![]() Roland and Trembley especially enjoyed Venezuelan singer Nella Rojan’s performance at the Hopkins Center last fall. But a couple of times they lived an hour away and it was like five minutes before the show started.”ĭespite the restrictions, Richards, Roland, Schafer and Trembley all spoke highly of the Hop’s arts offerings during the pandemic. Sometimes they live really close, run home and get their IDs. “There were a couple of times we had to do that. “It’s always very sad when you have to turn away someone who forgot their vaccination card at home,” said Roland. When a patron purchases a ticket to a show, they must show either a Dartmouth ID, vaccination card or negative test result. Trembley is referring to the health screens required by the Hopkins Center’s COVID-19 protocols. There are a lot of negative experiences that come to mind - whether there’s an angry patron or someone who doesn’t pass the health screens - but a lot of great things happen in the box office.” “They’re smart, respectful, responsible and just getting to know each of them on an individual basis has been really rewarding. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with a lot of really great students,” said Trembley. Stephanie Trembley, who in her role as box office manager oversees both the patron ticketing experiences and the student staff, reflected on her experience interacting and working with Dartmouth students. We’re like, ‘what’s your last name? Oh, I love your hat. “It’s just me and the person that I’m working with, complimenting elderly patrons on their fashion sense. “I think it’s very rewarding when you start to work a certain number of shifts and you start seeing the regulars that have Hop season passes and come to every single show,” said Roland. Schafer said he has found the opportunity to develop relationships with regular patrons and the strong sense of community present among workers to be especially rewarding features of the job. ![]() A lot of them always come to a show each weekend and I think that’s super cool.” They just love the Hop and they love going to the shows. “I did a lot of theater in high school, but with this job, I get to always experience it and be a part of it,” said Schafer. Everyone I work with is really great too.”Ĭonnor Schafer ’25 expressed a similar appreciation for the proximity that working as an usher gives him to Dartmouth’s art scene. “I enjoy being around the Hop - and just getting to see all of the arts shows and not have to worry about, ‘oh shoot, I don't have time to see it because I made these other plans.’ It’s in my schedule. “I really just enjoy being around the theater,” said Roland. Her role involves showing patrons to their seats, performing COVID-19 health screens and, when working the will call shift, making sure patrons get their tickets. Gwendolyn Roland ’25, one of the ushers that Richards oversees, took on will call and usher responsibilities this fall. As well as making sure that productions begin on schedule, she manages the venue’s ushers and takes notes during events to record patron satisfaction and timeliness for her bosses. However, Richards wears more than one hat in her role as the “in-between” of the ticket purchase and artistic experience. ![]() “So when you come to the theater and pick up your tickets, we’re all about making sure that the patron will get there.” ![]() “The best way to describe the whole front of house is that we’re basically in between when you buy your ticket at the box office, and then obviously the show itself,” said Richards. She describes her role as ensuring excellence and providing a good experience to all Hopkins Center patrons. Jenique Richards ’22, currently a senior house manager at the Hop, coordinates the timeliness of shows and oversees the other ushers during productions at The Hop and cites her work as an integral part of her time at Dartmouth, as she has worked her way up in the world of student ushers since her freshman fall. Student ushers and will call workers largely facilitate the plays, musical and concerts Dartmouth students and Upper Valley patrons frequent. Over the past year, many events at the Hopkins Center have returned to their live format.
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