Louis Altarescu and Alan Friedman, well known volunteer ushers and theater enthusiasts until Friedman’s untimely death last month, have been selected to receive the 2019 Gary Maker Audience Award, given to audience members who support theater enthusiastically and well. Altarescu will receive the Maker Award at a brief ceremony before Washington Stage Guild’s October 20 […]
Fox 5 News covers Monday’s presentation of Gary Maker Award
Carolyn Griffin and I, co-producers of the Cabaret in Tribute to Joel Markowitz on May 1, 2017, thought we had a handle on all the details. But there was one surprise. Minutes before the house opened, a TV crew from Fox 5 News arrived. While the anchor narrating back at the studio got a few mentions wrong, […]
Joel Markowitz cabaret a resounding success at MetroStage
The DC theatre community celebrated the storied accomplishments of theatre lover Joel Markowitz last night at Alexandria’s MetroStage with an evening of music from some of Washington’s brightest musical stars, interspersed with videos from Broadway stars and snippets of podcasts from his years with DC Theatre Scene. Centered in the program was the presentation of a lifetime […]
David S. Kessler, 2015 outstanding audience member
David S. Kessler remembers a time when he and his wife went to a church hall to see a play and there were more people on stage than in the audience. And that was Woolly Mammoth Theatre in the early days.
Barbara Bear, theatre patron, 2014 outstanding audience member
One of the most recognizable faces in Washington D.C.’s theater scene isn’t an actor, isn’t a high-profile writer or even an artistic director—it’s fan and patron Barbara Bear, who regularly sees more than 100 productions a year and has totaled over 5,000 theater performances since moving from Newport News to Arlington in 1961.
Lynda Elyse Bryce, outstanding audience member and 2013 Gary Maker Award winner
The first time Linda Elyse Bryce met Gary Maker, she was helping to run a program called “The Angels” for Shakespeare Theatre Company. The Angels recruited Shakespeare subscribers and donors to help introduce Shakespeare’s interns and fellows to the nation’s capital. Gary and his partner, the late Paul Desmarais, were among the first to volunteer.
Meet Tom Holzman and Alison Drucker, 2012 recipients of the Gary Maker Audience Award
Thomas Holzman and Alison Drucker have been married for many years. They have shared many aspects of their lives. They have raised two children, now grown, and they are both attorneys. Now, one of their favorite shared activities has brought them together again, this time for a unique honor. They are the 2012 recipients of […]
David Tannous first recipient of DCTS’ award for outstanding audience member
Today on Metro Connection, WAMU 88.5 listeners will learn about the Gary Lee Maker Award and hear from its just- announced first recipient, long time theatre supporter, David Tannous. Metro Connection producer Rebecca Sheir found the story of creating an award for an audience member a perfect fit for this week’s theme ‘Outside the Box’.
The Gary Maker Audience Award
THE DC Theatre Scene Gary Maker Audience Award presented to a member of the audience whose love for theatre is an inspiration to all. Click images to learn more Most art is finished before it ever reaches an audience. A painting, a sculpture, a film is what it is: we, as viewers, add nothing. But […]
Selecting the recipients for the Gary Maker Audience Award
The Gary Maker Audience Award is intended for the mostly unrecognized supporter – the sort of person every theater wants in its audience — one who laughs freely, applauds enthusiastically, speaks well of theatre and its practitioners, gives a supportive word or a sympathetic ear to theater artists, encourages others to attend and, in general, […]
Creating the Gary Maker Audience Award
When we commissioned Washington, DC glass artist Teddie Hathaway to create the Gary Maker Award, we asked that the piece express the energy and creativity of live performance and the idea that the award recipients are stars among audience members.
Gary Lee Maker
Gary Lee Maker, a gentle, sensitive man, full of warmth and good humor, was a passionate supporter of Washington area theatre. He could often be seen in the audience with his long time partner Paul Desmarais, and, after, in the lobby, giving words of encouragement to artists and producers. He died February 17, 2011 at […]