Fellows | AACT

Fellows

AACT Fellows
For significant contributions to community theatre
  • The designation “AACT Fellow” is bestowed upon members of AACT who over a period of years have contributed significantly to the idea and ideal of community theatre, and to AACT.
  • Nomination and election to this select group is the responsibility of the current Fellow membership.
  • Awards are presented in odd years, with 2021 the most recent.
AACT Fellows for 2023

[Click here for Fellows elected in previous years]

Photo of Michael FoxMichael D. Fox (South Jordan, Utah) attended Southern Utah University on a performance scholarship after winning the Sterling Scholar in Speech and Drama. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance degree from the University of Phoenix. After several years managing medical facilities, he fell back into theatre playing in The Music Man at Hale Centre Theatre in 2002. By the end of the run, he had a job in the office. He worked as Box Office manager for some time and helped create the consolidated role of Director of Operations, taking responsibility for all customer service, financial control and reporting and general operational management with roles in programming and marketing. He became COO in the spring of 2016. He created the international award winning behind-the-scenes video series HCT RAH. He currently serves as Treasurer on the AACT Board of Directors, as well as representing HCT as an associate member of the National Association for Musical Theatre (NAMT). He has been President of the local chapter of INTIX, Intermountain Ticketing Professionals.
Photo of Sara PhoenixSara Phoenix (Tulsa, Oklahoma) has served on AACT committees since 2009, including Workshop, Education, and Festival Adjudication. She was elected to the AACT Board in 2013 and re-elected in 2016. She has chaired the Education Committee for the past five years, and also serves as a member of the Executive Committee. Sara was co-facilitator of AACT’s first Youth Summit in 2015 and continues to provide guidance to AACT’s growing youth programs. She guided the creation of AACT’s first Youth Festival in 2017, allowing youth and adults to mix and learn from each other at the AACTFest National Festival. Sara’s leadership with the 2017 National Festival was also instrumental in organizing a Youth Leadership Conference, a Monologue Competition, expanding the AACTFest Design Competition, bolstering festival workshops, and revitalizing a “kindred groups program” into AACTChats
Photo of Chris SerfaceChris Serface (Tacoma, Washington) was raised in the Pacific Northwest (Olympia), where he discovered the theatre at an early age and became involved with the local community scene.  At 17, he became the youngest board member of Capital Playhouse in Olympia, Washington, and helped that organization grow from a seasonal production schedule to year-round programming.  During his educational and professional career, he has traveled throughout the West, working closely with many theatres as an actor, technician, director, musician, volunteer, or board member (sometimes all of them at the same time).  In his previous professional experiences he served as Company Manager for Capital Playhouse, where he implemented and developed a Human Resources program, oversaw the reorganization of their accounting practices, developed a Community Outreach program, oversaw Profit & Loss management, and ensured patron retention.  In his five years as the Director of Education at Tacoma Musical Playhouse he developed a year round curriculum. He sits on the board of the Washington State Community Theatre Association as its Secretary (www.wscta.org) and served as a member of the AACT Board of Directors, including a term as AACT President.

Fellows of the American Association of Community Theatre, 1978-2021

2021

  • Bob Frame (Skaneateles New York)
  • Kristofer Geddie (Venice, Florida)
  • Jon Skaalen (Stillwater, Minnesota)

2019

  • John Davis (Evergreen, Colorado)
  • Bob Kafka* (Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; posthumous)
  • Lynn Nelson (Tupelo, Mississippi)

2017

  • Ron Cameron-Lewis (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada)
  • Lori Chase (Venice, Florida)
  • Nancy Eppert (Independence, Missouri)
  • Sue Ellen Gerrells (Alabaster, Alabama)
  • Stephen F. Krempasky (Knoxville, Tennessee)
  • Linda Miller (Prescott, Arizona)
  • Kathy Pingel (North Port, Florida)

2015

  • Scott Bloom (Silver Spring, Maryland)
  • Eugene Irby (Artesia, New Mexico)
  • Rick Kerby (Bradenton, Florida)
  • Beverley Lord (Foxborough, Massachusetts)
  • Dave Sheppard (Maynard, Massachusetts)
  • Jim Walker (Bath, South Dakota)

2013

  • Tom Cowley (Ponca City, OK)
  • Penelope Notter (Grand Rapids, MI)
  • Kristi Quinn (Dakota City, NE)
  • Gary Walker (Grand Rapids, MI)
  • Patricia White (Amherst, NH)

