VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH

MARCH/APRIL 2007 - NANCY GAMBA HANSEN

Nancy Gamba Hansen grew up in the small community of Wallingford, Pa. where her father had his medical practice as a Family Practitioner. For many years, Nancy and her three brothers attended children's drama classes every Saturday morning at the local Community Arts Center (led by the extraordinary Barbara Graves who recently ended her directing career with her production of "Doubt", directed when she was in her mid-nineties.) This regular participation was due less to precocious acting talent than her mother's desire for peace and quiet on Saturday mornings. Nancy's stage presence in those early performances was quite underwhelming and she quickly found a happy niche in the "tall character/nonspeaking" roles.
Nancy attended Randolph Macon Woman's College in Virginia, graduated from Boston University and earned her Master's degree at Cal State Fullerton. While in California, she met husband Jerry. After both graduated, they spent a year traveling the country in their VW van, and finally settled in Aiken in 1977, where Jerry went to work for DuPont. Parents Carl and Lucille Gamba joined them a year later. Sons Adam, Logan, Damon and Conner were all born in Aiken, and now daughter-in-law Jaime and grandsons Alex and Kyle live here as well. Nancy has directed exercise programs at the Weeks Center since the late 70's as a sub-contractor for City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and Jerry now is with WSMS.
Although the Hansens and Gambas were longtime season members, Nancy did not become actively involved in ACP until son Damon was cast as Ralph Herndon in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at the old Two Notch theatre.
Soon after, Nancy joined the Chuck Shick and Shannon Huey team of Youth Wing Leaders. She has served as YW Co-Chair for many years, and dearly loves working with and directing the teenagers. Working with Thurmond Whatley on the moving drama "Bang Bang, You're Dead" and later, "The Day Billy Lived", a show concerning teen suicide were two powerful experiences. She also served six years on the Board of Directors, including the exciting years of "The Big Move."
She also has had the pleasure of several fun roles onstage, often playing eccentric and peculiar grandmothers, thus demonstrating her acting range. Son Damon was onstage with her in several shows, and son Conner was frequently behind the sound or lighting boards. Nancy often reminds auditioners that she once auditioned for the role of Damon's mother and didn't get it.
Her favorite stage roles have been Mama Wheelis in "Daddy's Dying, Who's Got the Will?", Miss Prism in "The Importance of Being Earnest", Connie in ADDA's murder mystery fundraiser last summer, and her two all-time highlights - Eleanor of Acquitaine in "Lion in Winter" and Dorothea in "eleemosynary", where she had the wonderful line, "The secret of flight lies in the assurance that one is worthy of flying."

PAST VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH 2006-2007

BRADLEY WATTS

Bradley was born November 6, 1969 in Crosby, North Dakota. He traveled with his military family until kindergarten brought him to South Carolina and he’s never left. His early years were spent in Charleston (where he was drama club president for 4 years) and then moved to Aiken at the age of 17.
His love for acting began at an early age. Being was a movie junkie; he always tried to imitate the actors in these films. As soon as he moved to Aiken he became involved with ACP. His first role was in “Inherit the Wind”.  Bradley was an original youth wing member. He began directing at the age of 19 and did his first main stage show at 22. He was elected onto the ACP board at age 24.
Bradley was in the ACP production of “Foreigner” at age 19, and again 15 years later. He also appeared in “Lion in Winter”, “It Runs in the Family”, “Streetcar Named Desire”, and many more. But, his true love is directing. Some of his plays include, “Grease” (twice), “Little Shop of Horror”, Brighton Beach Memoirs”, and “Gypsy”.
 Bradley loves country music and Broadway tunes. He’s a huge fan of Hairspray, Wicked, Rent and of course Grease! His dream roles are to play Oscar in the odd couple and Mama in hairspray (He’s the next Harvey Firestein)
Bradley loves the theatre and doesn’t intend to ever stop with it. He is currently working on a novel and he’s always keeping an eye out for a new show to share with ACP audiences. He feels his greatest experiences have been at ACP where is has met some wonderful people and learned from some great people.

MARY CLAIRE MILLIES

originally from New Jersey, came to Aiken in 2003.  Two weeks after her arrival she started volunteering with the ACP.  She was a crew member for Once Upon a Mattress, the costumer for Noises Off, and stage manager for It Run in the Family.  She is a former board member who chaired the PR & Marketing Committee and still coordinates the Playhouse’s publicity efforts.  Mary Claire also is responsible for the production of the season’s programs (unless there are typos—then someone else does the programs).  She has served on the Play Selection Committee and produces the Plays in Perspective series when the mood (or a play) strikes her.  She also is the film programmer for the Aiken Center for the Arts’ REEL Art film series.  

