For Immediate Release September 15, 2014 Contact: Julia Yaklich (815) 250-0359 Fr. Dominic Garramone of Saint Bede Academy honored as recipient of the Illinois Theatre Association’s 2014 Award of Excellence in Secondary School Theatre On September 13th, 2014, Fr. Dominic Garramone was honored as the recipient of the Illinois Theatre Association’s 2014 Award of Excellence in Secondary School Theatre. The awards presentation took place as part of the Illinois Theatre Association’s 41th Annual Convention: Step Up & Stand Out: A Symposium Exploring Excellence with the ITA, at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Aimee-Lynn Newlan, Executive Director of the Illinois Theatre Association, stated: “Each year the Illinois Theatre Association recognizes both individuals and organizations for their significant contributions of promoting quality theatre throughout the state of Illinois Fr. Dominic was nominated by the Illinois theatre community, approved by ITAs divisional representatives, and accepted by ITAs Board of Directors. We are thrilled to provide this much-deserved recognition to Father Dominic Garramone.” Father Dominic Garramone, OSB majored in theatre at Illinois Wesleyan and Saint Mary’s University Winona MN, and joined the monastic community of Saint Bede Abbey in 1983. He has been their drama director and stage manager for 30 years at Saint Bede Academy, producing over 150 shows during that period. Father Dominic and the Saint Bede “Stage Rats” as they are known have written dozens of plays for the Academy, two of which, The Monsters Under the Bed and What I Wanted to Say, have been published by Dramatic Publishing, Inc. “I was genuinely surprised to receive the award commented Father Dominic. I guess I always thought it would go to people at suburban schools with 3000 students and a big auditorium. It’s gratifying to be recognized at a small school with a bean field in the front yard!” “This is an honor not just for me, but for every dedicated Stage Rat of the past thirty years, every cast of Fall Theatre, and everyone who worked on a spring musical since Mame in 1985. Theatre is a collaborative art--nobody achieves excellence alone.” Fr. Dominic frequently collaborates with school and community theatres throughout the state, solving tech problems, loaning/renting costumes and scenery, and also has created custom set pieces. He is also in demand as a workshop presenter at ITA conventions, and will present workshops this year at the community theatre convention held in Springfield October 24-26, and the Illinois High School Theatre Festival at University of Illinois in January. ABOUT THE ILLINOIS THEATRE It is the mission of the Illinois Theatre Association to advocate for the art of quality theatre in Illinois, and provides numerous services throughout Illinois (festivals, conferences, focus groups, professional development workshops, publications). In doing so, the ITA strives to become “the representative association for all things theatre in Illinois.” The ITA is comprised of six divisions: College/University Theatre, Community Theatre, Creative Drama, Professional Theatre, Secondary School Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences. For more information about the Illinois Theatre Association, visit illinoistheatre.org or call 312-265-5922. Saint Bede Academy, located in Peru, IL is a college preparatory Catholic high school in the Benedictine tradition which endeavors to prepare their students for college and for life by welcoming them into a community of learning permeated by Christian values. Saint Bede Academy has been providing a quality Catholic education in North Central Illinois since 1890.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 17:12:04 +0000
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