Theatre 29 celebrated a wildly successful 2017 “Season of Magic” and its volunteers—the people responsible for its success—at its annual volunteer appreciation dinner Saturday night in Joshua Tree. In an evening filled with fun, laughter, and artistic camaraderie, almost 150 members of the Theatre 29 family were served a delicious meal and treated to video snippets and live performances from the 2017 season. After the night of food and entertainment, the Theatre 29 board of directors gave out honors to those who had distinguished themselves the past year.
Winning the highest honor the non-profit organization gives, the “Volunteer of the year” award, was Brianna Jillson, a technical theater worker who runs the theater’s sound and lights and works tirelessly on sets, props, and other backstage duties. Jillson worked on every production in 2017.
Getting the “Above and Beyond” awards was Chris Fleischman, who conceived and carried through his vison to create the highly successful “Baker’s Dozen” Improvisational Troupe. Also given an “Above and Beyond” award was the 2016 Volunteer of the Year, Brandon Hazel, for his great work building sets and special effects in 2017.
Two awards were also given out for “Unseen Heroes,” those volunteers who work out of the stage lights to improve the quality of the theatrical productions. Tera Bottorff, who works tirelessly both backstage and behind her sewing machine was feted, as was Liyan Lagevardi, who worked backstage, as a vocal coach, and facilitated travel to the Barstow Performing Arts Center for one musical production.
All the volunteers were presented with certificates of appreciation and deluxe custom Theatre 29 lunch bags.
Jericho McWilliams, one of the performers last night, singing “Close Every Door” from the musical “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
