Highlands Little Theatre - Steve McDaniel

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

Steve McDaniel - True Grit
By: Roy Riedy

No one could have been more heartened than Steve McDaniel when he was awarded his first Zenon at the Nineteenth Annual Zenon Ceremonies in early October, 2004, for the season's Best Stage Manager of Tammie Pollard's rock opera, Jesus Christ, Superstar. Steve has been a consistently hard working member since he joined Highlands Little Theatre in its Twenty-fourth Season in 1997.

Since joining HLT seven years ago, Steve has been involved in all seven of the Zenon Ceremonies, either officiating in some capacity, as a Presenter, Producer, Emcee, Announcer, or twelve time nominee for a Zenon award which included: Acting, Mike Mooney in Paint Your Wagon, and Mr. MacAfee in Bye,Bye, Birdie; Directing: Moon Over Buffalo; Assistant Directing: Rumors, Producing: The Miracle Worker, West Side Story, Steel Magnolias II, Out of Order, Lost in Yonkers, and Jesus Christ, Superstar; and also for Stage Managing: Arsenic and Old Lace II, and West Side Story.

At the Nineteenth Annual Zenon Award Ceremonies, Steve was finally justified for his endurance and confidence when he was awarded the Best Stage Manager Zenon for his work with Tammie Pollard's galvanizing Jesus Christ, Superstar.

During his seven years with HLT Steve has been involved in thirty stage productions, seven Zenon Ceremonies, and been mentioned in 42 HLT Newsletters and 56 local news articles for a total of 135 well deserved citations.

What follows is an update of what Steve has been doing since he received his first Zenon in October, 2004.

During the Thirty-first Season, Steve's name appeared in all five programs of the main stage shows on either the Gourmet page or with the names of the staff members of Anthony's Lounge, or both.

During the Thirty-second Season, his name appeared consistently with the names of the sous chefs and kitchen line staff for all five shows and also on the production staff of Denise Miriani's Wait Until Dark as one of the Co-producers and in the program of Tammie Pollard's musical Grease as its Stage Manager.

It was his activities as the Stage Manager for Grease that brought Steve the honor of being named the Best Stage Manager for the Thirty-second Season.

Congratulations Steve on your long overdue recognition as one of the most loyal and hard working members of Highlands Little Theatre. You've got the true grit of a real trouper.