CURRENT Honorees
 

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Dale and Dianne Pegg (Grosse Pointe, Michigan)

Dale became a member of Grosse Pointe Theatre (GPT) over 50 years ago, when a friend asked him to help him with lighting a show. “The hook was set and I was reeled in,” he says. He has served GPT as a board member and as President five times, but says his true calling is backstage, building sets, and designing both sound and lighting. He is also the company’s chief photographer, and edits photographs for GPT programs and marketing efforts. He is particularly proud of helping GPT in acquiring and renovating a former nursing home to create a rehearsal hall, scene shop, and office space. Dianne has been equally active, beginning in the scene shop before being tapped for props and set dressing. She then moved into creating sound effects, where she met her husband-to-be, and began lighting shows, and “truly found my creative niche, choosing the gels and lighting angles to support the story by painting the set with subtle color and emotions. “ She also helped establish GPT’s, Studio Theatre, leading to many productions of groundbreaking plays.

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Julie Price (Paducah, Kentucky)

Julie has been part of Paducah’s Market House Theatre (MHT) for nearly 30 years. She’s worked backstage, helped raise money for the theatre, and served in its Board of Directors (including serving as President). She’s also appeared onstage, returning this year as Chelsea in MHT’s production of On Golden Pond. This comes after 15 years of entertaining children through MHT’s traveling Story Theatre program for elementary schools, and its PlayTime program for preschoolers. In that capacity, she has visited countless elementary schools and performed for thousands of children in the quad-state region, including the most rural of locations. Julie says she loves that, even when children face hardships in their lives, they can relax and experience a few minutes, watching the unfolding of a wonderful story and moral. It serves to remind her that we each have a story and something special and unique to offer this world.

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Alka Sharma (Buffalo Grove, Illinois)

Alka is the founder of Mandi Theater, which produces traditional Hindi theatre in the Chicago area. By producing the classics of Indian dramatic literature, Mandi Theatre aims to increase awareness of various social issues, as well as Indian culture. It performs plays in Hindi, English, Sanskrit, and other South Asian regional languages. Alka’s efforts include an annual theatre festival that brings together performing groups from across the country to present traditional Indian plays and adaptations. In 2023, she launched the Theatre for Young Audiences, which, added to the company’s existing children’s programs, introducing young people to theatre and take part in it as a way to express themselves and develop self-confidence. Mandi Theatre also performs at various community events and fundraisers, totally free of cost. Alka’s leadership and innovative staging techniques have brought performances to both theatres and informal performance spaces throughout the Chicago area, establishing Mandi Theater as a true community theatre.