YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
The awards, started in 1983, are the state’s highest honors in the arts and are presented in five categories: Arts Education, Arts Organization, Individual Artist, Leadership in the Arts and Philanthropy.
The theater was nominated for the award by Jan Horton, a past SLT board member and a self-proclaimed lifelong theater lover. She said the theater offers something that no other group can offer.
“It provides opportunities for performers – people who have other lives but have talents to share with their fellow citizens,” she said. “It offers opportunities for young people who have a talent to explore and develop that talent. It’s a great coming-together experience for the community.”
Springfield Little Theatre was founded in 1934, and the organization bought the historic Landers Theatre building, 311 E. Walnut, in 1970. That storied history is part of the reason why Horton said she nominated the group.
“Our Little Theatre is the oldest and largest community theater in the state, and it had not been recognized at the state level for that exalted history,” she said. “So I nominated Little Theatre because it deserved that recognition.”
Nominees for the awards must be Missouri residents or Missouri-based organizations. The selection committee comprises citizens from throughout the state who are experienced in the arts. Honorees are selected based on the impact their efforts have had on the community, region and state.
SLT’s award is the eighth such honor for Springfield in the 22-year history of the awards. Gov. Matt Blunt and First Lady Melanie Blunt will present the awards during a Feb. 8 Capitol Rotunda ceremony.
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April 7 was the official opening day for Mexican-Italian fusion restaurant Show Me Chuy after a soft launch that started March 31; marketing agency AdZen debuted; and the Almighty Sando Shop opened a brick-and-mortar space.