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.
2017 Honorees
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 Sabrina Switzer-Wareing, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was honored by A Repertory Theatre Group (ART) of Banning, California. Sabrina has written and directed many of ART’s productions. Currently, Sabrina is Director of Drama for the Arizona State University, Herberger Academy. The Academy is designed for gifted students who thrive in a highly engaging learning environment. Recently, she was named “Theatre Teacher of the Year” at the Arizona Thespian Society Conference. In keeping with ART’s mission, all proceeds from its productions, go to support charitable causes, including college scholarships, Make A Wish Foundation, local food banks and housing programs, and the Seeing Eye Dog program, leaving no funds for theatre operations. "When ART is in need," says the nomination letter, "Sabrina always comes to the rescue, to help raise funds for whatever it takes for the theatre to survive."
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John Hanlon has been a Lincoln [NE] Community Playhouse member since 2010. His wife, Susan, serves the Playhouse as a box office volunteer, and she encouraged John to lend a helping hand when he retired. Although he had no previous experience in theatre, John had done carpentry and metal work during his service with the United States Coast Guard, and he knew these skills would be helpful back stage. John began as a volunteer in set construction, working several afternoons a week, and he soon became a vital part of the Playhouse production team! In 2012, John was honored with LCP’s Volunteer of the Year Award. During its 70th season John volunteered over 378 hours designing and building sets, and 68 hours in the front of house ushering and bartending. John currently serves on the Lincoln Community Playhouse Board of Directors as Vice-President of Buildings and Grounds.
Reverend William Dunn, Presiding Vicar over St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Beaumont, California, became involved with A Repertory Theatre (ART) in nearby Banning in 2010. When Rev. Dunn arrived at St. Stephen’s Church, he became aware that the lovely stage in the church fellowship hall was not being used. Congregation member Michael Owen informed the Vicar that ART was in need of performance space, and Rev. Dunn was thankful that St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church could provide a place to rehearse and perform. Since that time, he has served the theatre building sets and helping wherever he is needed. “I have been involved with theatre in some capacity all of my life as my mother and my late sister were accomplished actors, and my family helped build one of the finest community theatres on the Gulf Coast. I am not an actor, but a patron, and someone who deeply appreciates the value of theatre. I am especially pleased that ART is encouraging young people to participate in theatre. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is proud of its partnership with A Repertory Theatre and the theatre’s continuing commitment to support area charities, such as the Cancer Society Relay for Life.”
Nancy Wollenburg has served Billings (MT) Studio Theatre as a staff member for over 25 years, first as Box Office Manager, then Office Manager, and currently as Associate Director. She oversees the design and execution of the Theatre’s fundraising, marketing, and advertising campaigns. Nancy also contributes her time as a volunteer, serving on the play reading committee and in every department, doing whatever is needed to get the job done. She will jump in to hem a skirt or mend a pair of pants when the costume department is behind schedule. She will grab a shovel, when the snow crew doesn’t arrive on time, always greeting every patron with a smile.
Shannon Egbert has volunteered for SHAPE Performing Arts Centre since 2008, first as a seamstress, then as costume designer taking responsibility for all show costumes. Shannon also served as house manager, organizing the front of house staff and recruiting and supervising volunteers. For the opening season of 2017, Shannon designed costumes for Detachments, which won a 1st Place Award for Overall Design at the IMCOM Annual One Act Festival in Kaiserslautern, Germany. She is a full-time teacher who manages to contribute more than 15 hours weekly to the programs of the SHAPE Performing Arts Centre. She is a passionate advocate of its programs and activities, productions, and the Performing Arts School curriculum.
Previous Honorees & Presenting Companies
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 |
