Here is what has been happening lately with South Bend Civic Theatre’s volunteers.
South Bend Civic Theatre kicked off the New Year with its annual volunteer recognition banquet on January 5, 2008. Dinner and award presentations started the evening in the main lobby, with the studio theatre turning into a pretty nifty disco afterward. With a near-record setting attendance of 130, the attendees were packed in for a meal of deli-style sandwiches and assorted and delicious “pot-luck” sides and desserts. What was truly record-setting was the total number of volunteers (counted at nearly 400) who contributed in some way, their time and effort to make SBCT’s 2007 50th Anniversary Season a record breaker in attendance, donations and over-all production value.
Award recipients this year were:
President’s Award: David Chudzynski & Steve A. Gergacz, Jr.
Jim Coppens’ Community Service Award: Chef Don Miller
Induction into South Bend Civic Theatre’s Hall of Fame: Jonnie Kilic
South Bend Civic Theatre’s Volunteer of the Year: Seyhan Kilic
South Bend Civic Theatre wishes to congratulate and thank these and ALL of the volunteers who contribute so much time and dedication toward making SBCT stand out as one of Michiana’s shining jewels, as well as one of the top community theatres in the nation.
Saturday, March 17, was a bitter-sweet St. Patrick’s Day this year, when a couragious troupe of volunteers proceeded to begin the daunting and sometimes “messy” task of cleaning out the 30+ years of accumulated props, costumes and “just plain junk” in the upstairs area of the Firehouse.
Jonnie and Seyhan Kilic, along with Matt Davidson (SBCT’s Assistant Tech. Dir.), headed up the project. The team of intrepid movers included: Susan and Richard Baxter, Bill Kennedy (who provided the photos), Joe Roman, Natalie Davis Miller, Jean Plumhoff, Meg Richmond, Dick Currey, Mark Abram-Copenhaver, Rick Miller and David Chudzynski.
While it was somewhat sad to see the Firehouse being emptied, it was a good start in paving the way to use the facility for new programming and opportunities. Many thanks to all who helped.
On Saturday, October 28th a 22 member crew continued to move SBCT into our beautiful new home. Flats, set pieces, furniture and props were carried piece by piece into our newly built scene shop. There was a lot of lifting, dusting, carrying and sweating, but a large portion of the work was completed. With the support of a terrific volunteer base, as well as our hard-working staff, we are fast approaching a complete transition into our new state-of-the-art facility.
SBCT would like to thank the following people for all of their hard work:
Dana Vagg, Justin Waring-Crane, Shawn Edwards, Ed Ronco, Jody Thorla, Phil Kwiecinski, Ted & Edward Manier, Bill Kennedy, Ken Hardy, Kelly Sanford, Martha Thieneman, Terry Farren, Doug Streich, Phil Patnaude, Steve & Mark Fey and Andrew, Richard Abbott, Leigh Taylor, Reginald Batusic and Dan Lehner.
On October 1st, several volunteers helped to begin the process of moving into our new home. It was a dusty and dirty job, but great progress was made moving scenery and prop items into our new scene shop and property storage areas.
Many, Many Thanks to: Bill Kennedy, Jody Thorla, Mary Ann Moran, Ted Manier, Kelly Sanford, Dick Currey, Andrea & Erin Smiddy Talkington, Dan Lehner, Steven Fay, Carlie Barr, Mark Abram-Copenhaver, Greg Melton, Kelly Gallagher, Leigh Taylor, Jonnie & Seyhan Kilic, and Kevin Egelsky, as well as SBCT staff David Chudzynski and Matt Davidson!
If you missed this opportunity to help, and would like to be notified of upcoming “moving days,” just call Lorri Wright at 574-234-1112, or e-mail, lorri@sbct.org.
Individual, corporate and/or foundation sponsors help underwrite production costs of each SBCT production throughout the calendar year.
