CTOC’s Beyond the Stage was created in order to continue the mission of Children’s Theatre of Charleston. The Children’s Theatre of Charleston serves and enriches our community, inspiring young people to create fulfilling and productive lives through the art of theatre. Beyond the Stage (BTS) will be used to educate, challenge, and inspire teens as they serve as an integral part of CTOC on a volunteer basis. This experience will allow our BTS members to grow in leadership, communication, and public speaking. It will also allow members to accumulate community service hours and references for future job, college, or schools of arts applications.
Students who are in the 7th -12th grade will be eligible to participate in BTS. Students will be asked to commit to being an active participant for the season. We will have 2 BTS meetings per month, on Sunday afternoons, one activity and one community service opportunity per month ( we may have multiple opportunities).
✅ Benefits of Being a BTS Member
- Lead and mentor younger actors
- Learn from theatre professionals (through shadowing and presentations)
- Shadow production crew roles if not cast in a show (up to 2 BTS members per area)
- Gain hands-on experience in costumes, makeup, set, publicity, etc.
- Support community outreach and promote CTOC
- Accumulate community service hours
- Make friends and connect with peers
- Participate in or support NYTE competition productions
🎯 Responsibilities
- Commit to 15 hours of volunteer service during the season
- Be a positive role model and mentor
- Serve as a CTOC ambassador in the community
- Attend two monthly meetings (Sundays)
- Help with NYTE competition production (on or off stage)
Frequently Asked Questions
- You will be able to take on leadership tasks, be a mentor and role model for younger actors & actresses
- You will learn from theatre professionals by shadowing and presentations
- BTS members who are not cast in shows can fill out shadow applications to work with our production crew. We will allow 2 BTS members to shadow an area per show. You may shadow different areas for different shows.
- You will be able to explore all facets of the theater experience by assisting with costumes, makeup, set, publicity, or other areas you are interested in, working closely with our production staff to learn how theater works behind the scenes.
- You will help others to learn about CTOC through community outreach
- You will be given opportunities to earn community service hours every month
- A commitment to volunteer for CTOC during the season. You will be asked to complete 15 hours of community service which you can fulfill in a variety of ways, including leading audition workshops, crewing productions, participating in community service days, workshop cleanups and helping with events and classes. You do not need to be at all events but need to be dedicated to making CTOC a priority.
- Be a role model for the younger actors at CTOC. Model respectfulness, professional behavior, kindness and help to make this a good experience for them.
- Be an ambassador for CTOC in the community by spreading the word about our productions and the opportunities available for other teens and children.
- Attend monthly BTS meetings. This will be a working group. BTS will have advisors from the CTOC board to guide you but we want BTS to be student led
- Help with the BTS Competition piece for NYTE – be in the cast or help behind the scenes
ABSOLUTELY! We only ask that you help work crew or community service when you can fit it in.
No! We welcome any aspiring actor or anyone interested in theatre backstage to join BTS.
