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. Expand by clicking the “+” next to the award

  • Presented to a member of the association whose continued service on the CETA Board 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

  • 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.

    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 1
    993 Maxine Stanoff Lewis
    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
    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
    2024 Jeff Bengford

  • 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
    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
    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
    2024 Dr. Cindy Acker

  • Presented to a professional artist or organization for assistance to and support of theatre education.

    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

    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
    1991 Sharon Ott
    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

  • 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.

    2000  Ed Trujillo
    2001  Buddy Butler
    2002  Ellen Sell
    2003  Donna Tucker
    2005 Migrant Youth Theatre Project
    2010 Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre Programs, Nor. CA 2011 Melanie Andrews
    2016 East LA Classic Theatre 
    2018 TheatreWorks--Silicon Valley

  • Honors a teacher that has made a significant impact in less than 5 years in the field of theatre education

    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
    2024 Kendra Kannegaard

  • Recognize contribution to a specific event, workshop, authorship, or chairmanship of an event or committee.

    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
    2010 Chuck Kuhn
    2013 Currin Price
    2014 Michael Despars
    2017  Drama Teachers Association of Southern CA

    2019 Erik Stein
    2021 Billy Houck
    2024 Michelle Campbell

  • Honors an administrator who has played a significant role in the advancement of theatre education.

    2003 Dr. John Roach
    2005 Robin Lithgow
    2006 Cathy Jo Foss
    2007 Dan Daris

    2008 Scott Riches
    2009 Ron Jessee

    2010 Judi Garratt
    2011 Colin Ford
    2012 Kristine Alexander
    2013 Dr. John Biroc

    2016 Rani Goyal
    2017 Curtis Marcell
    2019 Jack Mitchell
    2021 Susan Canjura
    2023 Derrick Lawson

  • 2017 Cornerstone Theater Company
    2024 Mary Zimmerman