Rozsa Volunteer Usher Program

This website will allow you to sign up for ushering for any of our events.

LIST OF EVENTS

SIGNUP

What You Need to Know

Call Times

All ushers should be at the theater one hour prior to the beginning of the show. Two days before the performance, you will receive an email reminder about ushering. This notification will include the call time. It is very important to be on time to performances. The House Manager cannot assign final placements until all ushers have arrived. If ushers are late it can cause the performance to start late.

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Usher Positions

House Ushers/Concessions

House Ushers include door ushers, seating ushers, and on occasion ushers to hand out programs. Ushers may also be asked to help with concessions before the performance, during intermission, and after the performance. The primary duties that volunteers will be asked to perform are listed below.

Door Ushers

For events in the James and Margaret Black Performance Hall we need two to four door ushers. Door ushers will be posted at each of the orchestra level doors, and when necessary each of the tier doors. Before the performance begins, door ushers stand outside the doors to the performance hall by a ticket box and rip off the stub section of each ticket. They check each ticket to make sure it is for the appropriate performance, and that student and child tickets are being used appropriately.

Orchestra level door ushers wear a radio that allows them to communicate with the House Manager. The House Manager gives the door ushers simple instructions, such as when it is time to open or close the doors to the house.

Door ushers are responsible for late seating in the house. Each usher should have a flashlight that is kept in the pocket of his/her usher blazer. Whenever a patron is moving in the theater and the hall is dark, ushers should shine the flashlight on the floor in front of the patron. The House Manager will communicate the rules involving late seating to the ushers on a performance-by-performance basis. Ushers will also be given instructions about how to handle emergency situations.

Seating Ushers

Seating ushers are responsible for making sure that patrons are seated appropriately and in a timely fashion. Seating ushers should check the patrons’ tickets for their seating location and double check to make sure that the tickets are for the correct show and that student and child tickets are being used appropriately. They will bring the patrons to the correct row and give each patron a program. If we have enough ushers we may assign ushers to only hand out programs.

During the performance the seating ushers will enforce our policies on cameras and recording devices, and food and drink. Ushers should also make sure that patrons are not disruptive to other patrons, and keep an eye out for emergency situations.

Concessions

For each performance we will ask a certain number of ushers to help with concessions or merchandise. The number of ushers needed is determined by the size of the audience and the merchandising needs of the performers. The number can be from two to eight ushers at any one performance. At the usher meeting before each performance the House Manager will ask for volunteers to help with concessions for that night. If there are not enough volunteers, the House Manager will have a list of the last date that each usher has helped in the concessions area. The House Manager will choose the usher who has not helped with concessions for the longest amount of time. We will do everything we can to make sure that a first time usher is not required to help with concessions.

Ushers helping in the concessions area can expect to miss approximately the last fifteen minutes of the first part of the performance. Ushers are not required to help with clean-up of the concessions area. However if they would like to help, they are more than welcome.

Concessions ushers may be asked to help in the following areas:

Main Concessions Stand

Ushers working in the main concessions stand will be serving food and drinks to patrons during intermission. Ushers will be assigned a particular job, such as pouring soda pop or coffee, retrieving ice cream bars from the freezer, or serving patrons.

Concessions Cart

There may be one or two concessions carts used at a performance. One or two ushers will be assigned to each cart. Ushers will be asked to serve treats, soda pop, and/or coffee to patrons and collect payment.

Merchandise Cart

Ushers will be asked to sell Rozsa and event-related gifts from the merchandise cart located in the lobby. They will sell merchandise and collect payment, including tax.

Lobby Ushers

Lobby ushers help in the lobby before the performance and during intermission. They answer any questions patrons may have about which door to use in entering the performance hall, where restrooms and drinking fountains are located, how to find the box office, etc. Lobby ushers also serve as greeters for patrons in need of any special services, help patrons in the lobby with late seating, and enforce the late seating rules for each performance. During the performance, lobby ushers may be asked to help set-up or tear down the concessions operation. Lobby ushers may take turns covering the lobby during the performance, so that each usher has a chance to see part of the show.

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What to Wear

All ushers should dress in black and white. A white shirt or blouse of some kind is required. Button down shirts are common, but turtle necks and mock turtlenecks are also acceptable. Please keep in mind that you will also be wearing a maroon blazer provided by the Rozsa Center. Black pants, slacks, or skirts are required. We prefer that you do not wear jeans, however, if black jeans are not faded or torn they can be worn if nothing else is available. Please wear dress shoes of some type. If tennis shoes are worn, they must be black and in good condition.

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