Name: Sherrie Witt
Position: Front of House Manager, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie
Years: 5
Q. The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts houses both Northlight Theatre and Centre East. Between the two, how often do you have to be there?
A. I’m here at least five days out of the week, and it’s normally an evening. I do a lot of the daytime ones as well, and holidays too. We’re working when everyone else is enjoying themselves. We have two shows this evening, we have a dance company, and Northlight is here at the same time. On the weekends, that happens often. Northlight does a six-week run, and Centre East usually does something on a Friday or Saturday night.
Q. What are your general responsibilities?
A. We’re responsible for getting the people in in an organized manner and working with the stage manager to see that the show starts on time. We’re responsible for the overall security of the building in case there’s an emergency. It’s moving people. We’re also responsible for security. At some shows people feel they can walk up on stage.
Q. What’s a typical night here like for you?
A. I get here about an hour and a half before a performance. The ushers get here an hour before. I find out from the box office what seats they have sold, what we can use in an emergency. I talk to the stage manager, find out what they want, if there’s any peculiarities to the show, if there’s an intermission. Sometimes performers come out and do a meet and greet. I talk to the ushers. They’re volunteers, so you have to explain the theater to them, the policies. We make sure all the programs are prepared and at some point I make sure that the theater is cleaned up, Then we’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll. When the house opens, you’ve got to remain very mellow and calm. Of course, we have to know everything around here, restaurants, bars, directions to the expressway.
Q. Do you ever have to deal with unusual situations?
A. I’ve had overly amorous couples. We have to remind them that they’re in a public place. They’re in the theater, in the boxes. There was a time somebody brought to my attention that the show was better in the box than onstage. I’ve gone in and said, “You know, it’s one customer to a seat, please.”
More Top Picks Samsung Powerbot R7070
Q. What are some of the more routine issues you face?
A. People come with cameras, and they’re not supposed to be taking flash photography or recording. We won’t let any food or beverage go into the theater; we get arguments about that. Or they don’t like their seat, they believe they’re not getting what they paid for. Some nights it’s very easy. Other nights it’s a big headache.
Q. How do you deal with the stress of dealing with unhappy customers?
A. You’ve got to be very calm about this. Even when I’ve had customers who have been abusive and they’re yelling at me, I’m not taking it personally. I don’t take any of it personally. Even if people are complaining, they’re just looking for someone to listen to them.
Q. How did you get this job?
A. I actually started volunteer ushering. I was at the Chicago Theatre, I was a volunteer usher there, and then they switched to paid ushers, so I was a paid usher. Then they offered me the opportunity to do it when “Joseph” [“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”] was there. Then this building opened up and I applied here.
Q. What do you like about the job?
A. I think I just like people, as opposed to sitting in an office. It’s busy and it’s new every time.
Q. Working in the theater all the time, do you ever get an itch to perform yourself?
A. I really would like to be onstage. I’ve had to go onstage and make announcements, and I think it’s kind of fun.
———-
Northlight Theatre presents “Hearts,” through April 28. Centre East presents The Glenn Miller Orchestra on April 5; the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra on April 26; the Reduced Shakespeare Company on May 3; and the Laughter Arts Festival, featuring Richard Lewis, Wendy Liebman and Kevin Meaney, on May 17. The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts is at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; 847-673-6300.