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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Larry Wollangk - Associated with One Hundred and
Twenty-Six HLT Productions By: Roy Riedy |
Larry Wollangk joined HLT in 1979 and was first seen in the May, 1979 production of Fiddler on the Roof as Percheck, the student. Since that time he has appeared in two other revivals of that Bock and Harnick musical. In the 1987 version he played the part of the village butcher, Lazar Wolf, and in the recent 1996 interpretation he played the lead, the bedeviled milkman, Tevye, literally growing up with the parts as HLT has grown up with him. In all, Larry has portrayed fifty different characters in HLT productions. Mutating from Stewpot to Luther Billis in South Pacific I and II; from Sir Dinadan to Mordred in the two editions of Camelot; and from Miles Gloriosus to Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, I and II. He has played Dr. Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace in 1986 and 1999, and done justice to such famous roles as Beau in Auntie Mame (1983); Joe Pendleton in Heaven Can Wait (1983); El Gallo in The Fantasticks (1987); the King of Siam in The King and I (1989); Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1990); Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors (1991); Alan Swann in My Favorite Year (1998), the Wizard of Oz in the play of the same name (1998), a Shriner in Bye Bye Birdie (2000), Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2002) Barrymore in The Hound of the Baskervilles (2003), and most recently, in the 30th Season, three different roles: The Waiter in Out Of Order, Jessup/Robespierre in The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Caiaphus in Jesus Christ, Superstar. If one thinks that he may have seen his face before, it is quite safe to say that he probably has.
All of this activity has been reflected in the awards that Mr. Wollangk has received for his astonishing contributions; since the Zenon Awards were inaugurated in 1986, Mr. Wollangk has been given no less than twenty-two awards at thirteen of the nineteen ceremonies. He has received eleven trophies for Best Set Design which include: Arsenic and Old Lace (1986); Fiddler on the Roof II (1987); Carousel (1988); The King and I (1989); Teahouse of the August Moon (1992); Camelot (1993); South Pacific (1994); Fiddler on the Roof III (1996); The Wizard of Oz (1999); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2002) Man of La Mancha (2003), and a Production/Technical Award at the 19th Annual Zenon awards with Frank Oberhausen for the set coordination of Jesus Christ, Superstar.
In addition to the recognition for his design and construction skills, his name has been associated with the Gourmet Division in over sixty-five listings. Larry has received five Discretionary Awards: (1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, and 1994); three Board Service Awards: (1986, 1989, and 1991); the much prized Significant Achievement Award (1993); and a Best Actor Award for his portrayal of Tevye in the 1996 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. Not surprisingly, he has also been designated a Life Member by the membership. Somehow, Mr. Wollangk has also found time to be Treasurer of the Highlands Little Theatre twice, in 1993 and 1994; and serve on the Board of Directors of HLT for two terms, in 1980 and 1981.
It is difficult to express in words the debt that our theater owes to Mr. Wollangk and his large cast of supporting associates who have contributed so generously to the promotion, patronage, and encouragement of the theatrical arts in Highlands County. Their contribution is impossible to assess, but the results are very visible. They have turned a small and sometimes searching organization into a smoothly operating enterprise that is satisfying the needs of anyone aspiring to try theatrical work at the grass roots level, and at the same time, they have the pleasure of having their efforts recognized and supported by a devoted and dedicated following.
Again the selection committee that decides who shall be the recipient of the Significant Achievement Award made an unchallengeable choice at the 1993 Zenon Ceremonies when Mr. Wollangk was awarded one of the Theatre's highest honors, for very few members of HLT have been so lavish and generous with their time and talents as Larry Wollangk. Thank you Larry for your steadfastness to HLT. All your Zenons are little reward for your hours of selfless service. You have given us some splendid sets and outstanding characterizations. You have been an inspiration to everyone who knows you and your work. It is not an exaggeration to say that you have single handedly shown us all what the definition of dedication can really mean.
