Art Cole Lifetime of Leadership Award

Honors a lifetime of leadership in community theatre by members of AACT who have provided leadership at the national level, in addition to local and/or regional levels.
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David C. Bryant Outstanding Service Award

Recognizes members of AACT for significant, valuable, and lasting service to community theatre. .
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Paul Nelson has been credited with being the best all around adjudicator in the Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS). He administers the TANYS Adjudication Program and has been adjudicating in New York State for over 16 years. He has served as a Responder for the Ohio, Delaware and Pennsylvania State Festivals and as adjudicator for the Region I and Region III festivals. He is a lifelong member of Alpha Psi Omega and has won multiple awards for his numerous theatre activities. Paul has been recognized by TANYS and the Eastern States Theatre Association (ESTA) for his work as an actor and director and by TANYS for outstanding contributions to non-professional theatre. He has served as TANYS president and as an ESTA board member. Paul earned theatre and education degrees from SUNY Geneseo. He is employed as a Mental Health Registered Nurse and is working on his Masters as an Adult Nurse Practitioner.

Ron Paoletti was a Soldier in the U.S. Army, 1972-74, then created a successful career as a civilian, eventually as Recreation Specialist in Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Hanau, Schwetzingen, and Heidelberg, Germany; most recently as Army Community Recreation Officer in Stuttgart.  He was widely admired for excellence at his "day job," he is most lauded for devoting himself tirelessly to his passion, theatre.  Ron amassed an enviable number of volunteer achievements.  He starred in The Goodbye Girl in Heidelberg in 1996, and helped re-vitalize Roadside Theater and was instrumental in helping renovate its facility.  He performed in, directed, and supported dozens of SRO shows.  Among many honors, he earned the Topper Award as Best Director for Dancing at Lughnasa and an All-Army Arts Festival nod as star of Man of La Mancha.  Ron's boundless enthusiasm, energy and talent have made Roadside Theater and Stuttgart Theatre Center into the acclaimed programs they are today. (Ron's award was presented posthumously to his wife in Germany in April.)

Distinguished Merit Award

Presented to individuals and organizations in recognition of contributions made to promote and develop the highest standards for community theatre.

2012 Honoree Dennis Assaf & Jefferson  Performing Arts  Society Metairie, LA

Under Dennis G. Assaf's artistic vision and community leadership, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) was born in 1978. In the ensuing years, Maestro Assaf has created educational outreach programs for children and adults in music, dance, and community theatre. He serves as the Executive/Artistic Director and Conductor. In 1989 the JPAS "Theatre Wing" was launched with an amazing production of West Side Story. Over the next 20+ years JPAS expanded its theatrical offerings to include four summer musical intensive camps in two different theatres simultaneously, currently serving over 450 kids in grades 3-7 and 8-12. In 2004 JPAS grew again with the "Theatre Kids!" program, which offers two full musical theatre productions annually. Typically 150 children are cast into two groups of 75 to afford as many children as possible the opportunity for self-expression. In 2007 the Theatre for Young Audiences was created and serves as JPAS' community theatre touring component in five South Louisiana parishes and Mississippi. He has received many varied awards and has dedicated these last 34 years to pursuing the dream of a new performing arts center for Jefferson Parish. He secured a $15 million pledge from the state of Louisiana. The center in now under construction.

2012 Honoree Linda McClane Fernandina Beach, FL

Linda McClane is a charter member of Amelia Community Theatre, which was founded in 1981 in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Initially, she worked in publicity and as an actor with the Peppermint Players, an adult troupe that performs in county elementary schools. Over the years, she has served in all areas of production including tech, stage manager, producer, actor, and director, and she runs the summer camp program. She is on the Board of Directors and is a past president. Linda became Managing Director of the theatre in 1998. In 2010, Amelia Community Theatre built a new theatre, and at that time, Linda's position, which also includes artistic director and box office duties, became a paid one. Linda has received her theatre's Volunteer of the Year award and her city's Volunteer of the Year Award for arts enrichment. She and husband John McClane have two grown sons.

Mort Clark International Achievement Award

Recognizes an individual who, or an organization that, has accomplished significant achievement in the promotion of excellence in international community theatre. (This award may be presented at an international event.)
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Previous Recipients

2007  Hiroshi Koizumi (Japan) 2008  The Cellario Family (Monaco) 2009  Jim Sohre (Army Europe Command Entertainment)

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Robert E. Gard Superior Volunteer Award

Presented to individuals over the age of 65 who have faithfully served community theatre on a non-paid basis for over 25 years.
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2012 Honoree Don Mansfield Jackson, MI

Don Mansfield became interested in theatre in grade school. After graduate school, he moved to Jackson, Michigan to join Consumers Power Co. There he returned to acting with the "Presby Players" at the First Presbyterian Church and he joined Center Stage Jackson (CSJ). He was elected to the CSJ board in 2005, and proposed the formation of a youth program as there was no such program in Jackson County. Don was appointed chair of the Youth Theatre Committee. The program annually produces a play and a musical, partnering with the Presbyterian Church and the Jackson Public Schools. Don routinely handles publicity, box office, and program production, plus other duties, including directing, producing, and seeking grants. The CSJ board credits the Youth Theatre program with expanded family participation, increased membership in and awareness of CSJ, contributing to the financial stability of CSJ, and transitioning participants to main stage productions. Don is 82 years old.

