Spotlight Award
Announced by AACT, and presented locally, AACT's Spotlight Award allows member theatres across the nation to recognize special local achievement. Any individual, organization or company is eligible. Nominations are accepted for persons of all ages. Awards may be presented anytime through the year that is appropriate. This is a fitting tribute to the hardworking volunteers, staff, and patrons of local community theatre groups--an AACT tradition and service since 2000.
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Click here for the online nomination form. Further details are available through the AACT office, below.
2019 Honorees
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Daniel Sheehan Sharon Burum Chuck Tweed |
Dan Sheehan joined The Walpole Footlighters in 1990, and has served as Technical Director for over 20 years. His many talents include set, sound, and lighting design, as well as stage “gimmicks.” Dan is the theatre’s go-to guy for almost everything, one who signs his bio as: "Fixer of Things that Break." When a challenge arises, Dan always finds a clever and practical solution. His creativity and technical expertise have enabled The Walpole Footlighters to stage technically difficulty shows, like Something's Afoot, with 10 "lethal" gimmicks, Flemming, with multiple concealed entrances, and Blithe Spirit, featuring a center stage dancing armchair. Dan accommodates any of the backstage, last-minute, or on-the-spot needs of the cast and stage crew. The Footlighters depend on Dan to make things right, and help its production teams achieve their artistic vision.
Sharon has served Duncan Little Theatre and the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association for over 25 years. She first became involved in OCTA when Duncan Little Theatre hosted the 1995 OCTAFest, and has served as president of OCTA three times. Sharon serves Duncan Little Theatre as a volunteer, actor, director, and producer. She directed the OCTAFest advancing show The Dixie Swim Club. Sharon currently serves on the AACT Board of Directors as Member-at-Large. She has served on the Chisholm Trail Arts Council board, the Simmons Center Theater board, and Centennial Art Walk Committee. In 2010 Sharon received the Governor’s Arts Award. She earned a BS in Theatre Arts from Texas Tech University, and a M. Ed. from Cameron University. She studied at the Oklahoma Arts Institute with Ed Sherrin and Michael Toledo. She is currently on staff at Hodgson’s Studio of Music & Drama, and serves as a theatre consultant.
Mention the name Jewell Box Theatre in Oklahoma City and immediately people think of Chuck Tweed. He has led the theater for 41 years as production director. The sad news is that he has just retired. During Tweed’s tenure, with his passion for excellence, the Jewel Box has boosted its number of season ticket holders from 237 to 2,700 and has started such programs as it annual Gem Awards, a national playwriting competition, and a behind-the-scenes theater boot camp. While working at Jewel Box, Chuck Tweed also co-founded Edmond’s Summerstock Productions and has directed plays at other theaters. He was a founding member of the Oklahoma Community Theatre Association (OCTA). In 2013, Tweed received the extremely prestigious Governor’s Award, recognizing longtime leadership and significant contribution to the arts.
Previous Honorees & Presenting Companies
2018
Sue McCollum
Highlands Little Theatre
Sebring, FL
2017
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Reverend William Dunn Shannon Egbert John Hanlon |
Sabrina Switzer-Wareing Nancy Wollenburg |
2016
| Bonnie Cahill Butler Little Theater (BLT) Butler, PA |
John Hanlon Lincoln Community Playhouse (LCP) Lincoln, NE |
2015
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Sue Keenan Glenn Fournier |
Margie Bankert |
2014
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Benjamin Keegan Arnold Sheila Bourque |
Herbert Hemming Beth Marshall |
2013
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Robert "Rob" Babione Jerry Davis |
Claudia Mathes Melinda Worthington |
2012
| Jim Buckingham Lincoln County Community Theater Damariscotta, ME . Kevin Frazier-Jones Sock & Buskin Community Theatre Sidney, OH . Vivian K. Humphrey Triboro Youth Theatre, South Attleboro, MA . Aleta Grillot Looker Cheshire (CT) Community Theatre |
Colleen McGonegle Theatrix Command Costume Support Center Army Europe Entertainment . Doug Mishler Reno Little Theater, Reno, NV . Joan Sammons Theatre Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids, IA . Sally Skelding North End Players, Portland, OR |
2011
| Russ's Market Lincoln, NE . Rita Ford Wellesley (MA) Players . Cindy Healy, Tim Blount & Wanda Blount Newton (IA) Community Theatre . Don Mansfield Center Stage Jackson, MI |
Eeva Stromski Theatre at the Mount, Gardiner, MA . Frank Milder and Joel Soukkala County Seat Theater Company, Cloquet, MN . Bill Thorne Greater Lewisville (TX) Community Theater |
2010
| Kay Addison Laurens County Community Theatre, SC . Fred Brockwell The Upstagers, Del Rio, TX |
