Honoring Members Life-time Contributions To Community Theatre

Theatre BC’s most prestigious award is presented on an annual basis, if merited, as a part of the provincial MAINSTAGE Festival awards Ceremony. The Eric Hamber Award is given to a person, group or institution having made an outstanding contribution to community theatre in British Columbia over a long period.

To nominate a worthy candidate, please fill out the form below and mail or fax to the Theatre BC Office:
ERIC HAMBER AWARD NOMINATION FORM

2014 Eric Hamber Award Winner: Terry Miller

From Left to Right: Debby Helf (2013 Eric Hamber Award Winner), Terry Miller (2014 Eric Hamber Award Winner), Theatre BC President Glen Miller

This year’s recipient of the Eric Hamber award is enjoying a significant career in community theatre as an actor, director, producer, set builder, board member, president – you name it this person does it. He started, as many do, 30 years ago by acting. But, as a born leader, he was quick to get totally involved in community theatre. For nearly 20 years he has held almost every position on his Community Theatre’s Board, while directing plays, building sets, and running lights.

His passion for theatre is catching and inspiring. He brings those who work with him up to his level. He never asks anything of anyone that he isn’t willing to do himself. His theatre motto is “to have fun and have a show we can all be proud of.”

His work IN the theatre is constant and prolific. But his greater contribution is what he does FOR theatre and the people in it. He brings people to the theatre. He sees their potential and understands how they fit into the weird little family that is community theatre. This past season, he bridged the gap between two neighboring, and sometimes competing, communities by directing Calendar Girls which played in Kimberley for one week and then moved to Cranbrook for a second week of sold out performances. To make things even more interesting, the Community Theatre is the steward of a heritage building, the Studio/Stage Door-which was originally a Masonic Lodge.

So, as you can image most of the society’s board meetings revolve around caring for the building; which includes maintaining a relationship with the City of Cranbrook, up keep and improvements, along with rentals; tasks that this year’s recipient always plays a part in. But theatre isn’t his only passion. A few years ago, he created the Beannick concert series. Concert goers paid in advance the three singer-songwriter series. They didn’t know the artists or even the dates in advance and were not allowed to whine if they didn’t like it. The end result… 21 sold-out shows.

The 2014 winner of the Eric Hamber Award is Terry Miller of the Cranbrook Community Theatre Society. Terry has taken time out of the rehearsal schedule of his upcoming production, Halo, by Canadian Playwright Josh MacDonald, to be here tonight.

—Glen Miller, Theatre BC President, Awards Ceremony Speech

Past Recipients