Redlands Footlighters Honor Several at Banquet Awards

The Redlands Footlighters Theatre held their annual awards banquet on June 30 at the Mill Creek Cattle Company in Mentone. The festivities, emceed by Catherine Soto, were a tribute to the efforts of many people who helped to make the 2012–2013 season a success. Two of the Footlighters longest-term members who were present, Carol Steele and Jim Craw, were given a resounding ovation for all of their ongoing efforts toward making Footlighters a beacon in the community. Additionally, the Board of Directors conferred three $1,000 scholarships on three outstanding young people who have been active in theater arts programs at their high schools and in the local community theaters. The Merle and Peggy Williams Scholarship for Redlands High School was awarded to Julia Bray. Julia will be attending Cal State San Bernardino as a Musical Theater major with minors in Dance and Communications. She has been an International Thespian Society member for all four years of high school and has also participated in speech and debate during that time frame, having placed in state-wide competitions for dramatic interpretation for several years. In addition to her four years of acting in school productions she has also participated in junior theater, which is regional community theater, and at LifeHouse Theater. The Citrus Valley High School Scholarship was awarded to Alexis Scanlon, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Alexis was most recently in the Footlighters production of “Southern Hospitality.” Alexis plans to attend a four-year college and major in Theater Arts with an emphasis on acting and /or directing. She participated in her high school theater program during her four years. In her senior year, she had lead roles in six different productions and recently won an award for her lead role in “Almost, Maine.” Alexis was a member of the National Honor Society, President of her Thespian Troupe, and also participated in the Advanced Women’s Choir. The Joe Camp Scholarship for Redlands East Valley was awarded to Emily Quinn. Emily will attend Chapman University in the fall. Her major is undecided but theater and vocal performance are listed as interests. She has participated in her school’s theater program for four years and has been a member of the Thespian Troupe since her freshman year and was president of the Thespians in her senior year. In addition to theater, Emily has participated in the REV music program by membership in East Valley Singers for four years. Singing and acting have been a large part of her life since an early age, according to Emily. Footlighters President Vicki Janis asked the outgoing board members Karan Spencer, Production; Jim Dieli, Communications; and Bob Brezsny, Treasurer; to come forward. She thanked them for their efforts and presented each with a gift of appreciation. Bob Brezsny was unable to attend. Vicki also mentioned the efforts extended by Al Fowler, who has helped maintain a permanent chronicle of the many Footlighters productions over the years. His creativity and imagination have been cherished by Footlighters actors and members. A contest for a logo to adorn the side of the Footlighters Theater had been underway and the winning design was submitted by Tamara Griffey. Look for it in the near future. Tamara is a multi-talented woman who has been involved with Footlighters for many years. She teaches drama at Notre Dame, is a costumer, set designer, director and much more. The President’s Award was presented by Vicki Janis to Carol Steele, the previous President, for her outstanding efforts to Footlighters over the many years. Carol has been an inspiration to many with her leadership and willingness to help make the theater going experience a truly wonderful venture. The Anne Salpas Award for dedicated unselfishness to Footlighters was presented to Pat Adeff for all of her efforts. Pat writes plays and directs a Children’s Summer Theater Workshop with her original plays and has been the Theater Plant Director overseeing everything from broken pipes to general maintenance. Pat, when accepting the award, thanked her father, Jim Craw, as her inspiration. The Ed Parry Award, for acting by an actor or actress that carries a scene with high energy, a unique breadth and depth of emotion in their performances, and whose performances stand alone in excellence, was presented to Alexis Rafter. Ali, as she is called by those who work with her, has been honored with numerous acting awards and has been an inspiration to those who have worked with her. The Joe Camp Memorial Award was present by Carol Steele. It is presented to a member who has exhibited Outstanding Leadership at Redlands Footlighters Theater emulating those qualities of the late Joe Camp, one of the founding fathers of Footlighters. This year’s recipient was Tom Hurst. Tom is the go-to person for a myriad of things theatrical; program design, posters, play reading, directing, set design, lighting, technical issues, and many more. Excellence awards were presented to the actors and production people for the Footlighters 2012–2013 season. This year’s winners and the production they were associated with are as follows: Cherie Riley and Kimberly Lombard for costume design on the “Southern Hospitality” set; Phillip Gabriel and Eric Gruenler for set design on “Witness for the Prosecution;” Phillip Gabriel and Mary Carruthers on set decoration on “Witness for the Prosecution;” Mark Rogers for technical design on the set of “The Rainmaker;” Cody Perry for his cameo performance as Jim Curry in “The Rainmaker;” Pamela Lambert for supporting actress in her role as Janet MacKenzie in “Witness for the Prosecution;” Steve Johnson as supporting actor for his role as Sheriff Thomas in “The Rainmaker;” Norma Ferreales as lead actress in her role as Rhonda Lynn in “Southern Hospitality;” William Gillean for lead actor in his role as Sir Wilfred Robarts in “Witness for the Prosecution;” and Kellie McDonald for director of “The Rainmaker.” In conjunction with the City of Redlands 125th Anniversary, the new Footlighters patio will be dedicated in a ceremony to be attended by various local dignitaries prior to the start of the 2013–2014 season’s opening night. Further details will be forthcoming.