Diamond Crown Award
This award recognizes longevity and vitality of AACT-member theatres that have expanded programming and/or facilities in the past ten years and have the administrative leadership to remain vital to their communities for the next ten years. Recipients must have been in continuous operation for 75 years and organizational members of AACT for the past 10 years.
2023 Honoree Grosse Pointe Theatre (Gross Pointe, Michigan) began in 1947 with founder Russel Werneken’s vision to create a community theatre that would be a dynamic force for artistic excellence, engaging the community through large stage productions, workshops, and educational opportunities. In the early 1960s, when Fries Auditorium was built as part of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Grosse Pointe Theatre was invited to perform as part of the facility’s dedication ceremony. Thus began the start of its 55-year relationship with the War Memorial. Grosse Pointe Theatre leased Fries auditorium for its main-stage productions and provided many updates to the venue. Its sold-out Beauty and the Beast production in May 2017 was the group’s last performance in that space, which was to be renovated. Since then, the theatre has continued to provide quality theatrical performances at other venues. Its founder’s vision of creating wonderful experiences through live theatre continues, 75 years later. |
Previous Honorees 2021 Tacoma Little Theatre (Tacoma, Washington) |