Outstanding Service Award | AACT

Outstanding Service Award

David C. Bryant Outstanding Service
Recognizes individual members of AACT for significant, valuable, and lasting service to community theatre

2024 Honorees

Mary Lou Britton
Grosse Pointe Michigan

Photo of Mary Lou BrittonMary 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 Rich
Pullman, Washington

Photo of John RichJohn 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.


Albert J. (A.J.) Kalanick
Billings, Montana

Photo of Albert J. (A.J.) KalanickA.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.”


Previous Recipients

2022  Susan Harrington (Roslindale, MA)
2021 Donna Fisher (Casper, WY)
2020    Norm McPhee (Racine, WI)
2019    Bayless Eugene Irby (Artesia, NM)
2018    Jerry Brees (U.S. Army IMCOM Europe Entertainment, Italy)
             Michael Spicer (Salina, KS)
             Lynn Nelson (Tupelo, MS)
2017   Joan Luther (Naples, New York)
            Jon Douglas Rake (Tacoma, Washington)
2016   Tom Cordingley (Helena, MT)
            Zada & Earl Jahnsen (Bulverde, TX)
2015   Victoria Hanrahan (Ansbach, Germany)
2015   Lou Vander Have (Grand Rapids, MI)
2014   Harriet Friedman (Waltham, MA)
           Dotti Peek* (New Palestine, IN)
2013  Christi Thomas (Sidney, OH)
2012  Paul Nelson (Olean, NY)
           Ron Paoletti* (US Army, Europe)
2011  Dennis Gilmore (Athens, TX)
2010  Dwight Martin (Honolulu, HI)
2009  Dane Winters (US Army, Heidelberg)
2008  Vanita Rae Smith (Honolulu, HI)
2007  David Allen (Memphis, TN)
           Nick Credgington (Fort Belvoir, VA)
           Ginger Heath (Charlotte, NC)
2006  Steve Walpert (Fort Gordon, GA)
2005  Norm Small (Winter Haven, FL)
2004  Eleanor Smith (Columbus, OH)

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


David C. Bryant

David C. BryantThe 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."

Essentially a "let-us-never-forget-the-work-of-those-who-have-gone-before-us" award, it is given for "significant and valuable service to community theatre" on a local, regional or national level.  This service may be artistic, business or ethical in nature.  It may be for a local theatre or the field of community theatre in general, but it must be significant and have a lasting impact.

 

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