Volunteer

Auditions

Join the cast of Columbia’s Haunted Lantern Tour to expand your acting resume, make friends, and have an all-around good time. Students can earn service-learning hours. This hour-long walking tour is the perfect balance of history and entertainment, and we want you to be a part of it!

When We Schedule Auditions:

Auditions for Columbia’s Haunted Lantern tour are held annually in June or July.

What We Offer:
Male and female roles
Speaking & non-speaking parts
Monologues & interactive scripts

*No prepared lines required to audition*
*No experience necessary*
*All performers are non-paid volunteers*

We are an all inclusive, non-discriminatory volunteer organization. All are welcome here. 

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Columbia’s Haunted Lantern Tour is looking for volunteers to join us in the following areas ~

  • Actors
  • Crew
  • Hair and Makeup
  • Photographers
  • Committee

More information about these positions is provided below.

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Actors ~

Male and female volunteer actors and re-enactors of all ages – parts for children under 13 are limited – are welcome to audition for Columbia’s Haunted Lantern Tour. Actors are strictly volunteers but are required to attend at least two rehearsals a month. No experience needed to participate in this historic walking ghost tour, but theatre resumes are gladly accepted.

All participants under the age of 18 are required to have a permission slip signed by a parent or legal guardian before attending any rehearsals or other events held by the tour.

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Crew ~

If acting is not an interest to you, we are also looking for “backstage” helpers to assist in set-up and tear-down, and other various tasks during the performance nights. Our crew positions are as follows:

Lighting Coordinator:

  • Light lanterns and make sure each cast member receives their lantern prior to show time.
  • Set up candle jars and light candles in the cemetery prior to show time and re-light them throughout the night if necessary.
  • Must arrive at 4:00 pm on show nights and may leave by 11:00 pm.

Concession Stand Coordinator:

  • Help set up and run our concession stand at check-in, selling baked cooks, water, and hot beverages.
  • Must arrive at 6:00 pm on show nights and may leave by 11:00 pm.

Runner:

  • Walk the tour route and check in with the actors and check-in volunteers to see if they need anything.
  • Hand out snacks from the concession stand to actors, if wanted.
  • Hand out hand warmers, blankets, etc. if it’s cold.
  • Report any suspicious activity to the security team.
  • Report major incidents or emergencies to head director.
  • Must arrive at 6:00 pm on show nights and may leave by 11:00 pm.

Child Wrangler:

  • Remain with child actor on tour route to ensure their safety.
  • Report any concerns to security team or head director.
  • Requirements: Background check and Child Abuse Clearance. (Free for volunteers of the organization. Can be acquired online.)
  • Must arrive at 6:00 pm on show nights and may leave by 11:00 pm.

Security:

  • Walk the tour route, checking in on the safety of all volunteers.
  • Escort tour guides if necessary.
  • Report major incidents to head director as well as the Columbia Police Department.
  • Requirements: Background check and Child Abuse Clearance. (Free for volunteers of the organization. Can be acquired online.)
  • Must arrive at 6:00 pm on show nights and may leave by 11:00 pm.

Costume Coordinator:

  • Make sure all actors receive their costume from the storage area prior to showtimes.
  • Pin items that may be torn, or are too long.
  • Make sure all actors return their full costume at the end of the showtimes.
  • Make sure costumes are all put where they belong and pieces are not left lying around.
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Hair and Makeup ~

Hair stylists and makeup artists are needed to assist our cast in preparing for our dress rehearsal and our two performances. Hair will vary from Victorian up-dos and bouncing curls, to shabby depression-era locks. Makeup styles range from subtly ghost-like and very simple to decaying flesh and gory wounds.

We ask that volunteers are 16 or older and have experience doing hair or makeup. Hair and makeup supplies will be supplied by the tour, but you are welcome to bring your own if you wish.

Hair Stylist:

  • Requirements: Send us a few examples of previous work.
  • Must arrive at 4:00 pm on show nights and may leave by 7:00 pm.

Makeup Artist:

  • Requirements: Send us a few examples of previous work.
  • Must arrive at 4:00 pm on show nights and may leave by 7:00 pm.
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Photographers ~

  • Attend occasional rehearsals.
  • Attend dress rehearsals and performances.
  • Take candid and posed shots of cast and crew members.
  • Editing photos not required.
  • Requirements: A few examples of previous work.
  • Must have an artistic eye.
  • Must arrive at 4:00 pm on show nights and may leave by 11:00 pm.
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Committee ~

Our committee is a dedicated team of 5 members taking on various roles to oversee the success of Columbia’s Haunted Lantern Tour and other productions produced by Rivertown Theatre Company, LLC. We are always looking to include like-minded individuals who have a love and appreciation for history and the performing arts.

We are currently accepting board members over the age of 21 to assist with various tasks. Each committee member is required to have a criminal background check and child abuse clearance before participating (FREE and can be acquired online) and must sign a liability and confidentiality waiver before participating.

Committee Board positions are as follows:

President – The president position is held by the owner and production director, Sara Mimnall. The president is the face of the company, is responsible for overseeing all tasks performed by board members, and handles as legal aspects of the company.

Secretary – The secretary of Rivertown Theatre Productions, LLC records meeting minutes, organizes in-coming and out-going mail, and maintains the company schedule of events.

Treasurer – The treasurer is required to record and maintain accurate numbers for all incoming and outgoing funds, providing monthly statements as meetings. Additionally, the treasurer issues and receives all forms of payment in and out of the company account and issues reimbursements when necessary.

Bookkeeper – The bookkeeper is responsible for overseeing all tickets sales and issuing invoices for the productions and organizing the check-in area during performances.

Fundraising Coordinator – This position researches local fundraising opportunities, and coordinates and attends all fundraisers for the company.

Public Relations – Our PR representative writes and distributes press releases to local agencies, distributes flyers, posters, brochures, and other literature to the public, organizes donations to the company, and researches and organizes advertising opportunities.

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Note ~

Participation times for volunteers are flexible. If you’d like to volunteer and cannot commit to all dates or full time-frames, let us know! We’re happy to work around your schedule if possible.

Students can use their volunteer time toward service learning hours!

Adults can use their volunteer time for community service hours!

Each volunteer is required to sign a liability and confidentiality waiver before participating.

For inquiries about assisting the tour, please eMail us at HauntedLanternTour@gmail.com

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