volunteer with us

Become a Friend of Will 

The Great River Shakespeare Festival is proud to have many dedicated volunteers supporting the festival.

Volunteers first officially banded together as The Friends of Will in 2005. In 2025, the Friends of Will are celebrating 20 years of volunteer work! These volunteers bring dedication, love, and enthusiasm to every task.

The Friends of Will welcome new and returning members. Volunteering is a great way to get to know the festival better. Click below to join!

For questions about volunteering, contact Mary Alice Anderson maryalicea@mac.com.

Getting ready to usher

Hosting a tech week dinner

Training for volunteers

Friends of Will leaders

Moving in, moving out

Greeting patrons in the lobby

volunteer opportunities

There are five volunteers teams. Some volunteers focus their efforts on one team, while others do a variety of volunteer tasks over the year.

front of house: Ushering and Ticket Taking

Some front-of-house volunteers work in the theater and theater lobby, ushering, taking tickets, distributing playbills, and helping audience members with seating.

front of house: Concessions and merchandise

Other front-of-house volunteers work before performances and during intermission, setting up displays, answering patron questions, and accepting payments for concessions and merchandise.

hospitality

Hospitality volunteers prepare food for the GRSF company during tech week in late June when company members are especially busy. The hospitality team coordinates menus and hosts the meals. They will contact interested volunteers with specific needs and information.

transportation

Transportation volunteers, otherwise known as “Team Chariot,” help GRSF company members get to Winona from area airports and then back again when they have finished their work here.

MOVe in/out crew

Move-in and move-out volunteers assist with preparing housing for the GRSF company as they arrive in Winona for the season and help with the move-out process at the end of the season as well.

distribution

Distribution volunteers help promote GRSF by visiting local and regional businesses and attractions to distribute brochures and posters.