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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Ruth Ann Esseltine - Accompanist Extra ordinaire By: Roy Riedy |
Ruth Ann was born in Michigan where she graduated from Central Michigan University with a major in music. She moved to Sebring in 1996 via Tennessee where she had became involved with theater and had played for several shows. Her name was first mentioned in relation to HLT in its July, 2000, Newsletter which told its readers that Mrs. Esseltine had volunteered her talent as pianist for the upcoming August production of Melanie Boulay's musical Oliver!
Her accompaniment for Oliver! won her a nomination for a Production/Technical Award at The Fifteenth Annual Zenon Awards in October of 2000.
In the March 2002 issue of the HLT Newsletter, Melanie Boulay announced that Ruth Ann Esseltine, as well as Judy Vekasy, would be the accompanists for her August production of the musical Peter Pan. The July HLT Newsletter confirmed and clarified Ruth's job description by noting that "Ruth Ann Esseltine is our accompanist and Judy Vekasy is conducting the orchestra."
The August, 2002, production of Peter Pan was an unqualified success and won eight Zenons which placed the show in second place in the HLT pantheon of most decorated shows to date. One of those eight Zenons went to Ruth Ann Esseltine for her musical contribution to the delightful show.
As of November, 2002, Ruth as been associated with two musicals at Highlands Little Theatre, been nominated for an award at two Zenon Ceremonies and won one Zenon. She has been mentioned in 7 HLT Newsletters and 10 local newspaper articles for a total of 21 citations.
Highlands Little Theatre is indeed fortunate to have talented Ruth Ann Esseltine as one of its members for accompanists are very rare and even rarer are accompanists that volunteer. Thank you Ruth Ann for your musical contributions.
