Distinguished Merit Award
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2021 Honorees
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Previous Recipients |
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2020 Kristi Gautsche (Hillsdale, Michigan) |
2006 John Rich (Pullman, WA)
* Deceased |
Joe Barton (Waterville, Ohio) has been serving the local and state theatre community for over 25 years, including 20 years with the Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA), serving as President for three of those years, and as Regional Representative for OCTA’s Northwest Region. In 2005, Joe and several friends formed 3B Productions, and is proud that it has “set the standard for high quality productions and has been invited to OCTA State Conference almost every year since their inception.” Joe has directed over 100 productions for multiple theatres in Northwest Ohio. Besides acting, directing, and producing, he has costumed hundreds of productions, winning numerous costume design awards. He is the owner/operator of 3B Costumes, and was manager and head costumer for Kostumes, Ltd. for 15 years. “Community Theatre has been and will continue to be a huge part of my life,” he says. “To me, theatre people have become family!”
Charles Corritore (Erie, Pennsylvania) has been part of the Erie Playhouse for 47 years. In 1974, when a fire decimated the group’s rented space, his work as Business Manager maintained the theatre’s financial stability while it performed in 10 different county-wide venues, until buying a permanent home in 1984. In addition to his contributions on the business side, Charlie has participated in well over 100 productions, sharing his innate abilities in character development, dance, and choreography with others. Partnering with Michael Malthaner, he has been a librettist/lyricist for eight musical theatre productions. These musical productions, along with murder mysteries, which Charlie began writing in 1989, are still being performed in community theatres nationwide. Says current Executive Director, Kate Neubert, “I cannot express the incredible respect and admirations I have for him, and I know it is shared by all who have ever crossed paths. He embodies all that we love about community theatre.”
Distinguished Merit
Presented to individuals and organizations in recognition of contributions made to promote and develop the highest standards for community theatre
