We are so excited to announce our very first volunteer of the month – Nancy Hayer! Nancy has been a volunteer at The Naples Players since 2019 and since then has gone above and beyond the call of duty. She is always willing to do whatever is needed for the success of a production and her fellow crew-members.  She has embraced the mission of the Naples Players, is always warm and welcoming to new volunteers, and approaches any role thoughtfully and wholeheartedly. Keep reading to learn more about Nancy and her time at TNP.

Meet Nancy Hayer, a Minneapolis native whose parents were snowbirding in Naples since the early 1980’s.  Frequent visits led to her making the big move in 2019.  “I’ve been coming to Naples for such a long time and would go to 5th Avenue often where I would see the big Naples Players building.  I always thought, ‘I have to go see a play!’ When I finally moved down here I went to one of the Evenings on 5th and saw the big banners for The Great Gatsby.  I immediately went online to buy a ticket and the prompt ‘want to volunteer?’ came up.  I said ‘yes’ and Pamela (Larkin Caruso, Director of Volunteer Advancement) called me the next day!”

Eager to dive in and get involved, Nancy did not waste any time in starting to volunteer at the theatre.  “Pamela gave me the tour of the building and had a specific show in mind for me to start out with in the future.  I couldn’t wait to get involved so I asked her, ‘do you have anything starting today? Or tomorrow?’ I started immediately with backstage run crew for The Great Gatsby.”

As a child, Nancy would attend the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis.  “When I moved back to Minneapolis for five years, I volunteered at the Guthrie Theater as an usher and when I lived in Milwaukee I was a season ticket holder to Milwaukee Rep but I never participated backstage like I have at TNP – it’s been really fun and I really enjoy it.”

Volunteering at The Naples Players includes many opportunities beyond the stage. Many of our amazing helpers lend a hand backstage, and run crew is one of these opportunities.  Nancy says, “You do everything! I even got to learn how to make prop drinks for The Great Gatsby which was fun because I am not a bartender.  You do whatever the stage manager needs – we would fold the shirts after quick changes.”

Making God Laugh crew. Nancy front row, second from right

By day, Nancy is a speech pathologist at Moorings Park and has spent most of her career in geriatric rehabilitation.  She also had her own business in accent modification. At the end of a long day, it’s important for her to keep moving when she comes to volunteer at TNP.  “I like working backstage because I like to be busy and be up and moving.  Especially at night when I’ve been working all day – I don’t think I could do something stationary such as spotlights or light board.” 

Outside of volunteering for performances, Nancy is also on the membership committee, participates in Trees and Teas, and volunteers as an assistant stage manager.  “I made some very good friends working crew for Gatsby.  One of the reasons I wanted to get involved in stage management was to find out what happens in the rehearsal process before tech week.  I did Cole’s stage management class and then I was assistant stage manager for Yours, Truly, Calendar Girls, Boeing Boeing, and The Savannah Sipping Society.”

In the future, possibly after retiring, Nancy would like to get involved in more departments at TNP.  “I would love to brush up on my sewing skills and work in costumes.  At the gala when the actors came into the lobby in costume, you really saw the detail in the costumes for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and all that work was just amazing. I also would like to get involved in scenic and sets because I love building things and painting.  When I retire and have more time during the day that would definitely be something to check out.”

The Naples Players is lucky to have volunteers like Nancy and we’re happy to be a place to work hard and have fun.  “It sounds cliché but you’re very much a part of the family here.  I feel that way with every show that I work on.  You move down here not really knowing anyone and try to start a new life so it means a lot to me to have that family here.  You see someone that you worked a show with and they greet you and remember you.  It’s just one big family.”

Thank you to Nancy, and all those who work behind the scenes to make The Naples Players the best theatre in Southwest Florida. We would not exist without so many incredible volunteers who make it their home. To learn more about our volunteers and upcoming opportunities, contact Pamela Larkin-Caruso at [email protected].