LET'S BE FRIENDS!

Friends of Summer Place Theatre

Program Overview
Friends of Summer Place Theatre (SPT) is a membership-based volunteer and donor initiative designed to:
Strengthen community involvement
Increase volunteer engagement
Expand fundraising capacity
Create sustainable operational support
Build long-term relationships with patrons and families

This program allows individuals to support SPT in ways that match their skills, interests, and availability.

If you would like to learn more and join our mailing list for these opportunities, please fill out this Google Form:
https://tinyurl.com/2tv288vp
 

Two Paths to Be a “Friend”

1. Volunteer Friends

2. Supporting Friends (Donors)

3. Champion Circle (Hybrid: Donate + Serve)

VOLUNTEER FRIENDS
Volunteers can choose a Focus Area based on interest and skill set. Pick one area, or multiple! 

1. Creative & Media Team

Graphic Design
Create visual materials that support Summer Place Theatre’s productions and programs, including show posters, social media graphics, digital ads, flyers, signage, and program layouts. Volunteers may help maintain brand consistency while designing materials that are engaging, professional, and audience-friendly.

Videography & Production Trailers
Capture video content that helps bring our productions and organization to life. This could include filming rehearsal footage, cast interviews, behind-the-scenes moments, promotional videos, teaser trailers, and event highlights for use on social media, our website, or other outreach efforts.

Photography
Take photos that document productions, rehearsals, special events, volunteers, and community engagement. These images may be used in marketing materials, social media, archives, fundraising campaigns, and promotional storytelling throughout the season.

Social Media Content Creation
Help plan, create, and organize content for platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. This may include writing captions, designing or selecting visuals, promoting auditions and performances, highlighting volunteers and artists, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and helping keep our online presence active and engaging.

Website Updates
Assist with keeping the Summer Place Theatre website current, accurate, and visually appealing. Tasks may include updating production pages, adding event or audition information, posting news or announcements, refreshing images, and helping ensure patrons can easily find the information they need.

Research
Support organizational growth by researching ideas, trends, and resources that may benefit Summer Place Theatre. This could include looking into theatre marketing strategies, audience engagement ideas, fundraising concepts, volunteer programs, community partnerships, or best practices from other arts organizations.

2. Production & Scenic Team

Set Building
Assist with constructing scenery for our summer productions. For the 2026 season, set building is expected to take place approximately June 1–14 for Guys and Dolls and June 29–July 12 for Rent.

Painting
Help paint scenic elements for each production. The timeline will be approximately the same as the set build schedule for each show.

Load-In / Load-Out
Load-in typically involves meeting at one of our storage units in Naperville, helping load materials into a truck, traveling to Naperville Central High School Auditorium, and unloading everything into the theatre. This is expected to take place approximately during the last week of May or first week of June.

Load-out takes place after the final performance of the summer season. Volunteers help load materials into the truck at the theatre, and unload them back into our storage unit in Naperville. For 2026, this will take place on the evening of August 2.

Set Strike
Help take down the set after each production, organize props and costumes, and prepare materials either for the next production or for storage. Expected strike dates are the afternoon/evening of June 28 for Guys and Dolls and August 2 for Rent.

Storage Organization
Assist with organizing our two storage units, which house set pieces, lumber, tools, props, costumes, and other materials. This is an ongoing need throughout the year.

Backstage Support
Help support productions during performances in backstage or technical roles, depending on need. Volunteers in this area would need to be available for all performances of a specific show.

3. Front of House Team
Ushering
Box office support
Concessions
Lobby display setup

4. Marketing & Community Relations Team

Press Releases
Assist with drafting and sharing press releases to help promote productions, special events, organizational news, and major announcements. This may include helping craft clear, engaging messaging and identifying local media outlets, calendars, or publications where Summer Place Theatre can gain visibility.

Community Partnerships
Help build and maintain relationships with schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community groups that may be interested in collaborating with Summer Place Theatre. This could include exploring cross-promotional opportunities, sponsorship connections, ticket partnerships, or ways to expand community involvement.

VolunteerMatch Postings
Support volunteer recruitment by creating, updating, and monitoring postings on VolunteerMatch and similar platforms. Volunteers may help write compelling descriptions, keep opportunity listings current, and ensure Summer Place Theatre is reaching people who want to get involved.

School Outreach
Assist with connecting Summer Place Theatre to local schools, students, educators, and families. This may include sharing information about auditions, performances, volunteer opportunities, student involvement, or group attendance opportunities with schools and youth-serving organizations.

