Distinguished Merit Award
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2020 Honorees
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Previous Recipients |
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1979 Norman Carver* (Kalamazoo, MI) |
2005 Jerry Zimmerman (Ft Jennings, OH) * Deceased |
Kristi Gautsche (Hillsdale, Michigan) has been involved with Hillsdale Community Theatre (The Sauk) since 1983, when she began accompanying rehearsals and productions. In 1991, she served as musical director for the first time, and since then has been responsible for the musical direction of almost all of the Sauk’s musical productions. Kristi has served on the theatre’s Board of Directors multiple times, and has been the chair of the theatre’s play selection committee for the past three seasons. She has been named Hillsdale County Artist of the Year, and given the Hillsdale Exchange Club’s Book of Golden Deeds Award, for which she received two special tributes from the state of Michigan. “For me, being involved with community theatre has been a privilege,” she says. “I not only get to work in an art form I love, but I get to do it with a group of people who are multi-generational, from different cultures and lifestyles and who come together as family.”
Steven Helsel (Altoona, Pennsylvania) was for 31 years, until his death in 2018, Altoona Community Theatre’s “Mister ACT,” playing a number of roles. “From Box Office Manager to full-time Operations Manager, to flagship Executive Director, to the most beloved artist in our troupe, Steve carried us,” says the nomination. “Beyond our organization, he provided leadership and outstanding service to the local arts community, going far above and beyond his job description—making sure that ACT had a presence at the Blair County Arts Festival, the Altoona Curve, and the Mishler’s Family Theatre season.” Statewide, Steve was instrumental in building the Pennsylvania Association of Community Theatres. and was the driving force behind ACT’s presence at the state and ESTA regional theatre festivals. He was also responsible for bringing a piece of Altoona to the Third Yakumo International Theatre Festival in Japan in 2007. “Thousands admired his talents and creativity, his generosity of spirit, his work ethic, his integrity, and his ineffable presence and humor,” say those who nominated Steven.
Pamela Livingstone (Hickory, North Carolina) has worked as an actor, writer, teacher, and director in professional theatre, but found community theatre the place she calls home. During her time as the ‘artistic vision’ of Hickory Community Theatre (HCT), she created the RugBug Theatre and Hickory Community Theatre Endowment fund, and survived an extensive theatre remodeling. Because of her longtime passion for both new works and classic theater, new plays and Shakespeare are now regular offerings on the HCT stage. Pamela will be retiring after 20 years with HCT, noting that “Twenty years ago, there were virtually no people of color entering the theatre. Any script that wasn’t absolutely safe was not really considered, and our building was essentially the same configuration it was since it was built in 1921. Today we have a broad diversity of people participating at all levels, an incredibly wide variety of shows presented, and a renovated building that supports our needs and those of our audiences. We keep persisting because we know that theatre changes lives when nothing else can.”
Distinguished Merit
Presented to individuals and organizations in recognition of contributions made to promote and develop the highest standards for community theatre
