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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Leonard and Virginia Parnell - Charter Members By: Roy Riedy |
The second recipients of the Significant Achievement Award were two charter members of The Highlands Little Theatre, Leonard & Virginia Parnell. They received their award at the second Zenon Awards Ceremony at the end of HLT's 13th Season, October 3, 1987 for their ongoing participation and effort since the inception of the theater group in 1974. Fittingly, Janelou Buck had the honor of presenting the award.
Mr. Parnell is a retired Lt. Colonel of the Army Ordinance. He has been active in the Salvation Army, SCORE, Meals on Wheels, Highlands Gem and Mineral Club, TROA, and as a layreader at St. Agnes Episcopal Church. His acting credits range from Little Lord Fauntleroy in grade school to the Judge in the 1990 HLT production of Hello Dolly.
His credits at HLT include: the Sheriff in Deadwood Dick (1975); the Butler in Ten Little Indians (1976); the Doctor in Blithe Spirit (1977); Mr. Stanley in The Man Who Came to Dinner (1985); the first production of Mr. Roberts in March of 1979 when he played the Captain, and ten years later when he played Dowdy in the 1989 presentation of that same play. In the 1990s Len was the Assistant Director of Hello Dolly (1990) and played the Judge in that production.
Len Parnell has been with HLT almost from the beginning, offstage and on. The long-time chairman of the Program Committee, Advertising committee, House Manager Committee and Bylaws Committee, Leonard has also helped with construction and props and the Building Committee. Leonard Parnell's late wife, Virginia H. Parnell, who died in July of 1989, was also with the theater from the beginning, designing the first program covers when artwork was the "frosting" on an endeavor striving for a foothold in the community. She joined her husband in developing the program; editing, laying out the components, helping keep track of the advertisers who were the life blood of Highlands Little Theatre in its formative years. She could be found painting sets, working on props and helping with costumes for many of the plays, lending part of her own household many times.
As the organization grew, Virginia and her husband became HLT's House Manager Committee, and guests of the theatre were never as warmly and royally welcomed as by the gracious Parnells. Their elegance and leadership made them the perfect and obvious choice to head the very first Patrons Committee, another pioneering event, and establish and oversee the opening night Galas.
Virginia and Leonard Parnell were logical candidates for HLT's second Significant Achievement Award which is given for service over a period of several years. Their enthusiasm and support never faltered, even during illness. The Parnells have set the stage for the rest of the members of HLT in how to follow a star with commitment, grace, and caring - traits that they brought to everything they have touched. Their legacy will linger as an excellent script for all of us later members to follow.
These two pioneers of the Highlands County's Little Theatre movement have left their unforgettable stamp on our theatrical history. It is through their unselfish and uncounted hours of activity that we can boast of the fine organization that we have today, over twenty-five years later. We will always be in their debt. Thank you Len and Virginia for giving us such a good start. As you can plainly see, you effort hasn't been in vain.
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