Callboard

www.tanys.org Callboard - Volume XIX • Issue 2 • Fall 2022 Page 4 The TANYS Family Reunion 2022 Welcome Festival Adjudicators Adjudicator Betsy Willis Adjudicator Jumbo Schimpf Adjudicator Joan Luther By day Betsy is the Development Coordinator for the Grass River Natural Area in Bellaire, Michigan or consulting in a nonprofit development capacity. By night and on weekends she can often be found onstage, backstage, or in her car traveling to adjudicate a show or assist community theatres with planning for the future. Prior to her new position at Grass River she was the Development Director at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City. Betsy’s first training as an adjudicator was with Shirley Harbin at the Michigan AACTFest in Benton Harbor. In 2009 she took further training from Annette Procunier at the national AACTFest in Tacoma, and most recently she learned from Kathy Pingel at the 2015 National AACTFest. As a director and actor Betsy loves being part of watching a director’s vision come to life onstage, and helping them understand if that vision is reading past the front row. Betsy is the immediate Past President of the CTAM Board of Directors. When she is not in a theatre you can find her at the bridge table, on a golf course, or on the water when the weather is warm. Jumbo Schimpf has worked professionally on scores of productions with dozens of companies since 1998. Jumbo has held nearly every position in theatre from actor and carpenter, to director, producer, and stage manager. He has lectured on various theatre arts for a variety of schools and during his tenure as Education Director at Greenlight Theatrical. He's most recently taught as adjunct faculty at Rowan University. Jumbo served as a Trustee at South Camden Theatre Company for 5 years until 2015, and was named one of their charter company members. He's adjudicated and judged a variety of festivals for local theaters, the English-Speaking Union, Delaware Theatre Association, and the Eastern States Theatre Association. Joan Luther of Naples, NY has been active in all aspects of educational and community theater for over 50 years. Ms. Luther began her career in theater as the letter M in her 3rd grade play. She is a roving adjudicator for the Theatre Association of New York State. She was awarded the Mary Eva Duthie Award for significant contributions to community theatre in 2010. Joan received the David C. Bryant Outstanding Service Award at AACTFest 2017. Joan’s work in community theater included bringing AACTFest 11 to Rochester, NY, serving as co-chair. Ms. Luther was instrumental in helping AACT celebrate its 25th birthday. Having retired from the Ontario County Board of Elections, she is active in many community organizations. She is a past president of the Naples Library Board, a board member of the Naples Historical Society and a New York State Representative of the Eastern States Theatre Association (ESTA). She currently serves as Vice President of the Friends of the Bristol Valley Playhouse, Inc. Board of Directors, a regional theater in her hometown.