P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525
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P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525 |
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Jim McCollum - Prominent Pioneering Effort By: Roy Riedy |
Jim McCollum's name appears in the very first play program published by Highlands Little Theatre. The play was Pure As The Driven Snow (A Working Girl's Secret), a melodrama by Paul Loomis. It was presented for just three days, July 25-27, 1974 and was directed by Libby Sapp, produced by Bob McCarthy, and starred Kathy Gerber as Purity Dean and James McCollum as Eric Z. Pickens.
In the "About the Cast" section of this first program, readers were told that Jim "started his theatrical career as a 'raindrop' in his first grade play. Realizing that a career as a 'raindrop' would be rather limited, Jim became a very good attorney. He has had limited theatrical experience in Fort Lauderdale before moving to Sebring where he lives."
A second play was presented in November of 1974, Dear Phoebe, the first of eighteen to be directed by Janelou Buck and Jim's name appears again, this time as one of the House Managers. The third and final play of the First Season appeared for another three day run in March of 1975. "A Play of Suspense in Two Acts," Night Watch, was directed by Lynn Macneill and counted among its cast members, Jim McCollum as Sam Hoke. Mr. McCollum had now contributed his time and talent to the entire First Season of HLT, but his support did not end there, it has continued for the entire life of HLT and has earned him the fifth Significant Achievement Award, a well deserved acknowledgment of his unselfish commitment and dedication..
The Second Season started with Neil Simon's Come Blow Your Horn, a first effort for director Frank Oberhausen who chose Jim McCollum as his stage manager. This June comedy was followed in October by another melodrama Deadwood Dick, directed by Janelou Buck with Jim in the role of Chet Pussy, a bartender. Jim returned to the stage in October of the Third Season in Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians as Anthony Marston, and in the following February worked in Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit as a special effects person and on the stage crew in September of 1977 for Neil Simon's The Odd Couple for a total of eight plays in HLT's first five years.
But Mr. McCollum's contribution does not stop there. In April of 1982 he was elected president of Highlands Little Theatre with an agenda that included finding the theater a permanent home. This dream was realized in May, 1982, when HLT signed a thirty year lease with the city of Sebring for the use of its building known as The City Pier. The culmination of his long range planning occurred six years later, in April of 1988, when the musical Carousel became the first play to be presented on the magnificent new stage of The Lakeside Playhouse. HLT had come of age and Highlands County had a theatrical facility that was the pride of Highlands County and the envy of much larger counties.
Other innovations that originated during Mr. McCollum's presidency were the adoption of its first "Season" of plays, the sale of "season tickets, the recognition of the first Lifetime Patrons, the provision for annual advertising contracts for the playbill, and the construction of "Phase I" of the Lakeside Playhouse. Mr. McCollum was recognized for these many contributions by being made a Life Member by his peers in 1983.
Once again Mr. McCollum is involved in the expansion of the physical plant of HLT, this time in promoting the fund raising for the imminent construction of the projected rehearsal pavilion.
In the 27th season Jim directed the musical comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; in the 28th season he received a second Zenon for his contribution to the set design of the Webber and Rice musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, directed by Joe Willis.
The 29th Season saw the HLT Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Drs. Thakkar Pavilion in December, 2002. The Ceremony was conducted by Jim in his capacity as the Chairman of the Building Committee. In August of the 29th Season Jim designed the set for his wife Sue's production of her revival of The Fantasticks.
Most recently, at the Twentieth Anniversary Zenon Ceremonies, Jim received his third Zenon, a Board Service Award for his outstanding achievement as Chairman of the By-Laws Committee, acting as a community liaison and in particular his persistent pursuit of major financial contributions to the theatre.
Thank you Jim McCollum for your invaluable guidance during those crucial and formative years in the organization and building of the HLT. Your leadership has helped make our splendid association the vital force and community asset that it finds itself today. Highlands Little Theatre will be forever in your debt for giving it that power and strength.
Gracie Winner for February, 2007, James F. McCollum, submitted by Vanessa Logsdon and Roy Riedy
HLT's February General Membership meeting took place on February 1, 2007 when Administrative Assistant Vanessa Logsdon revealed the February winner of the Gracie Award with this tribute to the winner:
"Many things have been said about this month's recipient, and some of it has actually been complimentary. While occasionally accused of being curmudgeonly, this "character" has dedicated his whole heart and all of his many talents to HLT since its inception. It is safe to say that this organization would not be nearly as successful if it weren't for this man's contributions. For all of these gifts, including chairing three committees, but mainly for spearheading the capital campaign to complete the Pavilion, this month's Gracie Award goes to James F.'Guido' McCollum."
