CETA Award History
CETA holds a very special Awards Banquet that honors & recognizes people & organizations who have contributed not only to the CETA organization, but to theatre education in general. This wonderful event takes place during our Annual Conference when CETA members come together for pedagogy, advocacy and our desire to further our understanding of what it means to be both an artist and teacher.
The Awards were initiated in 1981 under the Presidency of Jackie Melvin. Over the years such luminaries as Charlotte Kay Motter, Lawrence and Lee, Carmen Zapata, The Old Globe, Luis Valdez, Cyril Magnin, and the Honorable Jack Scott have been recipients. For your interest, the History of the Awards is below.
CETA Medallion
Presented to a member of the association whose continued service has been distinguished by leadership, loyalty, contribution, and support.
1981 Charlotte Kay Motter
1982 Jean Korf
1983 William Scholsser
1985 Doyne Mraz
1986 Harry L. Murray
1988 William C. White
1989 Jacqueline A. Melvin
1990 Robert Titlow
1991 Ronald E. Barnes
1992 Billie Williams
1993 Mary Jane Evans 1994 Clayton Liggett
1995 Norman Mennes
1996 John Cauble
1997 Emmett Jacobs
1998 James Klain
1999 Alfred H. Muller
2000 Lee Korf
2001 Maxine Stanoff Lewis
2002 Kaleta Brown
2003 Ellis Jordan
2004 Gai Jones 2006 Carolyn Elder 2007 Carol Hovey
2008 Ellen Sell
2010 Amanda Swann
2011 James Thomas Bailey
2012 Judi Garratt
2013 Kim O’Rourke
2014 Krista Carson Elhai
2015 Arlene Hood
2017 Dr. Ethel Pitts Walker
2018 Gale Caswell 2019 Cindy Little 2021 Kathleen Woods 2023 Michael Despars
1981 Donovan Marley
1982 Jerry Blunt
1983 Jeanne Hall
1984 James Butler
1985 Charlotte Kay Motter
1986 Marcella Oberle
1987 Mary Jane Evans
1988 Norman Mennes
1989 Dorothy Mulvihill
1990 Lee Korf
1991 Alfred H. Muller 1992 Kaleta Brown 1993 Maxine Stanoff Lewis
Outstanding Theatre Educator Award
Presented for contributions to theatre education well beyond his/her work-a-day job in recognition of significant and valuable contributions made to encourage, promote, and develop the highest standards in theatre education.
2009 Jacquie Thompson-Mercer
2010 Kirsten Giard
2011 Marcia Barryte
2012 Kathleen Woods
2013 Gary Krinke
2014 Marion Tompkins
2015 Amy Caston
2016 Lisa Sandoval
2018 Corinne Garcia 2019 Marinee Payne 2020 Estella Owoimaha Church 2021 Autumn Browne 2023 Kasey Viani
1998 Diane Brooks 1999 The Honorable Susan Davis 2000 The Honorable Bruce McPherson
2001 The Honorable Sheila James Kuehl
2002 Don Doyle
2003 Corky Dominguez
2004 Fullerton College High School Theatre Festival
2005 The Honorable Jack Scott 2006 Camp Bravo 2007 Nancy Carr
Outstanding Contribution to Educational Theatre Award
Recognizes outstanding contributions to theatre education by an individual or organization outside the discipline.
1981 Cyril Magnin
1983 Lucile Salter Packard
1986 James A. Doolittle
1987 Theatre Bay Area
1988 The Honorable Sam Farr
1990 Joan Boyet
1991 Paul Manicucci
1992 Diane Brooks
1996 Leo Freedman Foundation
1997 Glenda Gentry
2000 Ed Trujillo
2001 Buddy Butler
2002 Ellen Sell
2003 Donna Tucker 2005 Migrant Youth Theatre Project
2008 Bryan Ha 2009 Lynn Lanning
2012 Mondavi Globe Education Academy
2013 The Chance Theatre
2014 Heide Janssen - OC Varsity Arts
2015 Lee Costello – Mob Rule
2016 Senator Ben Allen-- TADA!
2018 Dr. Barbara Murray 2019 Dr. Eric Engdahl 2021 Musical Theatre Guild
2010 Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre Programs, Nor. CA 2011 Melanie Andrews
2016 East LA Classic Theatre 2017 Visionary Award to Cornerstone Theater Company.
2018 TheatreWorks--Silicon Valley
Multicultural Award
Honors an individual, organization, institution or company making significant contribution to the field of theatre / drama for education dealing with multicultural issues and / or reaching diverse audiences and constituencies.
1992 Jerome Lawrence 1993 Philip Kan Gotanda
1994 The Old Globe
1995 Mark Cuddy & the Sacramento Theatre Co.
1997 Carrie Snodgrass
1998 Ben Donenberg
1999 Luis Valdez and El Teatro Campesino
2001 California Youth Theatre, Michael York, Jack Nakano 2002 Phillip E. Walker 2003 James Thomas Bailey
1994 William Virchis
1995 Victoria Francis
1996 Fred Fate
1997 Maureen Jordan
1998 Gai Jones
1999 Jan Jory
2000 Robert Smart
2001 Earl Byers
2002 Kim O'Rourke
2003 Paul F. Beal 2005 Krista Carson Elhai 2007 Cindy Little 2008 Doug Smith
1981 Michael Kanin
1982 Craig Noel
1983 Robert E. Lee
1984 Gordon Davidson
1985 Maidie Norman
1986 Carmen Zapata
1987 Edward Hastings
1988 South Coast Repertory
1990 Fay Kanin 1991 Sharon Ott
Professional Artist Award
Presented to a professional artist or organization for assistance to and support of theatre education.
2004 Craig Slaight
2006 Peggy Shannon
2008 California Musical Theatre
2009 Mary Krell-Oishi
2010 Teenage Drama Workshop
2012 Center Theatre Group, LA
2014 Orange County Cappies & Center for Excellence in Education 2019 Erin McNally Thielki & Hisa Takakuwa SCR
2000 Craig Howard
2002 Jennifer Casey
2003 Rob Duval 2004 Dr. Steven J. McCarthy 2005 Kathleen Switzer
2007 Hillary Pearson
2008 Amy Caston 2009 Jordan Fox 2010 Michael Despars
2014 Desiree Hill
2019 Melissa Staab 2020 Stacy MIchelle Walker 2021 Martin Rodriquez
2003 Dr. John Roach
2005 Robin Lithgow
2006 Cathy Jo Foss
2007 Dan Daris 2008 Scott Riches
2009 Ron Jessee
Theatre Leadership Award
Recognize contribution to a specific event, workshop, authorship, or chairmanship of an event or committee.
2019 Jack Mitchell 2021 Susan Canjura 2023 Derrick Lawson
2010 Chuck Kuhn
2013 Currin Price
2014 Michael Despars
2017 Drama Teachers Association of Southern CA 2019 Erik Stein 2021 Billy Houck
Administrator Award
Honors an administrator who has played a significant role in the advancement of theatre education.
2010 Judi Garratt 2011 Colin Ford
2012 Kristine Alexander
2013 Dr. John Biroc
2016 Rani Goyal
2017 Curtis Marcell
CETA Awards Archives
New Teacher Award
Honors a teacher that has made a significant impact in less than 5 years in the field of theatre education.
2000 Gai Jones, California Youth in Theatre Day
2002 Thomas Hird, KC/ACTF Region VIII Host 2003 Lee and John Childress, MACY Awards
2005 California State Thespians
2006 Emmett Jacobs 2007 Kathy Harris