Volunteer awards have been presented in one form or another since the 1958-59 season. Here are the winners of the RLT volunteer awards by year.
2021 volunteer awards
2020 volunteer awards
2019 volunteer awards
2018 volunteer awards
2017 volunteer awards
2016 volunteer awards
2015 volunteer awards
2014 volunteer awards
2013 volunteer awards
2012 volunteer awards
2011 volunteer awards
2010 volunteer awards
2009 volunteer awards
2008 volunteer awards
2007 volunteer awards
2006 volunteer awards
2005 volunteer awards
2004 volunteer awards
2003 volunteer awards
2002 volunteer awards
2001 volunteer awards
1982-2000 volunteer awards
About the awards
Volunteer awards have been presented in one form or another since the 1958-59 season. For award winners before 1982, see Curtain Up! Raleigh Little Theatre’s Fifty Years. Currently, there are four types of volunteer awards presented at the Annual Meeting.
- Haskell Fitz-Simons Distinguished Performer Award. To honor his love of the stage and the avocational artist he saw in us all, this award recognizes the volunteer performer, whose onstage excellence transcends offstage in their passion for the craft, inspiring service and dedication to the RLT community. First presented at the 2013 Cantey Awards.
- Charles V. York, Jr. Theatre Service Award. The Theatre Service Award is presented to a volunteer at the theatre in any position. Recipients have been instrumental in the theatre’s success and have given much time and energy to the theatre. Since 1959, Raleigh Little Theatre has given its annual theatre service award to truly exceptional volunteers. Recipients have always numbered among those RLT family members whose contributions of time and energy span many areas and many years. They are the backbone of the organization and without people like them this theatre would not exist. A plaque is presented annually at the Annual Meeting. The professional staff determines the recipient.
- Glenn Amos Miller Technical Service Award. This award is presented to a back-stage volunteer who has volunteered significant time, effort and expertise in technical positions at the theatre. A plaque is presented annually at the Annual Meeting. The professional staff determines the recipient.
- Al D. Wolfheimer Volunteer Awards. Jefferson cups are presented to individuals who have worked in any service position at the theatre. No set number of awards is presented, although it was decided informally several years ago that the number would not exceed 10. Recipients are determined by the professional staff and no set categories exist.
- Ed Bodell Rookie of the Year Award. As Scenic Designer Rick Young and Technical Director Roger Bridges, this award serves two purposes: (1) It recognizes an outstanding new volunteer, an individual who has not only hit the ground running, but hit it running so fast that they have shot to the front of the pack. (2) It honors a wonderful man whose name joins the likes of Wolfheimer, Miller, and York in exemplifying what it means to be a truly outstanding volunteer. A man whose name would have been on the last award had we not lost him just over a year ago. This award will not necessarily be presented every year. It will be given when the staff determines that there is a suitable recipient.
About the volunteers whom the awards are named after
Charles V. York, Jr.
In the 1978-1979 season, RLT renamed its Annual Distinguished Service Award to honor this man, who was so active in service at RLT. Mr. York was involved with RLT during the 1960s and served six years on the Board of Directors.
In 1964 he received RLT’s Distinguished Service Award himself for his efforts to bring about renovations and additions to the theatre that culminated in the building of our current scene shop and Main Stage dressing rooms.
Glenn Amos Miller
Glenn Amos Miller began his long stretch with the Raleigh Little Theatre in 1965. Little did he know that he would be a diligent volunteer until his death in 1978, or that an award would be named for him.
Glenn was a versatile volunteer. Not only did he work on technical crews, but he also acted. During the years that he participated in the Raleigh Little Theatre’s shows, he won every possible award.
Mr Miller was, in one way or another, involved with 73 major productions at RLT. He appeared in 15 of these productions and was awarded three Cantey Awards for his efforts. The first Cantey was awarded to him for Best Actor in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Next, Best Actor in Harvey. The third Cantey won by Glenn, was for a Cameo performance in Arsenic And Old Lace. A special award was presented to him for his 50th production with the theatre in 1973, five years before his death.
In 1975, Glenn Amos Miller was presented with the award that would later be named, in the 1978-1979 season, in his memory. The Technical Service Award was presented to him in 1975 for his outstanding perseverance and undying determination during his many years as a technical crew volunteer.
Glenn Amos Miller was actor, sound technician, lighting designer, housemanager, member of the Board of Directors and a great teacher and inspiration to all at RLT. It is therefore only fitting that the theatre’s Technical Service Award be named in his honor.
Al D. Wolfheimer
In the 1989-1990 season, the Volunteer Service Awards were renamed the Al D. Wolfheimer Awards to honor the man who, since 1964, has dedicatedly supported the technical and general well-being of Raleigh Little Theatre.
Formerly an IBM engineer, Al Wolfheimer has poured his heart, finances and considerable expertise into meeting the technical and maintenance needs of RLT efficiently, creatively and at the lowest cost. He was instrumental in overseeing the construction of the Gaddy-Goodwin Theatre in 1987-1988 and the refurbishment of the older theatre in 1990-1991.
Al passed away June 5, 2013. Read Robert McDowell’s tribute to Al.
Ed Bodell
Rick Young says, Ed was more than a volunteer. He was a recruiter, a motivator, an engineer, a teacher, and a dear friend. He was an ambassador for RLT. There were several new volunteers that called me and said “Ed Bodell gave me your name.” from nurses that were treating him to random people that he met at the deli.
He didn’t like sitting around idle. One of his favorite phrases was “Get to work, Cinderella” another was “I know the guy who made that.” The latter referred to projects he had worked on which were many.
He did so much here, including stage managing, running crews, sound engineering, scenery construction, box office, even, on occasion, painting (which he hated but, sometimes during tech week it was all we had for the Thursday Crew). He did all of this here and volunteered for several other community organizations. He was truly inspirational.
Ed passed away in 2005. During the 2004-2005 Cantey Awards, Rick Young spoke of him and his legacy.