Love live theater, but don't love the ticket prices? Jeff Carroll of Marietta has a money-saving tip for you: Become an usher.

Carroll volunteers as an usher for the Fox Theatre, the Alliance, Theatrical Outfit, Georgia Ensemble, Actor's Express and Horizon Theatre. He sees a play for free about once a week.

(ENLARGE)

Carroll

"You can choose to tear tickets and hand out programs or pour wine and serve cookies," said Carroll, 43, who works in international marketing for UPS.

"I had a boss once who said, 'How can you afford to see all those shows?' I told him about ushering and he started ushering, too," he said.

Carroll figures he's saved thousands of dollars over the years. And because he has been ushering for so long (14 years), he's often hand-picked to work special events, such as a private concert by Elton John. "Those kind of opportunities are priceless."

For other adults interested in ushering, Carroll said to call theaters whose work you like. You'll have to attend a 10- to 30-minute orientation and provide your own uniform. In some cases, it's any pair of black pants and a white shirt. In other theaters, anything goes — even shorts. You'll probably have to bring your own flashlight.

After you're finished showing people to their seats, sit back and enjoy the show. Carroll said there are almost always available seats for the ushers.

— Kirsten Tagami

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