The Colorado State Thespians would like to introduce our Administrator of the Year Award and the Colorado Thespians Hall of Fame Award.  We are proud to acknowledge the following individuals for their dedication to their high school theatre programs and the support they have given those programs over the years.  If you would like to nominate an individual for this award please print the above application and forward it to the Colorado State Thespians. 2009 Award Recipients.

Edna Doherty

Colorado Thespians are thrilled to present this year's Administrator Award to Edna Doherty, the principal at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock.  

Ms. Doherty has overseen the growth of theatre at Douglas County from a one teacher program to a diverse theatre and dance program with three faculty members teaching over one-third of the student population.  She has been a consistent and thorough advocate for the program, in particular helping finance needed improvements in auditorium seating, flooring, lighting, and curtains.  

Furthermore, she has overseen Douglas County High's continued commitment to having one of the best theatre programs in the state - including supporting the development of an IB program.  She understands the necessity of the arts, and time and time again advocates on our behalf.  She also seems to understand theatre students, as teachers have commented on how she makes an effort to get to know these, often strange, creatures.   

Several years ago, the Douglas County Thespian Troupe encountered a crisis.  They were supposed to go to the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, but the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 had placed that trip in true jeopardy.  She fought to make sure that those students would have that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which they did.  A couple of years later, she even went to Scotland as a chaperone!

Thus, with the heart of the Colorado Educational theatre community as witnesses, Colorado Thespians are truly honored to present our Administratorís Award to the principal of Douglas County High School, troupe number 5108,  Edna Doherty!  

Julie Dean

Our lone inductee this year is, I believe, the first Thespian Hall of Famer who started her career in the Peace Corps.  Yep, she spent over two years in Bangkok teaching ... English.  Nevertheless, her travels brought her back to Colorado, where she taught at Canon City High School for twenty-seven years.  Though she was awarded the Fremont County Teacher of the Year Award in 1997, she says that her greatest accomplishment is building and maintaining the first musical, technical, and acting theatre program ever at Canon City - At the same time that she brought up two children as a single parent.  

To what does she attribute her success?  She says: be "al dente - tender but firm."  And be careful what you give in to or give up in your first years at a school - it may take years to recover and regain those footholds.  She advises us all to celebrate what is around us ñ we ARE theatre education in Colorado.  And remember to "Include ALL students somewhere, someway, somehow."  She speaks of expecting miracles, because looking for them might make them happen.  

You know, in my efforts to track our inductee down, the lady that I spoke to at Canon City High School was effusive and rich in her praise, essentially calling Julie Dean a gift to humanity.   And she is our inductee into the Colorado Thespian Hall of Fame, Class of 2009 . . . Julie Dean!