2022 Honoree
Stage Left Theater (Spokane, Washington) underwent a major shift in 2021, dedicating more of its resources than ever before to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Stage Left has replaced all passive non-discrimination policies with active inclusion efforts, including not only policy changes but also outreach and community partnerships. The company partnered with multiple theatres in Spokane and the larger inland Northwest region to collaborate on these efforts, and ensure that opportunities are being broadened across the board, not just within its own walls. During the pandemic shutdown, Stage Left was at the forefront of virtual theatre-making in the region, presenting its first virtual festival, a collection of monologues titled Masterpiece Monologues. In addition to other regional and national awards, Stage Left won the Spokane Arts Award for Inclusion, and Artistic Director Jeremy Whittington was awarded the 2021 Governor’s Arts & Heritage Luminary Award.
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2021 Prescott Center for the Arts (Prescott, Arizona)
2020 Shawnee Little Theatre (Shawnee, Oklahoma)
2019 Alton Little Theater (Alton, IL)
2018 Hale Center Theatre (Sandy, UT)
2017 Encore Stage & Studio, Inc (Arlington, Virginia)
Theatre Lawrence (Lawrence, Kansas)
2016 Lincoln Community Playhouse (Lincoln, NE)
2015 Theatre Tulsa (Tulsa, OK)
2014 Aviano CommunityTheater, Aviano Air Base (Aviano, Italy)
Mesa Encore Theatre (Mesa AZ)
Tupelo Community Theatre (Tupelo, MS)
2013 Salina Community Theatre (Salina, KS)
2012 Amelia Community Theatre (Fernandina Beach, FL)
Family Arts Center (Houston, TX)
Manatee Players (Bradenton, FL)
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2011 Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre (North Dakota-Minnesota)
Theatre Memphis (Memphis, TN)
2010 Twin City Stage (Winston-Salem, NC)
2009 Venice Theatre (Venice, FL)
2008 SHAPE Performing Arts Center,
Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers
Europe (Belgium)
2007 Stuttgart Theatre Center, Germany
2006 Chattanooga Theatre Centre
2005 Bay City Players (MI)
2004 Albuquerque Little Theatre (NM)
2003 Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy (KS)
Quincy Community Theatre (IL)
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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.
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