Working backstage to help make a live show happen can be as fulfilling and as exciting as being on stage.

The current crop of Tivoli Theatre backstage volunteers can certainly attest to that fact.

Many only are familiar with the Tivoli as a movie theater, but there have been live productions presented on stage there periodically for the last 20 years — not to mention much earlier vaudeville-type shows.

For these live productions, the theater’s technical director, Steve Margison of Downers Grove, has a crew of four volunteers. The shows they help with include Midwest Ballet Theatre productions, Downers Grove Choral Society concerts, and West Towns Chorus Christmas and spring shows. Other productions may be one-time fundraisers, such as when a group brings in a children’s music performer or a comedian.

These nonprofit groups pay to rent the facility, and having a volunteer staff do the technical work helps them keep costs down. Yet these volunteers are not supplied by the groups themselves. They are dedicated citizens who contribute their time and talent as part of the Tivoli stage crew. They do so an average of once a month, mainly between November and March, according to volunteer Debbie Garner.

Why? They love live entertainment — from singing and dancing to comedy and children’s theater — and they love supporting the talented people who perform. In short, there’s no business like show business!

Garner and her husband, Pat, two of the current volunteers, have been residents of Downers Grove for more than 30 years. Pat Garner developed an interest in working sound and lights for theater in high school. Debbie Garner has her background as a stage performer, but she learned behind-the-scenes operations at the Tivoli along with her husband. They have worked backstage for about six years.

Margison’s wife, Nancy, is another volunteer. She’s had more recent training. She became part of the crew in the past couple of years.

Rick Hessel of Woodridge is an Emmy-winning soundman and former NBC employee. At the Tivoli, he focuses primarily on sound needs. The others work the original 1920s light board, operate curtains and perform a multitude of other tasks to make productions run smoothly.

“Our goal is to be as well-rounded as possible,” Debbie Garner said.

The more volunteers can do, the more versatile they are. This is crucial first because there are so few of them. Secondly, with two married couples involved, scheduling conflicts for one half of a couple might well affect the other half as well.

In a town the size of Downers Grove, there must be many people who would love the chance to work backstage at the Tivoli. According to Steve Margison, volunteer requirements are that you must be 21 or older, fluent in English, be occasionally available during the week, have good health, possess health and accident insurance and be able to be contacted by e-mail.

Prior technical theater or related experience is desirable but not required, he said. And volunteers must be willing to attend training sessions as necessary to acquire needed skills.

Despite the fact that more volunteers are being sought, stage crew positions are limited. So an application for a position does not guarantee acceptance. One or more interviews will be part of the selection process. Those who qualify, though, are given a rare opportunity to combine using technical skills and helping nonprofit groups in the community with supporting live performances all in the wonderful setting of the historic Tivoli Theatre.

For more information, contact Steven Margison at smargison@classiccinemas.com or visit www.TivoliStageCrew.com.