By: Christian Sarna<\/p>\n
For some students, the simple yellow room and ticket slot of the Western Box Office are the window to a world of possibilities.<\/p>\n
The Potter Hall Theater<\/a> hosts productions put on by the department of theatre, cinema and dance<\/a>. The box office organizes ticketing and seating for these productions. A senior business major<\/a>, Natalie Lombardi, said her involvement with the box office has helped her develop human resources skills while doing something she loves.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just really involved with customer service, and these are all things that I am going to need for my future career,\u201d Lombardi said. \u201cIt\u2019s been really helpful, and it also allows me to get involved in theatre.\u201d<\/p>\n Lombardi, who has been a student-employee in the box office for over two years, said that students of any major can be involved if they are dedicated.<\/p>\n Libby Denny is a senior theatre major. She has worked in the box office since she was a second-semester freshman and encourages anyone, regardless of their association with Western, to get involved in theatre.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be in school to audition,\u201d Denny said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had people from the community; we\u2019ve had high schoolers come and audition and get roles.\u201d<\/p>\n Denny has performed in several productions at Western, such as \u201cLittle Women,\u201d \u201cSpring Awakening\u201d and \u201cBlithe Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n She said that her experiences on both sides of the box office helped her become more well-rounded and knowledgeable about what goes into a full production.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a really good way not to limit yourself,\u201d Denny said. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see all sides: on stage, off stage, behind the scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n The box office provides many services besides ticketing. Denny explained that students interested in more short-term involvement could help as ushers.<\/p>\n In addition to taking tickets and greeting patrons, ushers help theatergoers with mobility devices like walkers or wheelchairs get to their seats. For patrons who are hard of hearing, the theater provides hearing devices that directly connect to the sound system for a more enjoyable experience. Denny\u2019s experience has certainly been enjoyable.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never worked with someone in the box office that I\u2019m just like, \u2018I can\u2019t stand this person,\u2019\u201d Denny said. \u201cWhen you work together, you have one common goal; this is what we\u2019re gonna do; this is our procedure. We\u2019re all on the same page, and it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n For students on the fence about getting involved with the box office or theatre, in general, Denny had one simple piece of advice: do it.<\/p>\n\n\t\t