Monday, August 11, 2008

Volunteering at the Riley Center

One of my favorite things to do since I retired is to volunteer at the MSU Riley Center. I usually work on Friday afternoon in the box office and help with many of the shows either as an usher or in the box office.

Today will be one of my first days without one or the other of my grand kids. I have lots of projects that I need to be doing, but I'll be volunteering at the Riley Center because the 'pick 5' packages go on sale. Lots of people buy this package, and they'll want to buy early to get their seating preference.


Patrons can pick 5 or more shows and receive a discount on their package.
We're still trying to decide on which 5 we'll pick.

I know I'll get the Mammoth Follies for Connor and I, and my husband and I want to go to the Las Vegas Tribute to Motown.
By this time tomorrow, we will have decided and bought our package of 5!

This picture below was made one Friday afternoon at the MSU Riley Center box office. We all wore different shades of orange that day. No, we didn't plan it!
Standing from left to right: Me, Derron (the box office manager), Gary, and seated at the computer is Gary's wife Dorthy.

The Riley Center houses the historic Grand Opera House theatre and is the result of a long awaited renovation.

I toured the opera house in 1993 when my daughter did a project on it for her senior English project. At that time, we didn't think the Grand Opera House would ever be restored.

Click
here to see pictures of the inside now and then. It is an amazing restoration...one that Meridian is very proud of!
Thanks for stopping by,

16 comments:

Cathy said...

Good morning! I think what you do on Fridays would be a wonderful thing to do! That building is awsome....what fun it would be to work there! Oh....and you look good in orange!

Cathy

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

oops diane, can you delete that, that was for Laura at Shorehouse, somehow blogger ate it!!!

love the link, how fantastic you get to go there and be part of it!

Darlene said...

Good Monday morning Dianne!!!

I love the theater and yours looks lovely. I take Lexi as much as possible to see the plays. This summer she was in Aladdin, in the ensemble. We also went and saw High School Musical and another play totally written by kids ages 9-17 called Justin Credible (Just Incredible).

I think it is great that you volunteer there...how neat to be part of this fabulous theater.

Gone said...

Lovely...I know you must enjoy being there just as often as you can!!!

~Blessings,
Jan

Kim's Treasures said...

Morning! Clicked on the link...looks so nice! Hope you had fun!
Kim

Dawn said...

What a great thing to volunteer for. I wish we had something like that closer. I looked at the before and after pictures. What a beautiful place it is. Every thing looks so elegant. Be sure to post to let us know what you are going to see.

TO answer your question, you can order those books on line. I got mine at amazon.com

take care,
Dawn

nikkicrumpet said...

Oh my what a gorgeous building!!! I can see why you want to be there...everyone involved in the restoration should be so proud!

Anonymous said...

Morning Diane! What a great place. Looks like they have a real variety of events for this year. I thing your Vegas/Motown pic is a good one; let us know! I need to get out and do something a couple days a week; I'm thinkin of part-time work (just thinkin now!)lol I like your bubnbuff too. Blends much better like you said! I think your blog looks pretty as is; you have already added lots since I first visited but I'll let you know my opinion of the book! Have a great day - Sincerely, Jeannette

Anonymous said...

Hi again! That should have said Rub n Buff!lol (need more maybe less coffee today???) Jeannette

Nancy Rosalina said...

good morning Diane, what a beautiful building. I bet you have alot of fun working there. I love going to see plays, just don't get to go enough!!! Nancy

The Berry's Patch said...

Wow Diane it's breath taking! How fun to volunteer there. I would love to see an opera..never have before. But we do go to the local theatre. It's lots of fun.

Brandee :-)

Alexandra MacVean said...

What a wonderful post! The theatre is cool! :)

Anonymous said...

My volunteer work is Meals On Wheels. Doesn't it feel good to give of yourself to worthy causes? I figure, if you've got the time and can, then you're likely needed!
Brenda

Joanne Kennedy said...

That is great that you volunteer there. What a fun place. Do you get free tickets for being a volunteer?

We have a great theater by us that are always looking for volunteers too. I was thinking of maybe doing that but it seemed like a lot of hard work. So I'm still thinking about it.

I do most of my volunteer work with animals.

Hugs,
Joanne

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This is such a nice volunteer venue to work for, Diane. It's great that you can help out and I'm sure they appreciate it. I'm so happy to see such a beautiful architectural treasure has been preserved and is being used. It is gorgeous! It would be impossible to replicate in this day and age.

What 5 shows did you finally choose? Did you ever attend an opera? I love Italian operas -- probably no surprise...lol!

Hugs, Pat