 

2012 Honoree Judi Schweppe Johnson Eugene, OR

Judi Schweppe Johnson began her association with the Very Little Theatre (VLT) in Eugene, Oregon in 1949 at age 12 when she played Little Mary in Ten Nights in a Barroom. She acted until she left Eugene in 1955. Returning in 1966 as a single mother of four, she quickly become part of VLT's hard working core of volunteers. She served as an actor, director, and board member, including president in 1976-77. Judi worked in numerous capacities backstage: furnishings, props, set painting, stage managing, house operations, and 17 years as box office manager. She brought skills from her professional life, as Operations Manager at the University of Oregon Bookstore for 32 years, to her box office work.  Under her direction VLT's box office consistently ran in a very efficient manner. Now retired, Judi still works in the box office, enjoys the VLT family, and is proud of VLT's 83 year history!

 

2012 Honoree Richard C. Whaley Annapolis, MD

Richard C. Whaley has been a member of the Colonial Players of Annapolis, MD for 61 years. It began in 1951 when he, employed as an oceanographer, and his bride, Beth, settled in Annapolis. Beth immediately found the Players. As a dutiful new husband, Richard volunteered to help. In 1954 the Players bought an old building and Richard helped convert it into a theatre. He also worked on later renovations and expansions of the building. Over the years he has served on the board, including as president, and on long range planning, and maintenance and improvement committees. He ushers and has worked in the box office from hand written tickets to the now computerized system. His largest contribution, especially since he retired, is as lead carpenter. He handles construction for every production - eight or nine a year. He excels in creating clever and safe ways to make the designers' and directors' visions work. 

 

Previous Recipients
1982  L. K. Boutin (Des Moines, IA) 1983  Ruth Kenyon Tate           (North White Plains, NY) 1984  Emma & Alan Bowlsby           (Indianapolis, IN) 1985  Roberta Kendrick (Minneapolis, MN) 1987  Peggy Greene (Topeka, KS) 1988  Alice B. Rogers (Memphis, TN)          Hilda Greenquist (Racine, WI) 1989  Mary Peckham (Omaha, NE)          Lil Williams (Ardmore, OK) 1990  Dick Brown (Des Moines, IA) 1991  Mary Dwyer (Sheyboygan, WI) 1993  Firth Chew (Spokane, WA) 1994  John Edmands (Racine, WI) 1995  Ruth Cole (Midland, TX) 1996  Holley R. Webster (Wallingford, PA) 1997  Jean Mitchell (Grand Rapids, MI) 1998  Dottie Griffith (St. Joseph, MI) 1999  Betsey Reeder (Memphis, TN) 2000  Jane Margison (Riverside, CA)          Robert Montgomery (Bremerton, WA) 2001  Heddie Kent (Concord, MA)	2002  Paul Sturner (Tonawanda, NY)          Isabella Ward (Dover, DE) 2003  Charlotte Hall (Fort Thomas, KY)          Fred Normand (Rome, NY) 2004  Tom Cowley (Ponca City, OK)          Jo Pruden (Fort Shafter, HI) 2005  Hal Robinson (Royal Oak, MI)          Sherman C. Ward, Jr. (Haddenfield, NJ) 2006  Marge and Ted Ressler (Dover, DE) 2007  Rosemary Green & Louise Carpenter          (Ocala, FL) 2008  James N. Alexander, III (Haddon          Heights, NJ)          Peg Brandon (Winter Haven, FL)          Henry Pope (Walla Walla, WA) 2009  Rae Cohan (Newport Beach, CA)          Max Polley (Davidson, NC)          Willa Wye Rockett (Belmont, MA) 2010  Arthur Delo, Jr. (Jersey City, NJ)          Martha Kovacsi (Bay City, MI)          Madge Levinson (Toldeo, OH) 2011  Geri Becker, Venice, FL          Wayne Pressnall, North Platte, NE          Bennett Wood, Memphis, TN

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Special Recognition Award

Presented to persons or organizations whose contributions to community theatre are far reaching and of a special nature.
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2012 Honoree Merrie Dawkins Rockingham, NC

Merrie Dawkins knew from the age of four that she loved the theatre. When she returned to Hamlet, NC after studying theatre in college, she was delighted to find a community theatre in the area. Merrie has volunteered at Richmond Community Theatre (RCT) for 31 years. She has been a board member (including president), actor, technician, backstage crew, children's theatre organizer, and financial contributor. She does whatever needs to be done. RCT almost closed when its founding director retired. Merrie and others worked with the city of Rockingham to find a new director, and to figure out how to keep things going. It was a point of community pride; so many industries and businesses had closed, but the 4th oldest community theatre in the state remained. Essentially Merrie is always willing to support what is best for the community and the theatre as a whole. It's not about her. It's about the community. It's about the theatre.

