Outstanding Service Award
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2024 Honorees Mary Lou Britton
John Rich
Albert J. (A.J.) Kalanick
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Previous Recipients
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2022 Susan Harrington (Roslindale, MA) |
2003 Dawn Enders* (La Crosse, WI) 2002 Ginny Winsor (Omaha, NE) 2001 Jeanne Stein* (Los Alamos, NM) 2000 Bill Razo (Hobbs, NM) 1999 Jerry Paquette (US Army) 1998 Donna Norberg (Minneapolis, MN) 1997 JoAnne Nissen (Racine, WI) 1996 John Viars (Des Moines, IA) 1995 John Wills* (Spokane, WA) 1994 Charles Chesnut* (Chappaqua, NY) 1993 Sandra Karnack (Minot, ND) 1992 L. Newell Tarrant* (Raleigh, NC) 1991 Shirley Harbin* (Detroit, MI) 1990 Bea Miller* (Mempis, TN) 2019 Bayless Eugene Irby, Artesia, NM 1989 Al* & Elise King (Clinton, IA) 1988 Mort Clark* (North White Plains, NY) 1987 David Gooder* (Downers Grove, IL) 1985 Twink Lynch (Topeka, KS) 1984 Kay Fliehr* (Edina, MN) 1983 Betty Tomlinson* (Spokane, WA) 1982 Robert Plumb* (Broken Arrow, OK) 1981 Jeanne Adams Wray* (Stillwater, OK) 1980 John Wray Young* (Shreveport, LA) 1979 Art Cole* (Midland, TX) 1978 Robert E. Gard* (Madison, WI) * Deceased |
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Mary Lou’s love affair with community theatre began nearly 60 years ago when she found herself painting shadows on Aunt Eller’s front porch for Michigan’s Grosse Pointe Theatre’s [GPT] production of Oklahoma! Since then, she has held just about every position in front of and behind the curtain, including several terms as President. Active in the Community Theatre Association of Michigan for 50 years, she has served as President and more recently as Editor of the association’s newsletter. An accredited adjudicator in Michigan, she also has chaired a state AACTFest and a Region 3 Festival. She has been a first-level reader for the AACT NewPlayFest, and is Executive Producer of GPT’s Take Ten Festival for ten-minute plays, now in its 11th season. She also helps lead a workshop that encourages GPT members to explore playwriting as an extension of their theatrical experience.
John began theatre work as a professional child performer and later moved into directing and producing. He received his B.F.A. in Directing/Theatre Management from USC, and has won international awards for his work. After retiring to the Palouse region of Washington, he began a second career, leading and fostering a rich and vital theatre community and forming the Regional Theatre of the Palouse (RTOP). Countless hours of directing, set building, prop garnering, costume designing, teaching, and running a non-profit organization have proven invaluable to the community. In particular, he was instrumental in the design and remodel of the new RTOP theatre--a lifelong dream. He is now mentoring a new generation. As he passes on his expertise, he also has implemented a new RTOP program–exemplifying how involvement in the performing arts enriches both individuals and communities at large. 
A.J. has been involved in community and professional theatre for nearly 40 years. He is Executive Director Emeritus of Billings Studio Theatre (BST), having previously served as head of the company, beginning in 2011. His past work with BST also included terms as board treasurer, board vice president, and two terms as board president. A.J.'s prior theatrical endeavors include Company Manager for The Illustrious Virginia City Players, Executive Director of The White Chapel Theatre, and International Tour Director and performer for The Missoula Childrens Theatre. BST’s longevity in the Billings area, its dedication and commitment is in large part due to the sense of family it brings to everyone involved, says Kalanick, who adds, “If for one moment we can make someone forget about their problems, and make them smile or laugh, then everything we did to get them to that point has been worth it.” 
The David C. Bryant Outstanding Service Award was established in 1978 to honor one of the original founders and the third President (1965-68) of ACTA (later AACT). Dave was the Artistic Director of the Sheboygan (WI) Community Players from 1957 until his death in 1971. Under his influence in Sheboygan, according to its 50th anniversary book, "more people were involved onstage, backstage and in the audience. There was a marked liveliness to the theatrical fare. Even the printed playbills of the period reflect creativity, individuality and a sense of panache." Dave instituted the production of a musical every year and was instrumental in the design of their new thrust stage in order to provide "closer visual, auditory and emotional contact with the actors." His influence in Sheboygan was so powerful that when a new Artistic Director joined the staff in 1981, 10 years after Dave's untimely death, "Dave was all I heard about, even though there were four Directors of Theatre between us."