Local Business Connections
Help identify and build relationships with local businesses that may be interested in supporting Summer Place Theatre through sponsorships, donations, promotions, program ads, raffle items, or cross-marketing opportunities. This role can help strengthen Summer Place’s presence within the local business community.

Community Event Representation
Represent Summer Place Theatre at local events, festivals, parades, fairs, or other community gatherings. This may involve helping staff an information table, sharing materials, talking with community members about upcoming productions and volunteer opportunities, and serving as a welcoming ambassador for the organization.

5. Development & Fundraising Team

Grant Writing & Research
Assist with identifying potential grant opportunities and helping prepare materials to support applications. This may include researching foundations, arts funding opportunities, local grants, and community support programs, as well as helping organize information needed for proposals and reporting.

Sponsorship Outreach
Help connect Summer Place Theatre with individuals or businesses interested in sponsoring productions, events, or programs. Volunteers may assist with outreach, preparing sponsorship materials, tracking contacts, and helping communicate the value of supporting community theatre.

Corporate Partnerships
Support efforts to build relationships with companies and organizations that may want to partner with Summer Place Theatre through sponsorships, in-kind support, employee volunteer involvement, or other collaborative opportunities. This role focuses on creating mutually beneficial connections within the broader business community.

Fundraising Event Planning
Assist with planning and organizing fundraising events that support Summer Place Theatre’s mission and goals. This could include helping brainstorm event ideas, coordinate logistics, support promotion, secure donations or raffle items, and help create successful and welcoming fundraising experiences for guests.

Donor Follow-Up
Help strengthen donor relationships through thoughtful communication and stewardship. This may include assisting with thank-you messages, acknowledgment letters, follow-up outreach, donor tracking, and helping ensure supporters feel appreciated and connected to the impact of their contributions.

6. Events & Engagement Team

 

Cabaret Planning
Assist with organizing cabarets and special performance-based events that bring people together in a fun and engaging way. This may include helping coordinate logistics, brainstorm themes, support performers and participants, assist with promotion, and help create an enjoyable experience for both guests and artists.

Opening Night Receptions
Help plan and coordinate opening night receptions that make performances feel festive and welcoming. Volunteers may assist with setup, decorations, refreshments, guest flow, hospitality, and other details that help create a special experience for cast, crew, patrons, and supporters.

Volunteer Appreciation Events
Support the planning of events and activities that recognize and celebrate the time, energy, and dedication of Summer Place Theatre volunteers. This could include helping organize appreciation gatherings, recognition moments, thank-you initiatives, or seasonal events that make volunteers feel valued and connected.

Social Gatherings
Help create informal opportunities for members of the Summer Place community to connect outside of performances and production work. This may include planning casual meetups, outings, mixers, or seasonal gatherings that build friendships and strengthen the sense of community around the theatre.

Theatre Socials
Assist with events that bring together patrons, artists, volunteers, and supporters in theatre-centered social settings. These gatherings may include post-show events, themed socials, meet-and-greets, or other engagement opportunities designed to celebrate the organization and encourage deeper involvement.

Volunteer Commitment Levels
Ensemble Friend: Volunteer at least 10 hours per season
Recognition in program (Friends List)
Two Opening Night tickets for both shows

Spotlight Friend: 25+ hours per season
"Ensemble Friend" benefits + Program recognition
Invitation to Friends appreciation event
Early access to tickets (24-hour presale window)
Four opening night tickets for both shows

Standing Ovation Friend: 50+ hours per season
"Ensemble and Spotlight Friend benefits + Featured recognition at curtain speech or announcmenet 
SPT Friends pin or badge
Six Opening night tickets for both shows

SUPPORTING FRIENDS (Donor or Fundraising Levels)
Ray – $50+
Name listed in program under Friends of SPT

Sunrise  – $150+
Program recognition
Social media thank-you post (group recognition)
Early ticket access

Shinning Star – $500+
Above benefits
2 complimentary tickets (select performance)
Invitation to Friends reception

Producer’s Circle – $750+
All above benefits
Logo/name on website
VIP seating option 
Recognition at curtain speech (opening or closing)

Champion Circle (Hybrid)
For those who both donate AND volunteer.
Requirements:
$150+ donation or fundraising
20+ volunteer hours

Benefits: in addition to Ray and Spotlight benefits,
Special recognition as “Champion of SPT”
Exclusive annual behind-the-scenes event
Priority season ticket access
Ticket to end of the year event