 

Previous Recipients

1996  A. R. Gurney 1997  International Thespian Society 1998  Studio de Monaco - World Festival of               Amateur Theatre          Dundalk (Ireland) International                Maytime Festival          Toyama (Japan) International Theatre               Festival 1999  Stephen Peithman (Davis, CA) 2000  Kurt Majkowski (Eau Claire, WI) 2001  1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery            (Fort Sill, Lawton, OK) 2002  Frank Peot (Sun Prairie, WI)

2003  Vilseck Bavarian Arts Guild           (Vilseck, Germany) 2004  Patty Duke (Northern ID) 2005  Kathie Maldonado (Hobbs, NM) 2007  Angela L. Ardolino (Miami, FL) 2008  Victoria L. Hanrahan (Ansbach,          Germany) 2009  Robert G. Anderson (Starkville, MS)          John Kollack (Clarkesville, GA) 2010  Dan LaMorte (US Army, Europe) 2011  L. Ross Rowland, Muncie, IN

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Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award

Recognizes AACT member theatres for successfully completing major steps in new directions, expanding services to their community, or moving to the next level of organizational development.
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2012 Honoree Amelia Community Theatre Fernandina Beach, FL

Amelia Community Theatre (ACT) was founded in 1981 with 80 charter members contributing $10 each to fund the first production. Shows were held at the high school and other available halls. In 1988, ACT purchased a building and converted the space into a theatre that seated 88. ACT was proud of its shows and complex sets, and its audiences liked the intimate setting, but the small space also had limitations. In 2005, debt free and financially secure, the all-volunteer theatre began a capital campaign to raise funds to build a new theatre on land it owned adjacent to the small theatre. In 2010, now with one employee and a mortgage, ACT opened the doors to a theatre that seats 160 with a rousing production of The Pirates of Penzance. Volunteer and audience numbers increased. ACT added online ticketing in 2011. Its community is proud of its theatre!

 

2012 Honoree Houston Family   Arts Center Houston, TX

Houston Family Arts Center (HFAC) was founded in 2005, and has rapidly made an impact. In 2010, it opened the Garza Main Stage Theatre, serving the 750,000+ people in the Cypress, Texas area. It now has a 9500 square foot facility with two performance venues, four dance studios, and other spaces. From its inception HFAC conducted summer performance camps. It has expanded to an Actors Academy for all ages with a managing director. HFAC collaborates with other theatres, including co-producing and loaning set pieces and costumes. HFAC recognizes the importance of new works, opening the Garza Main Stage Theatre with a world premiere, and commissioning a piece by a NY playwright. It held a reading of Kissless by Chance McClain, who then asked HFAC to cast and produce the show for the 2011 New York Musical Theater Festival. HFAC has helped raise $15,968 for other charities. In 2011, HFAC produced 23 shows with 544 actors for 18,444 patrons.

 

2012 Honoree Manatee Players Bradenton, FL

Manatee Players was formed In late 1947 as part of the Women's Club, eventually growing into its own facility in 1953 where four shows were showcased annually. In the past 10 years, Manatee Players has grown to produce eight main stage musicals and two fully produced youth theatre musicals, annually enjoying 95% capacity attendance. These productions have been recognized with multiple awards by the Florida Theatre Conference, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and AACT. Manatee Players has reached out to the local community by providing in-school touring productions dealing with topics of social importance, arts integrated teacher curriculum assistance, on the job training for mentally challenged, Teatro Latino (plays performed in Spanish with English sur-titles), new play premieres, and a newly formed senior theatre troupe. Manatee Players is in the final stage of a $15 million new state-of-the-art facility slated to open in January 2013.

 

Previous Recipients
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

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Corporate Award

Presented to businesses and corporations for significant financial support of community theatre on a regional or national basis.

 

2011 Honoree SC Johnson Racine, WI

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace, and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. SC Johnson has supported community artistic endeavors and growth through several avenues. A company sponsored volunteer network assists in volunteer recruitment. The SC Johnson "Dollars for Doers" program provides cash donations in return for volunteer hours, providing tangible rewards to Johnson employees and their organizations. The SC Johnson Fund has awarded matching grants that have been instrumental in theatres' growth. In its headquarters town, Racine, WI, SC Johnson partners with theatres for educational and children's theatre programs through its Golden Rondelle Theatre. The 125-year-old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. SC Johnson previously received AACT's Corporate Award in 1994 and is still committed to community support.

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Previous Recipients
1987  Southwestern Bell (Topeka, KS) 1992  General Mills  1993  Martin Marietta Energy Systems          (Knoxville, TN) 1994  S.C. Johnson Wax (Racine, WI) 1995  Meadows Foundation (Dallas, TX) 1996  Dan Castle & PCI Entertainment           (Bloomfield Hills, MI)	2001  Music Theatre International           (New York, NY) 2008  Music Theatre International          Target Stores 2009  Theatrical Rights Worldwide 2010  Manhattan Tour & Travel, Inc.

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