Suzi Awards Theatre Volunteer of the Year Nominees Announced; Public chooses winner of Audience Choice Award

For the second time The Suzi Bass Awards will honor Atlanta's theatre volunteers with the Volunteer of the Year Award. Participating theatres nominated a volunteer, and Suzi Members will vote the winner. The 2011 season saw five nominations, each with extensive service as a board member or program and production volunteer. Full nominations can be read on the Suzi Awards website.

Theatre in the Square (Marietta) nominated former Board Chair Bill Pinto, for his leadership of "the ship of Theatre in the Square through the storm of the Recession . . . with poise and grace under pressure." Citing Pinto's large investment of personal and business time on behalf of the theatre, and enthusiastic encouragement of friends and business relations to attend performances, Theatre in the Square credits Pinto's involvement for their physical expansion and financial stability during two tough years. Actor's Express nominated Jessica Linden, saying, "her breadth of institutional memory proved invaluable during our recent strategic planning process. But even more important than her individual contributions to the health of Actor's Express, she proves time and again that she is one of the great cheerleaders for our theatre, as well as for the entire theatre community of Atlanta." Moira Spiers is the nominee from Georgia Shakespeare, where she has been involved in many aspects of production, front-of-house and fundraising for over fifteen seasons. The company praises Moira, who "has given so much of herself to Georgia Shakespeare over the years that it is truly one of the greatest contributions we have been privileged to receive." The fourth nominee is Sandy Meierhofer, volunteer in many capacities for the Atlanta Shakespeare Company. For eighteen years, Meierhofer has assisted with "volunteer coordination, mailings, box office management, fundraising events, sewing of costumes, decorating, and coordinating auditions, all of which allowed Shakespeare Tavern "to breathe a little easier, knowing that there was someone to call on who was always willing to help." Mary Wilson is the nominee of Atlanta Lyric Theatre where she has spent many years working in several capacities from fundraising to usher coordination to Guild restructuring. The staff of the Lyric vows that "Mary is the best kind of example of volunteers reflecting the heart of service." The winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award will be announced at the Suzi Ceremony on November 7.

The general public has the opportunity to choose a winner for the Audience Choice for Outstanding Season. Each participating theatre is eligible, and votes are logged through the Suzi Awards website via $1 tax-deductible donations to the Suzi Bass Awards, a non-profit organization. Audience Choice Voting online is simple with a credit card or by mail with a check. Anyone can vote, for as many theatres as they wish, and as many times as they wish! Last year's winner of the Audience Choice Award was Actor's Express, and the 2009 Audience Choice winner was Atlanta Lyric Theatre.

The winners of these awards, as well as Suzis in over 20 performance categories, and this year's Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award, will be announced at the 7th Annual Suzi Awards Ceremony on Monday, November 7, at the Conant Performing Arts Center of Oglethorpe University. Tickets are available.

What: The 2011 Suzi Bass Awards Ceremony
When: Monday, November 7, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Where: The Conant Performing Arts Center, Oglethorpe University
Price: $40 in advance, $50 at the door
Info: Creative Black Tie, Free Parking, after-party included in ticket price

For more information or to buy tickets, please visit our website at www.suziawards.org.

The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. is a Georgia corporation operating under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Judges, Board Members and Committees are all staffed by volunteers, and Membership is open to anyone. The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. P.O. Box 550468, Atlanta GA 30355

Joseph Harrison has been involved with the theatre in some form or fashion all his life. He holds a Journalism degree from the University of Georgia, but his true love is the theatre which he has been involved in as a spectator as well as an actor for the last 20 years. He has performed in a variety of musicals over the years including PIPPIN, CITY OF ANGELS, 1776, WORKING and GODSPELL (Jesus) and JOSEPH?.DREAMCOAT (Joseph) just to name a few. He currently resides in Conyers, GA (Metro Atlanta) with his wife, Shannon and their two children.

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