2020 Honoree
Shawnee Little Theatre (Shawnee, Oklahoma) began in the summer of 1967 as the brainchild of two college students home for the summer, and their energetic former drama teacher. Now in its 53rd year and over 225 productions later, the great, great grandchildren of its charter members carry on the tradition. In 2015, the Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits chose SLT to receive a ONE Award for Excellence and Community Service for its dedication to providing theatre arts to the area. Alliances with Oklahoma Baptist University and the Shawnee Public Schools drama departments allow the theatre to support local youth activities through workshops, scholarship funds, support with their productions, and the creation of “town and gown” productions that offer university students coursework in all phases of community theatre musical production. This past January, SLT teamed with a local non-profit, Safe Events for Families, to produce The Marvelous Wonderettes at the historic Ritz Theatre. Staffed totally by volunteers, SLT continues to enrich, entertain, and educate its community into a sixth decade.
|
2003 Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy (KS)
Quincy Community Theatre (IL)
2004 Albuquerque Little Theatre (NM)
2005 Bay City Players (MI)
2006 Chattanooga Theatre Centre
2007 Stuttgart Theatre Center, Germany
2008 SHAPE Performing Arts Center,
Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers
Europe (Belgium)
2009 Venice Theatre (Venice, FL)
2010 Twin City Stage (Winston-Salem, NC)
2011 Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre (North Dakota-Minnesota)
Theatre Memphis (Memphis, TN)
|
2012 Amelia Community Theatre (Fernandina Beach, FL)
Family Arts Center (Houston, TX)
Manatee Players (Bradenton, FL)
2013 Salina Community Theatre (Salina, KS)
2014 Aviano CommunityTheater, Aviano Air Base (Aviano, Italy)
Mesa Encore Theatre (Mesa AZ)
Tupelo Community Theatre (Tupelo, MS)
2015 Theatre Tulsa (Tulsa, OK)
2016 Lincoln Community Playhouse (Lincoln, NE)
2017 Encore Stage & Studio, Inc (Arlington, Virginia)
Theatre Lawrence (Lawrence, Kansas)
2018 Hale Center Theatre (Sandy, UT)
2019 Alton Little Theater (Alton, IL)
|
Twink Lynch
This award is named in honor of Twink Lynch, who devoted her life to community theatre and to serving as a mentor to both individuals and community theatres across the country. She helped shepherd the national organization's transition from American Community Theatre Association (ACTA) to AACT, served on the Board for six years, including a term as President and VP of Education and on AACT committees for an additional 19 years. Twink managed Topeka (KS) Civic Theatre for many years, retired, then came back during hard times and guided the theatre back to a stable organization. Her passion was such that she earned three degrees in theatre; it is said, she is the only person to earn a Ph.D. in Community Theatre Management. Twink shared her knowledge and experience through consulting and through her "Spotlight on Boards" column in AACT's newsletter, which she wrote for 14 years. In 2000, she edited her columns into a book, Boards in the Spotlight, the proceeds of which benefit AACT. Her book still educates those who are managing and governing community theatres.
|