Spotlight Award

Freddie Beth Bayne
Freddie and her husband, Jim, have been supportive patrons and season ticket holders of The Upstagers (Del Rio, Texas)for over 25 years. Freddie became involved with the Board of Directors as a community representative in 2003. She was immediately recruited as Board Secretary, and joined the Reading Committee, which selects the group’s shows for each season. According to the Upstagers’ nomination letter, “Freddie still says she isn’t qualified to be on our Board, since she doesn’t act, sing, dance, build sets, or do tech work, but she knows our community and loves theatre. And as a retired English teacher, she has organizational and writing skills that are indispensable to our group.” Freddie managed the box office for years, and supervised the front of the house for each performance. She organized ticket sales at various businesses in the community—in the process, becoming the “face” of The Upstagers. More recently, Freddie agreed to assist in the administration of The Upstagers’ Facebook page, even though she felt that she was “too old and out of date for all that.” She monitors the page daily, posting news and photos for the group. “I want to thank The Upstagers for letting me do all this,” Freddie said, “and have so much fun over the years! It has meant the world to me.”

Daniel Sheehan
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 Burum
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.

Chuck Tweed
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.

Reverend William Dunn
A Repertory Theatre (ART)
Banning, CA

Shannon Egbert
SHAPE Performing Arts Centre
Mons, Belgium

John Hanlon
Lincoln Community Playhous
Lincoln, NE

Sabrina Switzer-Wareing
A Repertory Theatre (ART)
Banning, CA

Nancy Wollenburg
Billings Studio Theatre
Billings, MT

Sue Keenan
Village Theatre Guild
Glen Ellyn, IL

Glenn Fournier
Mansfield Music and Arts Society (MMAS) Black Box Theater
Mansfield, MA

Margie Bankert
Sue and Gary Collar
Ron Lockwood
Butler Little Theatre
Butler, PA
 

Benjamin Keegan Arnold
Lakeside Community Theatre
The Colony, TX

Sheila Bourque
Kirk Players
Mundelein, IL

Herbert Hemming
Ojai Center for the Arts
Ojai, CA

Beth Marshall
Theatre Arlington
Arlington, TX

Robert "Rob" Babione
Curtain Call Theatre, (CCT)
Montgomery, MN

Jerry Davis
Crittenden Fine Arts Center, West Memphis, AR
ASAP & Carousel Theater Workshops for Seniors, Hot Springs, AR

Claudia Mathes
Albuquerque Theatre Guild
Albuquerque, NM

Melinda Worthington
Newton Community Theatre
Newton, IA

2008 

2007 

2006 

2005 

2004

2003

2002

Stacey Storey
River City Players Cape Girardeau, MO
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Russ Williams
Waco Civic Theatre, Waco, TX

2001

2000

Aloha Airlines
Hawaii State Theatre Council Kamuela, HI
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Mary Ann Baures
La Crosse Community Theatre La Crosse, WI
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Lillian Baxter
Runaway Stage Productions, Elk Grove, CA
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Gordon Becker, Creative Financial Planning
Cabrillo Music Theatre, Agoura, CA

Margaret M. Cahill
The Butler Little Theatre, Butler, PA

Robert "Bob" Child
Stage West Community Playhouse, Spring Hill, FL