By Janet Jacobs
On the stage that thousands have played through the years, the Warehouse Living Arts Center honored some of its own Tuesday at the annual meeting of the community theater.
James Maston Pritchett, Don Marett and H.M. Davenport received awards during Tuesday’s event. Pritchett was named Volunteer of the Year; Marett received the Gioia M. Keeney Award; while Davenport was presented with the Nancy Roberts Memorial Award.
Pritchett has worked tirelessly behind the scenes in every part of the production aspect, while Marett was recognized for fiscal responsibility and fund-raising on behalf of the theater.
The Nancy Roberts Memorial Award is a new award for musicians who have made an outstanding contribution to the Warehouse Living Arts Center Theatre. Davenport was chosen as the first recipient because he has participated in every musical production at the Warehouse since 1985, according to presenter Fran Stroud.
“It absolutely has been my pleasure to participate,” Davenport said after accepting the plaque. “It’s been great working with musicians like Nancy.”
Prior to the awards ceremony, the Warehouse’s regular annual meeting took place, with a run-down of what has been accomplished in the last year. In 2009, the theater had 95 percent capacity for its various performances and sold $65,000 in tickets, according to treasurer Debbie Hanks.
“I know it’s been a hard year for everybody. Supporting your theater is wonderful,” Hanks said. “We’re in the black. We’re not in the black much, but we’re in the black.”
As the theater goes into the 2010 season, it has $371 in the bank, Hanks said. “I’m excited about that,” she added. Last year, the theater raised about $188,000, of which about a third came from ticket sales, Hanks explained.
In the rundown of the previous year’s accomplishments, President Brad Haynie pointed to the new sidewalks, which will soon be decorated with engraved tiles in a Warehouse Walk of Fame. Following the meeting and awards, the season ticket holders were treated to a performance by Byron Haynie and Rhonda Bryant, who were joined by Zanada Tally on one special request.
The outgoing board members are Vernon Bryder, Debbie Hanks, Kathy Hollomon, Jan Moore and Dan Wilkie. Wilkie has one more year left on his term, and will be replaced by Tom Hecker for 2010.
This year will mark the local theater’s 39th season.
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