Trimble winner of Quincy Community Theatre’s highest honor; 20 volunteers recognized for work during 2023 season

QUINCY — Quincy Community Theatre recently celebrated its 2023 season at the Atrium on Third with a formal dinner followed by an awards and recognition ceremony called the QUILTAs — Quincy Little Theatre Awards — which have been a tradition at QCT since 1970. Twenty volunteers were recognized for their contributions to the theatre.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the QCT’s highest honor, the Enid Ireland Award. Ireland was active in the relaunch of Quincy Community Theatre after World War II, and she was the first recipient of this award in her name in 1974. The award is presented by the theatre to a person who has shown outstanding dedication and service to the creation, organization or continuation of Quincy Community Theatre.

The winner was Jay Trimble, who has served as the sound designer and sound board operator for 1-3 productions each year since his involvement at QCT started in 1995. If Trimble wasn’t behind the board for a production, he served as a consultant for other sound designers. He has been instrumental in the upkeep of sound equipment and sound upgrades.

“The Rosie” is QCT’s highest honor in the student theatre program, named for long-time QCT volunteer Rose Lacquement. Lily Twaddle was awarded “The Rosie” for her dedication to QCT and its education program. Twaddle made her first onstage appearance in “Tarzan” in 2017 and was most recently seen in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 2023. She has been a student in numerous theatre classes and is a past recipient of the Burning Flame Award for her positive attitude and outstanding effort.

The Ghost Light Award was presented to five people. All recipients were nominated by cast and crew members for the show in which they were involved, and a committee selected the winners from the nominations. The award is given to a person who demonstrates the effort that goes above and beyond cast or crew expectations, willingness to help others for the success of the entire show and ingenuity in problem-solving. The recipients were Maurice Silas for “Rent,” Ava Jacobsen for “The Music Man,” Kristie Bradshaw for “Clue,” Jason Keller for “Peter Pan” and Evan Conover for “Peter Pan.”

The Burning Flame Award was presented to four students for outstanding effort in a student production. This year’s recipients were Keyarri Holder for “Disney’s Moana Jr.,” Helen Smith for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Briana Zanger for “Lions in Illyria” and Ava Kaelke for “The Hobbit.”

The Executive Director’s Award was given to Gretchen Wolfmeyer for her many years of volunteerism on stage and backstage at QCT and for her contributions to the QCT community in 2023.

The Artistic Director’s Award was given to Steve Looten, Jr., who, since 2010, has choreographed many of the battles and fight sequences seen on the QCT stage. Looten served as the fight director for “The Hobbit” and “Peter Pan.”

The Paul Denckla Technical Director’s award to Dan Stephens for his outstanding contribution to backstage work throughout 2023, including as the weapons artisan for “The Hobbit” and “Peter Pan.”

The Front of House award was presented to Michele Clarke, who has volunteered in the box office for 29 of the 46 performances in 2023 and assisted with countless other opportunities.

Julie Schuetz, Quinton Metcalf, Ruth Kummerow, David Samuels and Marissa Rabe were recognized for contributing more than 200 volunteer hours to the organization in 2023.

The evening featured several musical numbers, including a rendition of “Seasons of Love” from the cast of “Rent,” “Home” performed by Jordan Archibald (originally performed at QCT’s 100th anniversary gala), and “The Smell of Rebellion” performed by Kristen Houston from the upcoming “Matilda the Musical.”