Theatre Jacksonville 2009 Volunteer Awards

by DICK KEREKES
Theatre Jacksonville’s 2008-2009 season was officially over on Friday August 28th, with their annual membership meeting combined with awards for the volunteers and theatre performances.
A brief business meeting opened the evening with a recap of the past year and with new members added to the board of directors. An announcement that Theatre Jacksonville finished the year financially in the black was greeted with loud applause. That is certainly a remarkable accomplishment in this day and age. Theatre Jacksonville’s last show, Into the Woods no doubt contributed to the happy financial picture by being the largest grossing musicals in the history of the theatre. I certainly know much of the credit goes to the hard working board lead by outgoing President Jeanne Maron and the efficient TJ staff headed by executive Director Sarah Boone. Jacksonville theatre patrons are indeed blessed to have several well run community theatres, and the granddaddy of them all Theatre Jacksonville is certainly a model for all the country to admire.
If you talk with Sarah Boone, it won’t be long before she praises the volunteers who are the backbone of this one of the oldest producing community theatres in the country. In fact, Ms. Boone, in her opening speech before every performance during the season, made it a point to show the theatre’s gratitude for many volunteer hours performed both on and off the stage.
DOROTHY RICE was presented the award for OUTSTANDING FRONT-OF HOUSE VOLUNEER but was not able to attend to receive her engraved glass plaque; Ms. Rice has been a faithful volunteer for so many years no one could recall when she started. TJ has a number of volunteers with many many years service.
Others receiving awards included:
OUTSTANDING TEEN VOLUNTEER…NEAL THORBURN
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL VOLUNTEER…CHIP CORDES
OUTSTANDING ALL-AROUND VOLUNTEER…TOM DANIELS
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR…ANDREW DICKSON..Foigard – The Beaux Stratagem
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS…KENDRA HOLTON HELTON…Cinderella-Into the Woods
OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR…JUAN UNZUETA…Baker-Into the Woods
OUTSTANDNG LEADING ACTRESS…TINA MORONI. ..Suzy-Wait Until Dark
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN…THE KITCHEN WITCHES by MICHELLE SIMKULET & TREY HARRELL
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN…INTO THE WOODS by KELLY WAGONER
OUTSTANDING SET DRESSING…THE KITCHEN WICHES
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN…INTO THE WOODS by JEFF WAGONER
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF THEATRE JACKSONVILLE 89TH SEASON-INTO THE WOODS
Things outstanding continued after the awards, with a delicious spread of food from Anthony’s
Gourmet Catering (www.anthonysgourmetcatring.com). While everyone enjoyed their food, it was a time for socializing, something theatre folks are particularly fond of doing. It was fun to renew old acquaintanceships and make new ones while chatting about the one thing all of us had in common, the love of live theatre. Everyone was excitedly looking forward to Theatre Jacksonville’s 90th season opener, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest in September. A good time was had by all, but then that always happens when you go to Theatre Jacksonville either as a patron or as a volunteer.