ACT Cincinnati Annual Awards
Each year, at its annual banquet, ACT Cincinnati recognizes individuals with awards that acknowledge the winner’s contributions to Greater Cincinnati community theater. These awards recognize significant achievement by individuals who strive to encourage the growth and improve the quality of community theater throughout the region.
The nominees for three of the awards, The Art Rouse Award, The Mario Pitocco Award, and The Roger Grooms Award, come from each of the member groups who may nominate one individual for each award per year. The written nominations are read and discussed by a committee chaired by the Awards Chairperson and the committee votes on the winner of each award. The winner’s names are kept secret until the night of the banquet when the name of the winner is announced after a narrative of their experience and contributions has been read.
These awards are considered the highest honors ACT Cincinnati can bestow on the winner. Even to be nominated for any of the awards is considered an honor as the nominations come from your peers who are recognizing your contributions to your theater group.
The fourth award, the President’s Award, is given by the President of ACT who chooses the winner based on an individual’s contributions to ACT Cincinnati during the current season.
Art Rouse Award
Established in 1976
ACT of Greater Cincinnati presents the prestigious Art Rouse Award to an individual or couple who has shown exceptional commitments and dedication to community theatre. Art was a founding member of both ACT and OCTA. He served as president of ACT of Greater Cincinnati, Inc., establishing the annual President’s Award, and was a tireless and capable administrator. He was an OCTA delegate, and worked both on and off stage for numerous groups. This award is given in memory of Art and his efforts to promote community theatre and improve its quality.
Download the Art Rouse nomination form
2023 Art Rouse Award Winner: Judy Berrens
2022 Bunny Arszman
2021 Cathy Lutts
2020 Tom & Nancy Storey
2019 Laureen Catlin
2018 Kathy Beiting
2017 Arlene Borock-Balczo
2016 Wayne Kirsch
2015 Dee Dunn
2014 Gittee Bortz
2013 Dennis Murphy
2012 Patt Robb
2011 Mike Burke
2010 Arny Stoller
2009 Linda Roll
2008 Norma Niinemets
2007 Ron & Freida Houck
2006 Pat Furterer
2005 Tom Fox
2004 Bill & Stella Brinkman
2003 Dee Anne Bryll & Ed Cohen
2002 Henry Capluch
2001 Rilla Foster
2000 Joy Sharp
1999 Ginny Chizer
1998 Marty Mehring
1997 Don Frimming
1996 John Wesseling
1995 Judy & Gary Wettengel
1994 June Dean Baldwin
1993 Richard Stoops
1992 Peggy Kenney
1991 Michael Murphy
1990 Charlotte Hall
1989 Jim Ponchot
1988 Julian Feldman
1987 Ed Spencer
1986 Frank Beard
1985 Ethel & Gordon Youngerman
1984 Dorthy Kommann
1983 Frank Nesi
1982 Roger Grooms
1981 Sally Dowlin
1980 Carol Mills
1979 Sally Gensler & Robert Mehring
1978 Mary Haas
1977 Jeanette Henn
1976 Elston Hurst
Mario Pitocco Award
Established in 1988
To preserve and encourage innovative technical theatre in memory of Mario Pitocco, this award is presented annually to honor an individual who has shown continuous service and excellence in creative technical theatre, including, but not limited to: costuming, house management lighting sound program, props, set décor, set design, set construction, stage management, etc.
