Shadows of the Past

Here's another reminder about our upcoming Shadows of the Past program. We are in particular need of Lantern Bearers this year. Lantern bearers illuminate the path for visitors and the characters during the program and have more of a "behind the scenes" role.

Characters Welcome and NEEDED
Ever wish for the simpler days? Does today’s fast pace and impersonal electronic age have you down? Well, Mount Rainier is looking to take a few select folks Back In Time! This summer we are expanding our living history program and we need people passionate about the park, history, and people, and who have a penchant for dressing up, to join us for some fun. We need volunteers to fill a variety of roles to bring history to life this summer for our Shadows of the Past living history programs and a variety of vignettes at historic Longmire. Volunteers are needed for the following:
Characters – Have a flair for the dramatic? Ever wanted to wear a fake beard and talk with a Scottish brogue? We need people to fill a variety of roles from Mount Rainier’s history, memorizing scripts and portraying characters in at least one Shadows of the Past program and one character in a roving vignette.
Guides – Do you like to answer questions and play follow the leader? Guides are needed to lead visitors through the Shadows of the Past program by memorizing a script and monitoring the group. We also need guides introduce vignettes and answer visitor questions.
Writers – Like to write short stories? Vignettes need to be written for 15-minute programs involving three to five characters. Topics will revolve around the 1899 – 1920s history of Mount Rainier. Specific topics will be discussed and assigned to writers.
Lantern bearers – Want to be involved, but want to stay behind the scenes? Lantern bearers are needed for Shadows of the Past programs to illuminate the path for visitors and the characters during the program.
Researchers – Have a general curiosity about Mount Rainier in the late 1800s to early 1900s? Researchers are needed to create a general outline and bibliography of background information about Mount Rainier and characters from 1889 to the 1920s.

Dates to Remember The dates of the performances are July 10th, with rehearsal July 2, - need only Lantern bearers now. July 24th, with rehearsal July 17 August, 7th with rehearsal July 31st August 21 with rehearsal August 14 Lantern bearers do not need to attend training. The Characters have a 5 to 7 minute monologue to memorize. You dont need to have acting experience to participate as a character. Leads guide the visitors along the trail and will introduce each character. This memorization is longer than the characters, since you have to introduce each one. We also need lantern bearers who light the path for visitors, and illuminate the characters, but don’t do any talking. There are 4 groups each night. Characters would perform 4 times, while Leads and lantern bearers only one trip. The programs start at 8:30, but participants will need to be early to get ready.

For more information on the program or any of the positions listed please contact Lee Snook at Lee_Snook@nps.gov or 360.569.2211 x 6043. To apply fill out the online volunteer form found here:
http://www.volunteer.gov/gov/results.cfm?ID=9533