Honouring Contribution to Community Theatre in Western Ontario

We are now inviting nominations for Theatre Ontario's 2014 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre.  This award honours an individual for a sustained contribution, generosity of spirit, involvement, and commitment to community theatre within his/her region.  It is presented annually to an individual from the region that is hosting the Theatre Ontario Festival—which in 2014 is Western Ontario.

Joe O'Brien of Ottawa receiving the 2013 Michael Spence Award

Past recipients of the award are Joan McRae, Anne Wilson, Lillian Sievanen, Betty Coates, Sharon Sproule, Arlene Watson, Vince Mathewson, David Glover, Harry Houston, Hans Warmenhoven, Beth McMaster, Val Hadley, Maureen Lukie, Gabe Ferrazzo, Ken Stephen, Margaret Shearman, Lawrie Bonanno, Jo-anne Spitzer, and Walter Maskel.  The 2013 award was presented to Joe O’Brien of Ottawa.

The 2014 award will be presented to an individual from the Western Ontario community theatre region, which includes Bruce County, Grey County, Wellington County, the Region of Waterloo, the City of Burlington, the City of Hamilton, Niagara Region, and all other municipalities southward and westward to the U.S. border.

The award was established in 1997 by Theatre Ontario on the occasion of Theatre Ontario's 25th Anniversary.  Multiple awards were presented on the quinquennial anniversaries of Theatre Ontario until 2012, when it became a single, annual award.  The award is named in honour of Michael Spence, the founding President of Theatre Ontario.  Michael was active in community theatre at Hart House Theatre, London Little Theatre, and the University Alumnae Dramatic Club (now known as Alumnae Theatre.)  He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Dominion Drama Festival, a past President of Arts Etobicoke, and continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of Theatre Ontario.

The deadline for nominations is January 31, 2014.

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Michael Spence Award for Community Theatre and download award guidelines and nomination form