKie have been trying to think of ways to get more people involved in production builds and the backstage aspects of the community theater.

"We just want to get as many people involved as we can," Burow said. "Hopefully we can get them started along any area they would like to specialize in and have some fun along the way."

Burow said that strong volunteer involvement in the tech crews will be especially important this season because of the extra shows in the schedule and due to the demands of several of the shows.

""Cinderella" is going to be technically challenging," Burow said. "The concept the director has come up with is such a cool concept - but it will take some doing. Plus, in 'Everybody Loves Opal,' there's a scene where the ceiling is supposed to collapse."

When working on a technical problem like that, Burow said what he will need the most from volunteers is time.

"Usually the problem is not finding people who want to help," Burow said. "The hard part is working around their schedule. The shows have a three-week run and it is definitely an investment of time - but it's a worthwhile investment."

That's why the ideal volunteer is somebody who either has the time or the desire to make the time to devote to a show. Other than that, Burow said there really is "no experience necessary."

"There's on the job training; it's not like you have to be a journeyman, electrician or carpenter to help out," he said. "It's not all skilled work and a lot of the stuff that is skilled can be learned."

Burow said tech-crew assistance is something that the community theater will always be in need of and he encourages anyone who is interested to look into helping.

"Just come in and make yourself available," he said. "It's so rewarding and it can be so much fun. Everybody will be welcomed, that's for sure."

Want to be in show business? Theater needs volunteers

Want to be in show business?

For people interested in technical theater, volunteer application forms are available online at www.bhct.org. Volunteers also can apply at the Art Resource Center, 1202 E. St. Francis St., or call 394-1787.

Who's who behind the curtain

It takes a lot of technical assistance to make a play happen. Depending on the size of the show and the amount of time volunteers can give, a show easily can need up to 100 "techies." Before the curtain goes up, behind the scenes and after the show wraps, the community theater needs assistance in many roles.

Before the show opens

y Director - the creative head of the execution of the play. Works with the designers to create cohesive designs and execute his or her vision for the show.

y Assistant director - assists the director. This can mean anything from taking notes to leading warm ups with the actors.

y Costume designer - works with the director to design the clothing for the show.

y Costume crew - executes the costume designer's vision for the clothing in the show. This can mean gathering or building the appropriate pieces of clothing.

y Sound designer - creates the sound design and effects required by the script.

y Lighting designer - creates the lighting design and effects required by the script.

y Set designer - works with the director to design the settings for the show.

y Set crew chief - executes the set designer's vision by overseeing the set crew.

y Set crew - builds, paints, moves and assembles the sets.

y Props master - gathers or creates all of the props called for in the script and is responsible for keeping the items with the overall vision of the show.

y Box office workers - take ticket reservations.

Once the show opens

y Ushers - take tickets and help with seating during shows.

y Stage manager - responsible for everything backstage during the run of the show.

y Sound board operator - executes the sound cues and effects during the show.

y Light board operator - executes the lighting cues and effects during the show.

y Running crew - works backstage during the show to help with props, costume changes and scene changes.

Contact Crystal Hohenthaner at 394-8329 or crystal.hohenthaner@rapidcityjournal.com.