On Sunday, May 14, Theatre Roundtable, a consortium of over 30 professional, amateur and educational theatre organizations in the greater Columbus area, met for their Annual Theatre Celebration. During the celebration, a Mount Vernon theatre company was singled out for a special honor. The "Theatre Innovation Citation" went to Community Family Players for the 2021 production of “A Christmas Carol.” Theatre Roundtable's website indicates that the Theatre Innovation Citation award "is presented to an innovative arts and cultural project or initiative that helped lift up or provide relief to others in the community."
The Reverend Scott Elliott, pastor at the First Congregational Church and the artistic director Community Family Players, was at the celebration to receive the award. "This is such an honor. I was told that the Theatre Roundtable executive board was very impressed with what we did here in Mount Vernon." Elliott went on to note, "I'm wowed by this. Out of the theatre work in the greater Columbus area, we got this wonderful citation, which may be the first award of its kind for a show at the Woodward, maybe even in town. It helps puts Mount Vernon on the theatre map. If they didn't already know in Columbus that there’s good theatre going on in town, they do now. And the cool thing about this is our “A Christmas Carol” met with such success because the local community came together and made the whole thing work. Together we connected youth to the community; we provided an uplifting holiday play; we raised funds for those experiencing homelessness. The synergistic effect of accomplishing those goals together was powerful and uplifting. The citation is just wonderful icing on the cake."
The Rev. Rachel Harrison, priest at St. Paul's Episcopal Church and president of The Winter Sanctuary, agreed with Elliott and also expressed gratitude to the community. "The award was well-deserved and due in great part, as Scott said, to the community coming together to have a nice Christmas show for sure, but to also help those experiencing homelessness. It's a very special event in that regard and feels right. The Winter Sanctuary congratulates Community Family Players; we are so pleased to work with them." Harrison added, "The good news beyond this wonderful recognition from Theatre Roundtable is Community Family Players and The Winter Sanctuary are already hard at work getting ready for this year's production of “A Christmas Carol.” I am told that I may even be in it on stage! I look forward to working on and in the show."
Harrison also reported that in addition to the success of the show in connecting youth to the community through the performing arts and putting on a great play, the community's businesses and individuals raised over $50,000 for the Winter Sanctuary through the event. This was done through production-related sponsorships, advertising, a gala, donations and ticket sales. Over 1,600 seats were sold and the house was packed each night. For more information on The Winter Sanctuary go to http://wintersanctuary.com.
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