Highlands Little Theatre

P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525

Eric Prugh - Mr. Virtuosity
By: Roy Riedy

Eric Prugh joined Highlands Little Theatre seven years ago, in 1995, just in time to become a member of the stage crew for Frank Oberhausen's outstanding production of 1776, the first of 32 plays with which he would eventually become associated. He rose quickly in the hierarchy of the backstage and was the Stage Manager of the next play, Tena Conyer and Andy Conyer's two person show, Same Time Next Year. His rise continued and by the next show, Marian Dunham's Gigi, he had seized one of the starring roles, Honore Lachailles, and made his acting debut at the Lakeside Playhouse, just like that, from an unknown member of the stage crew in March to a starring role in August, a very theatrical entrance to be sure.

HLT's Twenty-second Season opened with Peter Pollard directing The Goodbye Girl and Eric was backstage again as part of the Stage Crew. At Christmas time Mac Byron directed an "Extra" one weekend production of Greater Tuna, and Eric was one of three actors who adopted many personas as the play unfolded. Eric assumed the greatest share of ten different characters. In March Eric played the Constable in Frank Oberhausen's record breaking revival of Fiddler on the Roof, and in August he played Ben, the gardener, in Mac Byron and Marian Dunham's production of The Secret Garden.

In the middle of the Twenty-third Season Eric was a Frenchman again, Georges, in Frank Oberhausen's dressy musical, La Cage aux folles which was followed by Mac Byron's June production of the Hart and Kaufman comedy George Washington Slept Here with Eric in the role of Mr. Kimber. The season ended with the Twelfth Annual Zenon Awards and Mr. Prugh nominated in three categories: Board Service for Gourmet; Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Mr. Kimber in George Washington Slept Here; and Best Actor in a Leading Role, Georges, in La Cage aux folles.

Sue McCollum's effective Godspell opened the Twenty-fourth Season at HLT with Eric as a member of the ensemble. In April, Frank Oberhausen brought Annie back to the Lakeside Playhouse with Eric playing two parts, Wacky (Fred McCraken), and Louis Howe, a member of FDR's Cabinet. Two months later he was playing Edgar Crocker in Beverly Brando Gillilan's production of Paint Your Wagon, and in August his name appeared as part of the Kitchen Staff of the Gourmet Division of HLT in the playbill for Tammie Pollard's production of Rumors. At the Thirteenth Annual Zenon Awards Eric received his first Zenon for his outstanding work in Gourmet.

Melanie Boulay's still famous production of The Wizard of Oz opened the Twenty-fifth Season with Eric again listed as part of the Kitchen Staff and there it stayed the rest of the season in which he moved from mere kitchen staff to Co-Chairperson with Theresa Niemi, culminating with another nomination for Outstanding work in Gourmet at the Fourteenth Annual Zenon Awards in October, 1999.

The Twenty-sixth Season opened with John Lovelette directing Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Eric playing the part of Harding. It was followed in January by Frank Oberhausen's revival of Annie Get Your Gun. Eric is listed on the program as being back in the kitchen as co-chairman of the Gourmet Staff. Sue McCullom's production of Bye Bye, Birdie was the third show of the season and Eric was again listed as co-chairman of the Gourmet Staff. In the June program of Mike Logsdon's funny Run For Your Wife Eric is still on the Kitchen Staff but the Chairman of Gourmet is now Mac Byron. Melanie Boulay's musical Oliver! was the last show of the Twenty-sixth Season and Eric's listing remained the same in Gourmet. At the Fifteenth Annual Zenon Awards in October of 2000, Eric was awarded his second Zenon for his continuing excellence in Gourmet.

Jet Hansen's On Golden Pond opened HLT's Twenty-seventh Season, once again Eric's name appears in the Gourmet section of the program.. Mac Byron's second weekend helping of tuna, this play called A Tuna Christmas, brought Eric back to the stage playing 4 more characters with help from six other actors that all together swelled the characters being portrayed to 21. Frank Oberhausen's sensational revival of The King and I was HLT's January offering, and Eric was back in the kitchen doing his gourmet work that had earned him two Zenons.

Eric left his soups, salads, and desserts to play the role of Melvin P. Thorpe in Jim McCollum's April play, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. In June, during the run of Steve McDaniels's Moon Over Buffalo, Eric remained in HLT's kitchen but once again he was Chairman of the Gourmet Staff, and there he remained during Tammie Pollard's brave production of West Side Story. At the Sixteenth Annual Zenon Awards Eric was nominated for his role of Melvin P. Thorpe in Jim McCollum's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Eric continued to be the Chairman of the Gourmet Staff at Highlands Little Theatre until August, when Goldie Garnich's name replaced him. The reason for this change became apparent at the Seventeenth Annual Zenon Awards when Eric not only received a third Zenon for his outstanding work in the Gourmet Department, but also a Special Plaque of Appreciation from past President Goldie Garnich and her husband Gerry for his outstanding service to The Little Theatre. Eric was leaving Sebring for Africa soon after the Zenon Ceremonies to fulfill a long time dream of working with the African people. Eric had once again displayed his virtuosity.

For the record Eric Prugh has been associated with 32 plays at HLT, he has participated in 5 Zenon Ceremonies and won 3 Zenons, he has been mentioned in 34 HLT Newsletters and in 33 local newspaper articles for a grand total of 104 citations that relate his name to the Highlands Little Theatre. Good luck on your new venture Eric, we wish you well and are very proud of your outgoing spirit.

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