Karen Reisenauer Racine Theatre Guild, Racine, WI . Lorraine Tetlus Manatee Players, Bradenton, FL |
2009
| Anthony Batchelder, Tulsa, OK Heller Theatre, Tulsa, OK . Richard Gannon, Downers Grove, IL Grove Players, Downers Grove, IL . Betty Goettsch, Cedar Falls, IA Waterloo Community Playhouse Black Hawk Children's Theatre, Waterloo, IA . Carl G. (Gil) Haase, Schuyler, NE Nebraska Assn of Community Theatres (NACT), Saint Paul, NE |
Manatee Players Guild, Bradenton, FL Manatee Players, Bradenton, FL . Sandi & Bill Taylor, Longview, TX Arts View Children's Theatre, Longview, TX . Arthur Volmrich, Lake Placid, NY Community Theatre Players, Ray Brook, NY |
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2008 |
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| Patricia Beetschen The Children's Theatre, Inc. Dover, DE . Jean Gold The Middleburg Players, Inc. Middleburg, VA . George Mangold Racine Theatre Guild, Inc. Racine, WI . Jess Mark Tupelo Community Theatre Tupelo, MS . Donald Mummert Boise Little Theater Boise, ID |
André Bruce Ward Theatre Memphis Memphis, TN . Pat Ward The Red River Theater Company Ivanhoe, TX . Emily Westbrook Theatre of Northeastern Connecticut, Inc. Putnam, CT . Jan H. Wolfe El Paso Playhouse El Paso, TX |
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2007 |
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| City of Willow Park Weatherford Stage Performers, Weatherford, TX . Jessica Deeb Community Theatre Players, Ray Brook, NY . Joshua Erichsen The Players Guild Theatre Canton, OH . Harold Goldman Des Moines Community Playhouse /Kate Goldman Children's Theatre Des Moines, IA |
Barbara & Jim Poythress Weatherford Stage Performers Weatherford, TX . Julia Woodward Quincy Music Theatre Quincy, FL . Jon & Angela Wright Arts View Children's Theatre Longview, TX
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2006 |
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| Jeffrey Brown Chattanooga Theatre Centre Chattanooga, TN . Trish Davis The Hudson Players Hudson, OH . Michael Galloway Cadillac Footliters Cadillac, MI . Pat & Kim Gilligan CYT San Diego El Cajon, CA |
Lyn Joslyn The Hudson Players Hudson, OH . Jean Nicholas Cadillac Footliters Cadillac, MI . Shirley Tuzinowski Algonac Community Theatre Algonac, MI |
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2005 |
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| Charles & Madeleine Dionne The Majestic Theatre Manchester, NH . Larry, Debbie, P.J., & Melissa Louie The Children's Theatre Dover, DE |
Harry & Terri Moore The Children's Theatre, Inc. Dover, DE . CCX Trucking Company Chanooka Center Stage Theatre Company, Channahon, IL |
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2004 |
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| George Anne Bedford Art Park Players Deer Park, TX . Daven Edmonds Muhlenberg Community Theatre, Inc. Greenville, KY . George W. Kinsley, III Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre, Inc. Langhorne, PA |
Garth Stubbolo The Children's Theatre, Inc. Dover, DE . Carl Tenuta Pontiac Theatre IV Novi, MI
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2003 |
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| City of Winfield, Kansas Winfield Community Theatre, Winfield, KS |
B. J. Scott Camino Real Playhouse, San Juan Capistrano, CA |
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2002 |
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| Parents Of Desert Stages Theatre Ensuring Tomorrow Productions, Scottsdale, AZ . Debra Dieckman Flat River Community Players, Greenville, MI . Sally McFadden Green Earth Players, Luverne, MN |
Stacey Storey |
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2001 |
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| Fred & Mary Blish The Little Theatre of Manchester, CT . Bill Brown Villa Playhouse Theatre, Springville, UT . Irv Clark Stage West Community Playhouse, Spring Hill, FL . Betty J. Coleman Butterfield Stage, Gainesville, TX . Walter Edwards Fredericksburg Theater Company, Fredericksburg, TX . Wesley College The Children's Theatre, Inc. Dover, DE . Yvonne Pinkerton Venice Theatre, Venice, FL |
Barbara Polka The Trinity Players Inc., Weaverville, CA . Chuck Ross River City Players, Cape Girardeau, MO . Jamie Sanders Shreveport Little Theatre, Shreveport, LA . Robert D. Sandmaier Fort Wayne Civic Theatre, Fort Wayne, IN . Patricia Schuman Fredericksburg Theater Company Fredericksburg, TX . Velvet Sponaugle The Children's Theatre, Dover, DE . Sig Stock Stage West Community Playhouse, Spring Hill, FL . Dr. Thomas Vaughan The Children's Theatre, Dover, DE |
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2000 |
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Aloha Airlines Margaret M. Cahill Robert "Bob" Child |
John Igo S.T.A.G.E., Inc., Bulverde, TX . PJ Searsy Waxahachie Community Theatre, Waxahachie, TX . Guy Thrift - Minuteman Press Tapestry Theatre Company Alexandria, VA . Lorraine Wagner Fort Lauderdale Players, Fort Lauderdale, FL . Jeffrey Williams Theatre at the Mount, Gardner, MA |
