Our Mission

BASIC MISSION: Starlight Theatre was founded with the intention of producing high quality live theater in the Waverly area.  Our goal is to provide an outstanding evening of family theatre complete with a pleasant dining experience - to entertain our audience from the moment they walk through the door.

POSITIVE FOR THOSE INVOLVED:  We cultivate creating a positive experience for everyone involved in a production by encouraging the staff, cast and crew to work as a team with high respect for each individual and their unique talents. We aim to create an unforgettable experience and memory for everyone involved, and specifically by uniting family members together in a production.

DIVERSITY AND NEWCOMERS:  We strive to use a diverse group of actors, directors and technicians and welcome newcomers who share our same goals. 

PARTNERING:  We partner with Waverly Schools and other local business on projects that will benefit all individuals and organizations involved.

SUPPORT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS:  Starlight Theatre is supportive of other non-profit and charity organizations and supports their events and fund raising efforts through donations of complimentary passes, theatrical items and services.

OUR   T E A M

Board of Directors

Linda M. Granger
Founder, President, Artist Director

Jane Goebel
Vice President & Secretary

Chris Klaver
Treasurer

Advisory Board

Lori Arendsen
Owner of Rising Star Studios of Dance Arts

Joseph Bauman
General Counsel to the
​​Michigan Supreme Court

Susan DeRosa
Actor, Director, and more

Jim Lorenz
Tech Wizard

Fran Ludington
Choreographer

Dan Pappas
35+ years experience in community theatre

Guy Sanville
Actor, Director, Teacher
Artistic Director for Purple Rose Theatre

Lisa Sodman Elzinga

GET INVOLVED

BECOME A STARLIGHT VOLUNTEER

Starlight relies totally on it's volunteers to operate.  Many positions require no experience as long as you are reliable and a  team player, we could use your help!  Below is a list of some of the areas we could use your assistance.  If you would like to volunteer your assistance, please contact our office at [email protected].  Attaching a resume would be very helpful.

Dining Room Volunteers

Dining Room volunteers can work any number of performances.  You'll receive a discounted dinner and show package for only $12.  We need you to arrive promptly at 5:30pm to set up the dining room.  This involves moving tables, setting chairs at tables, placing tablecloths, place settings, centerpieces, candles, and table numbers on tables.  You'll arrange artificial trees around dining room, and set the arbor at the entrance.  Electrical cords to the trees and arbor will need to be taped to the floor.  After the show, you'll assist with cleaning up the dining room.  We typically need 4-6 volunteers each night.  No experience required.

Box Office Representative

Requires arriving the night of the shows by 5:30pm and working at the box office until 7:40pm (after the show has started).  We prefer to have two people working at the box office at all times.  Duties include giving table numbers to patrons, giving them a show program (asking them if they would mind sharing) and a dessert coin, collecting money and filling out credit card forms.  This position requires someone with a professional demeanor, professional dress and appearance, and someone who is calm and extremely accurate so that a party does not up at the wrong table.  Some training is required.

Production Assistant

Production Assistants must read the script and be familiar with the show.  They should attend all of the tech meetings and assist with gathering or making props, set decorations (known as Set Dressing) and set furniture (also known as Set Dressing).  They usually also serve as Backstage Running Crew.  No experience required.

Photographer

Requires someone with professional equipment.  Experience with stage lighting would be beneficial.  Photographers are needed for publicity pictures and final dress rehearsal pictures.  Typically a photographer takes up to 500 pictures during our final dress rehearsal.  Shots from all angles, close ups and shots of backstage crew are required.

Directors

Directors must submit their resumes for review by the Artistic Director and Board of Directors.  To their advantage, Directors must work on a Starlight show in another capacity before directing.

Assistant Director

Assists the director throughout the entire rehearsal process.  Preferably attends all of the tech meetings with the director. Attends all rehearsals and performances.  Handles many of the administrative duties such as preparing a cast and crew contact sheet, handing out comp passes, and keeping track of DVD’s orders.  Writes the blocking in the script, works with actors on lines and gives them "line notes."  Works closely during tech week with the Stage Manager.  Experience is preferred but not required. 

Costumer

Costumers must read the script and become very familiar with the show.  The Head Costumer is responsible for preparing a Costume Plot Outline.  Costumers have a range of duties from measuring actors, meeting with the director on his or her vision, pulling costumes from our costume collection, searching for costumes at 2nd hand stores or on-line, altering costumes or building (sewing) an entire costume.  During tech week and performance nights, they are responsible for all of the costumes and their appearance (ironing, steaming and any last minute mending) and also responsible for washing costumes in between show weekends.  They also serve as dressers and are responsible for assisting actors with fast costume changes.  Rarely is there only one person handling costumes at Starlight due to the vast amount of duties and responsibilities.  No experience required.

Set Construction Assistant

This involves helping the set builder with building and/or painting the set. No experience required.

Stage Manager

The Stage Manager must read the script and be very familiar with the show and mark all of the tech cues in their script.  They are responsible for everything that is happening behind the scenes during tech week and performances.  They "call" the show while wearing a head set to communicate with the rest of the tech crew.  They are in charge of the entire tech crew during tech week and performance nights.  They need to attend at least five rehearsals before we move over to the school and attend every night of tech week and all performances.  Previous backstage experience with Starlight required.

Backstage Running Crew

The running crew are the people who assist with getting the stage ready with set pieces and props before the show starts and assisting with the scene changes between scenes.  It can involve moving furniture around or just picking up props and placing new props.  This needs to be done swiftly and accurately and is done under low lighting conditions.  The Running Crew is required to read the script and be familiar with the show.  They should attend at least two rehearsals before moving over to the school plus all rehearsals during tech week and every performance.  No experience required.

Lighting Designer and Technician

Lighting Designers and Technicians must read the script and be familiar with the show.  They must mark all of the lighting cues in their script.  They need to meet with the director to get his/her ideas on lighting and any additional lighting the director may wish to try.  They are responsible for hanging and aiming lights during tech week.  They are required to arrive early enough to get set up in time for rehearsals to begin tech week and in time for the audience to enter the cafetorium on performance nights at 6:30 pm.  Our current Lighting Technicians would be willing to train anyone interested in learning.

Sound Operators Assistant

Requires someone to work with the sound operator during tech week and performance nights assisting with set up and tear down and training to learn how the sound equipment operates. Computer knowledge helpful.