Explore Parent Committees
Preshow
Show Week
Props
Create, design, and gather props to help tell the story on stage.
The Impact of Props
Props engage the audience’s imagination and are an important part of storytelling in a production. Props include any item that a cast member takes onto the stage. These items are made with creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to be realistic-looking and convincing to the audience. Serving on the props committee is a rewarding opportunity to be part of the creative experience.Â
Before Auditions
Ahead of auditions, the Props Committee chair reviews the script to and meets with the Artistic Team to learn the directors’ creative vision for the show. The chair compiles a list of props needed in the show and begins to formulate a strategy for providing the props for the production. The Props Committee chair works with the show’s director to fine tune the prop list; sometimes CPT’s director calls for additional props, or adaptations from the script’s basic list. The Props Committee chair typically is someone who is easily adaptable to change.
Serving on the Props Committee
Preshow Props Committee
Parent volunteers assigned to the props committee will work together to gather props from CPT’s prop inventory, and create, procure, or borrow what is needed. The team gathers during rehearsals in CPT’s prop room work area at Church at the Cross to work on props projects. Sometimes parent volunteers canvas thrift shops looking for pieces, or work from home to assemble or make props.
Parents assigned to the props committee should plan to serve their volunteer hours mostly in person during rehearsals, and they should also plan to be available for the show’s Costume Parade and the final run-through rehearsal prior to Super Saturday.
Show Week Props Committee
Parent volunteers assigned to the show week Props Committee are integral to the production on stage. Before the curtain opens, Props Committee volunteers place the props onto tables, laid out according to the timing of when they are needed in the show. During the show, Props volunteers hand props to cast members, and often retrieve props from cast or crew backstage in the wings. This can involve moving some heavy props, so volunteers should expect to be lifting or carrying heavy pieces at a fast pace.
Serving on the Props Committee during show week puts parent volunteers into the action of back-of-house activity. Volunteers work directly with the cast, keep an eye on the show on a video monitor, and interact with backstage crew members. Props volunteers wear all black during show week, because they are often backstage in the wings.