2023 Mario Pitocco Award Winner: George Fee
2022 Elaine Michael
2021 Kent Smith
2020 Jason Cox
2019 Art Kibby
2018 Glenna Knapp
2017 Sharon Buchtman
2016 Ray Persing
2015 Elaine Volker
2014 Patrick Downey
2013 Vicki Rafferty
2012 John Netzley
2011 Fran Uecker
2010 Eric Bardes
2009 Scott Baker
2008 Robert F. McClain II
2007 Ed Spencer
2006 Dan Dermody
2005 Steve Myers
2004 Peggy Stouffer
2003 John Wesseling
2002 John & Kim Minor
2001 Bob Fritzsch
2000 Dennis Murphy
1999 Dave Myers
1998 jef brown
1997 Fred Thoman
1996 Michael L. Morehead
1995 Tim Binzer
1994 Deidre Dyson
1993 Howard Mills
1992 Jeffery T. Straight
1991 Phil Pitocco
1990 Gary Rogers
1989 Don Haas
1988 Ron Houck
Roger Grooms Award
Establish in 2007
Known for his wit, eloquence, charm and passion for theatre, Roger Grooms supported the artistic growth of theatre in our region throughout his long career as an educator, film and dramatic critic, actor and director of plays and musicals. This award is therefore given annually in Roger’s memory to honor an individual who has demonstrated dedication to raising the artistic quality of community theater production through active teaching and/or by demonstrating sustained excellence in the categories of directing, acting, choreography, musical or vocal direction.
Download the Roger Grooms Nomination form
2023 Roger Grooms Award Winner: Charles Wilhelm
2022 Danny Davies
2021 Wayne Kirsch
2020 Jerry Wiesenhahn
2019 Tom Peters
2018 Rebecca McLaughlin
2017 Peggy Kenney
2016 Gary Rogers
2015 Karen Vanover
2014 Burt McCollum
2013 Ed Cohen
2012 John & Anna Nixon
2011 Norma Niinemets
2010 Dick Wesp
2009 Dee Anne Bryll
2008 Ginny Chizer
2007 Bonnie Schanz
President's Award
Established in 2007
The ACT President’s Award is given annually by the President of ACT to an ACT board member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to the goals of the ACT during that particular year. The award generally goes to the board member who has gone beyond the normal duties of their position and demonstrated extra effort.
2023 President's Award Winner: Amy Waldfogle
2022 Joy Sharp & Mary Stone
2021 Laureen Catlin
2020 Fred Hunt
2019 Amanda Emmons Shumate
2018 Amanda Emmons Shumate
2017 Ray Persing & Long Range Judging Committee
2016 Arlene Borock
2015 Arlene Borock
2014 Dee Anne Bryll
2013 Arlene Borock
2012 Wayne Kirsch
2011 John Wesseling
2010 Joy Sharp & Dee Anne Bryll
2009 Joy Sharp
2008 Tracy Botos
2007 John Wesseling
ACT Rising Star Award
Established in 2019
ACT of Greater Cincinnati presents the Rising Star Award to recognize individuals who have exemplified a new level of exceptional dedication and commitment to their theatre or the ACT community as a whole. This could mean an individual who is in the early stages of their theater career, no matter their age, or someone who has been around a while that has demonstrated a renewed dedication to Community Theater. Rising Star nominees should be different than Art Rouse, Mario Pitocco and Roger Grooms nominees, and all nominees will be recognized at the banquet with a certificate.
Download the Rising Star Nomination form
2023 Rising Star Award Winners:
Emily Nickles – Acting Up
Mary Jo Bissmeyer – Beechmont Players
Zak Kelley – CenterStage Players
John Michael Durnil – Cincinnati Music Theatre
Megan Horton – Footlighters, Inc.
Pollen Greely – INNOVATheatre
Pettrina Barresi – Loveland Stage Company
Kelly Holtgrefe – Mariemont Players
Dana Davis – Mason Community Players
Nick Dunker – Sunset Players
Chris & Amy Evers – The Drama Workshop
Christy Carson – Village Players of Fort Thomas
Emily Nickles, Acting Up
Mary Jo Bissmeyer, Beechmont Players
Zak Kelley, CenterStage Players
John Michael Durnil, Cincinnati Music Theatre
Megan Horton, Footlighters, Inc.
Poleena Greely, INNOVATheatre
Pettrina Barresi, Loveland Stage Company
Kelly Holtgrefe, Mariemont Players
Dana Davis, Mason Community Players
Nick Dunker, Sunset Players
Chris & Amy Evers, The Drama Workshop
