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.
2022 Honorees
The Lincoln County Community Theater (LCCT), in Damariscotta, Maine, has honored Mary Sue Weeks of Bremen, Maine, with the AACT Spotlight Award for her contributions to the artistic life of the theatre. An accomplished scenic artist, Mary Sue has shared her considerable talents with the company for over a decade.
John Mulcahy, LCCT Production Supervisor, says “From the moment she walked through the door of our theater, we have not mounted a production that has not been blessed with Mary Sue’s incredible skills, tireless work ethic, and friendly demeanor.” He recalls that “when we wanted to show a giant IBM Selectric typewriter on the upstage drop for Nine to Five—a little research and it was done. Paint a drop and false proscenium in the style of Rousseau for Iolanthe?—she mastered it.”
Weeks plays a particularly important role in brainstorming discussions in the early stages of the design process, which Mulcahy says “never seems to be about individual egos colliding, but rather about comrades weighing different ideas and happily arriving at the best plan for moving ahead. Every community theatre should be as lucky as we are to have a someone like Mary Sue Weeks among its dedicated volunteers.”
2021 Honorees
Soldiers' Theatre, Vicenza, Italy, awarded the AACT Spotlight Award for outstanding contributions to community theatre to SGT. Martin Sinlao and Alphonso (Al) Ortiz.
SGT. Sinlao and Mr. Ortiz were honored for countless volunteer hours, dedication, and devotion to supporting and creating community theatre for U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Italy, Installation Management Command-Europe, and AACT. “Your Soldiers' Theatre family appreciates all you do and celebrates this amazing honor with you,” said Jerry Brees, Entertainment Director at Soldier’s Theatre in Italy, which is a member of AACT.
SGT. Martin Sinlao has made a tremendous impact on Soldiers’ Theatre and the U.S. Army Entertainment Program. Soldiers are typically only assigned to USAG-Italy for a short time, and Martin has devoted all of it to making Soldiers’ Theatre a success. In only three years he has contributed 1569 volunteer hours to the program. Martin is also seen as a talented actor, dancer, and singer, participating in many roles during his time in Italy.
Perhaps more importantly, Martin serves as a choreographer and stage manager, and has improved not only the quality of productions, but significantly increased the morale and spirit of each production’s cast and crew. Company members say he has been instrumental in producing that spark of passion, excitement, and joy that has changed lives for many volunteers.
In addition, he has built sets, constructed props, helped with costumes and makeup, worked backstage and in the technical booth, tended bar, handed out programs, and assisted with marketing and advertising. He has been recognized with acting awards in the IMCOM-Europe Festival of One Act Plays, AACT Region X, and TOPPERS, as well as nominations for his creative choreography in musicals at Soldiers’ Theatre.
Additionally, Martin has supported the program by being a staunch advocate in the community to bring in young, single soldiers, and encourage their participation. His nomination papers emphasize how his mentorship, personality, and enthusiasm has been instrumental in relieving stress, giving soldiers a safe space, and encouraging them to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams in the arts. Several soldiers have since become active members of the theatre family after being introduced to Soldiers’ Theatre by Martin.
Alphonso Ortiz has been extremely active in the U.S. Army Entertainment Program at Soldiers’ Theatre for the past eight years, contributing 1707 volunteer hours to the theatre program. Through a variety of activities, volunteerism, and support, Al has volunteered and participated in musical and theatrical productions, special events, and programs at the theatre—nights, weekends, and holidays for rehearsals and special events.
A talented volunteer performer, which requires countless hours of rehearsal, preparation, and performance, Al also serves behind the scenes in construction, design, and building sets, as well as the organization and storage of set pieces and props. He is known as a leading advocate for the Entertainment Program in the community.
In addition to his many talents, qualities, contributions, and unique assets, his nomination papers cite his most valued contribution as his support, encouragement, and dedication to making each play, musical, event, or program a success. In particular, he has been praised for his work in marketing and advertising and his work in the IMCOM-Europe Festival of One Act Plays, AACT Region X, and TOPPER competitions through the years.
“Due to his many years of service and continued support, Soldiers' Theatre is successful in accomplishing our mission,” says Entertainment Director Jerry Brees. "Alphonso Ortiz is truly a dedicated and valued volunteer, and helps ensure that the U.S. Army Entertainment program remains vital to our command, volunteers, patrons and staff.”
Previous Honorees & Their Presenting Companies
2020 |
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Rebecca Donner Halifax County Little Theatre South Boston, Virginia |
Diane Hanisch Arts for Life St. Louis, Missouri |
2019 |
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Freddie Beth Bayne The Upstagers Del Rio, Texas |
Daniel Sheehan The Walpole Footlighters Walpole, Massachusetts |
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Sharon Burum Duncan Little Theatre Duncan, Oklahoma |
Chuck Tweed Jewell Box Theatre Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
2018 |
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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
Sue Keenan Glenn Fournier |
Margie Bankert |
2014
Benjamin Keegan Arnold Sheila Bourque |
Herbert Hemming Beth Marshall |
2013 |
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Robert "Rob" Babione Jerry Davis |
Claudia Mathes Melinda Worthington |
2012 |
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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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |