When the lights come up at the James Armstrong Theatre, the performers are only part of the story.

Behind many of Torrance’s live arts experiences is the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, better known as TOCA, along with a community of volunteers helping keep those experiences running.

TOCA’s mission is to connect the community through culturally enriching experiences, bringing music, theater, comedy, cabaret and other performances to Torrance and the South Bay.

And volunteers are an important part of making that possible.

The organization currently recruits volunteers to help with concessions, ushering and its annual TOCApalooza arts festival, along with other support opportunities.

Even TOCA’s board is composed of community volunteers who help guide the nonprofit and its mission.

It is easy to think about an arts organization in terms of the performers who appear onstage. But successful community arts programs also depend on the people greeting guests, helping audiences find their seats, staffing concessions, organizing events and doing dozens of small jobs that most patrons never see.

Those people deserve some applause too.

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