2011

  •    Kay Armstrong (Dallas, TX)
  •    Dennis Gilmore* (Athens, TX)
  •    Ginger Heath (Charlotte, NC)
  •    Tim Jebsen (Midland, TX)
  •    Sherman Ward, Jr.* (Alexandria Bay, NY)

2009

  •    Murray Chase (Venice, FL)
  •    Mary Doveton (Lawrence, KS)
  •    Annette G. Procunier (Ontario, Canada)
  •    Carole Ries (Topeka, KS)

2007

  •    Morrie Enders (Kalamazoo, MI)
  •    Linda Lee (Fort Worth, TX)
  •    Kathie Maldonado (Alto, NM)
  •    Jim Sohre (US Army, Heidelberg, Germany)

2005

  •     Joanne Berry (Bay City MI)
  •     Bill Muchow* (Minneapolis, MN)
  •     Hal Robinson* (Royal Oak, MI)

2003

  •     Mary Britt* (Ocala, FL)
  •     Jill Patchin (Grand Rapids, MI)
  •     Jack Phillips (Western Springs, IL)
  •     John Sullivan (Sioux City, IA)
  •     John Wills* (Spokane, WA)

2001

  •     Rod McCullough* (Lancaster, PA)
  •     Donna Norberg (Minneapolis, MN)
  •     Stephen Peithman (Davis, CA)

1999

  •     Harv Thompson (Madison, WI)

1998

  •     Jimmy Vaughn* (Oklahoma City, OK)
  •     Norm McPhee (Racine, WI)

1997

  •     Mimi Gregg* (Haines, AK)
  •     Sandra Karnack (Minot, ND)
  •     Shirley Cockrell (Oneida, NY)

1996

  •     Julie Crawford (College Station, TX)
  •     Michael Fortner* (Memphis, TN)
  •     Norm Small (Winter Haven, FL)

1995

  •     Ron Ziegler (Des Moines. IA)
  •     Don Bachmann (Midland, TX)

1994

  •     Jon Kerkhoff (Omaha, NE)
  •     Marilyn Pool Allen* (Midland, TX)

1993

  •     Frank Peot (Sun Prairie, WI)
  •     Angus MacPherson* (Palm Beach, FL)

1992

  •     Betty Wills* (Spokane, WA)
  •     John Viars (Des Moines, IA)

1991

  •     JoAnne Nissen (Racine, WI)
  •     Enid Holm* (Odessa, TX)

1990

  •     Ginny Winsor (Omaha, NE)
  •     Al King* (Clinton, IA)
  •     Elise King (Clinton, IA)
  •     L. Ross Rowland* (Muncie, IN)

1989

  •     Charles Chesnut* (Chappaqua, NY)
  •     Merle Loppnow* (Minneapolis, MN)

1988

  •     James Carver (Kalamazoo, MI)

1987

  •     Bea Miller* (Memphis, TN)

1985

  •     Charles Jones* (Omaha, NE)
  •     Kay Smith* (Stockton, CA)
  •     Sherwood Lohrey* (Memphis, TN)
  •     Twink Lynch* (Topeka, KS)

1984

  •     Betty Tomlinson* (Spokane, WA)

1983    

  •     David Gooder* (Downers Grove, IL)
  •     Shirley Harbin* (Detroit, MI)
  •     Jean Hoffman* (Wilmington, DE)

1982    

  •     Richard Fliehr*  (Edina, MN)
  •     Alfred E. Rickert* (Oswego, NY)

1981

  •     Virginia Kirshner* (Concord, MA)

1980

  •     John Wray Young* (Shreveport, LA)
  •     Mort Clark* (North White Plains, NY)
  •     Charles Stilwill (Waterloo, IA)
  •     Ethel C. Brett* (New Orleans, LA)

1979    

  •     Jim Cavanaugh (Mt. Holyoke, MA)
  •     John Wilson* (Lincoln, NE)
  •     David Young (Washington, DC)
  •     Robert Gard* (Madison, WI)

1978  Founding Fellows:

  •     David Bryant* (Sheyboygan, WI)
  •     Art Cole* (Midland, TX)
  •     Kay Fliehr* (Edina, MN)
  •     Howard Orms* (Springfield, MO)
  •     Jules Irving* (Holyoke, MN)
  •     Dorm Richardson* (Columbus, OH)
  •     Jeanne Adams Wray* (Stillwater, OK)
  •     Robert Telford* (Tulsa, OK)
  •     Walter Jensen* (Corpus Christi, TX)
  •     Norman Nadel* (Staten Island, NY)

          * Deceased

 

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