Staff Reports
Jackson County Community Theatre members celebrated the organization’s 50th and 51st seasons at the 2021 annual meeting May 17 at Royal Off-the-Square Theatre in Brownstown.
President Stacey Williams presided. Outgoing board members Katherine Stahl, Matt Nieman and Katrina Hardwick were thanked for their service during two three-year terms. New members elected to the board were Paul Keller, Jordan McKinley and Lance Hensen.
In addition, Addison Bumbleburg and Max Maschino were elected to replace outgoing youth members John Ortman and Hannah Kerkhof.
On behalf of the board of directors, Williams presented an Award of Appreciation for Leadership and Service to JCCT to Julie and Joe Bradley.
Julie was honored for being JCCT’s costumer for more than 60 shows since 2001 and Joe for 12 years on the JCCT board, 11 as its president, more than 250 hours of work and leadership on the 2012 building addition and creative set building since 2001.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last show of the 2019-20 season had to be canceled along with all of the 2020-21 season except two shows, which were held virtually through a streaming service.
In lieu of the traditionally adjudicated Jackie Awards due to this situation, directors were asked to select recipients for an Award of Excellence for the shows they directed.
Awards went to Gabriella Parisi and Jack Charlton in “Charlotte’s Web” (Jackson County Young Artists’ Theatre), directed by John Rohlfing; Jeremy Hendrix and Megan Keller for “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” directed by Paul Keller; Carrie Hauersperger and Emily Keller for “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” directed by Kathy Martin; and John Ortman and Gabriella Parisi in “15 Reasons Not to Be in a Play,” directed by Kate Stahl and Matt Nieman.
Also Kyle Ronchetto and Jacob Morningstar for “Godspell,” directed by Joel McGill and Dick Parman; Greg Simons and Erin Moore in “It’s a Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play,” directed by John Hardaway; Max Maschino in “I Don’t Want to Talk About It,” directed by John Ortman; and Brylee Deuser in “The Secret Garden,” directed by Clare Hauersperger. In this JCYAT production of two one-acts plays, the teen directors were mentored by Paul Keller.
JCCT is planning a full season for 2021-22. Season tickets are now on sale.
The season shows are the Noel Coward comedy “Blithe Spirit” in September, “A Christmas Carol” in December, “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” as the February dinner theater musical at The Pines Evergreen Room and the comedy “Sylvia” in April.
JCYAT productions for the season are “The Princess Who Had No Name” in July and an evening of student-directed one-acts in January.
Information about becoming a JCCT patron member and also ordering season tickets can be found on the JCCT website at jcct.org. Information about the new season, including auditions, will be available soon.
JCCT also may be contacted by email at [email protected] and phone at 812-358-5228.