Special Recognition
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2015 Honoree
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2015 Honoree
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Previous Recipients
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1996 A. R. Gurney |
2005 Kathie Maldonado (Hobbs, NM) |
Mary Kay Switzer founded A Repertory Theatre (ART) 10 years ago. The mission statement of this community theatre group requires all plays be done as fundraisers for charities and other worthwhile causes; and that mission has been followed throughout the group's history. The current charity benefiting from the theatrical efforts of ART is California’s Orange County and Inland Empire Make A Wish Foundation. A published award-winning author and Artistic Director of ART, Dr. Switzer directs and often writes the plays. ART, currently operating out of facilities provided by the Highland Springs Resort, has become a feature of the Banning community for using theatre to benefit society.
Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre does what other community theatres do, bringing amateur theatre artists together to create live theatre for their community. However, the GGFCT goes a step above. For the last four years, the GGFCT has found ways to open dialogue with community members about issues that pertain to the Greater Grand Forks area. In 2012 the theatre employed a playwright to go into the seventh and eighth grade English classes at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and engage students in writing material that became a play, Deployed, about their parents’ deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Other projects have involved a monologue writing workshop for girls and women ages 9 - 55, and having girls ages 11 - 17 interview women over the age of 70 about their lives. The stories, snippets of history, were performed multiple times for various groups in the area. In addition to a regular season including shows specifically chosen to encourage discussions of topical issues, GGFCT is also creating new theatre woven from the very fabric of their community.
Special Recognition
Presented to persons & organizations whose contributions are far-reaching & of a special nature