Prior to her arrival, Mary Claire worked as an arts administrator in various theaters in the New York City area, including Relatively Theater, of which she was a co-founder.  Her various jobs have included public relations and marketing director, box office manager , volunteer coordinator, house manager, office manager, artist relations coordinator and kid wrangler.  Mary Claire was one of five original staff members at the American Film Institute’s Silver Theater in Silver Spring, Maryland.  While there she served as the line producer for the theater’s opening events, which included appearances by Clint Eastwood, Richard Schickel, Sam Moore, D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Eugene Levy.
 
Mary Claire currently works as a staff member in the School of Business Administration at USC Aiken and she is married to Steve Millies, who is a political theory professor at the same.  They are parents to Andrew and Nora…both of whom are showing theatrical tendencies.  (Steve and Mary Claire are very afraid.)  When not writing press releases, choosing films and chasing her kids, Mary Claire likes to read (which leads directly to falling asleep).

LAUREN ELLIS

For the past four years, the Aiken Community Playhouse has become Lauren’s second home. She has either acted in or been a part of many plays. Lauren has acted in the following productions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Canterville Ghost, Anne of Green Gables, William’s Window, Winnie the Pooh, The Diary of Anne Frank (Curtain Cast), Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, The Canterbury Tales, 10 Minute Play Festival, and Alice in Wonderland. Lauren has done backstage work in the following plays: The Diary of Anne Frank, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Steel Magnolias, Alice in Wonderland, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and is the Stage Manager for this current play, Grease!

Lauren’s second love is music. She plays the guitar and if she can’t make it as an actress then she will be a musician. She loves the music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. She doesn’t listen to anything from the 90’s and up, she thinks it’s soulless. Lauren also has literary flair. She has been a writer for the Augusta Chronicle Xtreme section since 2005. She is also an avid reader.

Lauren is a member of the Will Cole Youth Wing group and last year earned the most points for the entire Youth Wing. You have probably seen her ushering at most of the productions.

DANNY LEE

Danny Lee grew up in North Dakota, but was always a Southern Boy at heart. Danny’s theater experience started when he was in 8th grade and got the part of Frank Gilbreth in ‘Cheaper By The Dozen” Always an extremely shy person, it was the first time Danny stepped in front of an audience. He was petrified but, He was hooked! He came to ACP to just check it out, and ended up auditioning and being cast in ACP’s production of “Lying In State” in which he played Wally, and has been involved in one way or another at ACP since then.
He directed “Graceland” for the SCTA One Act Play Festival for ACP which received 3rd place in the competition. He was the Stage Manager for “Steel Magnolias” and has recently been cast as Linus in ACP’s upcoming production of “You're A Good Man Charlie Brown”

JUDY SNIDER

Judy Snider moved to Aiken from Columbus, Ohio, to be closer to her daughter and family. Her only regret is that she didn't do it sooner! She has fallen in love with Aiken and all it has to offer. Her greatest effort has been with the Black Box Coffee House. Judy uses her skills as a retired elementary school teacher to keep the Coffee House running smoothly. She has served on the Black Box Coffee House committee helping to plan events, providing refreshments, setting up, serving refreshments, and of course everyone’s favorite, cleaning up!

CARROLANNE B. PROTO

Carrolanne B. Proto is an Aiken native whose ACP history began in the early 80's when she appeared in Flowers For Algernon.† After marrying Richard Proto, the couple†moved to†Columbia, then Charleston, back to Columbia†and then to Atlanta. Carrolanne came home to Aiken in 2003 and shortly after that†became involved in the Playhouse again as a valuable Box Office and Coffeehouse volunteer. She appeared in the Coffeehouse's production of Booth Babes, in 2006.

DUSTIN TURNER

Dustin Turner, a lifelong Aiken County resident, has been very active with ACP since 2005. Many productions have used his skills as house manager, stage crew and whatever it took. He and his wife Jamie have been great assets. Dustin is a copy editor and page designer for The Augusta Chronicle. So far his favorite theater experiences have been with “Smokey Joe’s Cafe”, “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change” and, of course, “Vanities”.

Past Volunteer recipients: (let us know if we have missed any)

Sara Acton
Don and Christine Betancourt
Marvin Bowman
Helene Fitch
Judy Gahm
Samuel Leguizamon
Bryan Meincke
Cherie Moritz
Stephanie Stanley
Sharyn Walker