P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525
|
P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525 |
 |
Tammie Pollard - Life Member and Fifteen Time Zenon Winner By: Roy Riedy |
When Tammie Pollard was first associated with the very youthful Highlands Little Theatre in 1975, she as still a student at Sebring High School and Zenon Awards were still a thing of the future. Consequently, all her laurels have been achieved since she reappeared at the Lakeside Playhouse in the early 1990's, first as an actress and director.
Her first appearance on the HLT stage since her debut as Lily Blossom in the 1975 melodrama, Deadwood Dick, The Dashing Western Romance, was in the role of Elaine in the August, 1991 production of George Axelrod's comedy The Seven Years Itch. In January of 1993 she appeared in Ed Graczky's Come Back To The Five & Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean as Joanne, a role that nominated her for a Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the Zenon Ceremonies at the end of that season. In June of the same year she appeared as Liz Imbrie in Philip Barry's famous Philadelphia Story and found that she was competing against herself for another Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role at the Zenons that fall.
Tammie was next seen as Olive Madison in January of 1994 in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple (Female Version). In June of that year she directed Ken Ludwig's wonderful farce, Lend Me A Tenor, which captured two Zenons at the 9th Annual Zenon Awards: one for Best Director, and a second for Best Play. But this was only the start of Tammie's Zenon studded career. Two years later at the 11th Annual Zenon Awards, she was presented with a Production/Technical Discretionary Award for her work as Assistant Director of The Goodbye Girl. During this time period she also assisted in directing Ain't Misbehavin', in January of 1995, and in directing Play It Again, Sam, in June of 1996.
At the 12th Annual Zenon Award Ceremony at the end of the 23rd Season (1996-1997), Tammie made Zenon history by receiving three Zenons for her outstanding labors. Not only was she named Best Supporting Actress for her part of Miss Maudie in To Kill A Mockingbird, but she was also selected Best Director for her outstanding presentation of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, the play that surprised no one to also be selected as Best Play of the 23rd Season.
And there is still more: At the 14th Annual Zenon Awards at the end of the 25th Season (1998-1999) Tammie was selected as the Best Actress of the "Silver Season" for her inspired interpretation of Helen Keller's teacher, Annie Sullivan, in William Gibson's classic drama The Miracle Worker.
In all, Tammie Pollard has been associated with thirty-two productions at Highlands Little Theatre, twelve of them were as an actress, eight others were as director or assistant director of a play, including the ambitious and astounding presentation of the Bernstein/Sondheim classic, West Side Story, which was presented in August 2001, and ten presentations that have found her involved with some aspect of sound, either as the designer or as a technician.
In addition to these duties she has also made time to work, in one capacity or another, with the last ten Zenon shows; produce two Fourth of July shows to benefit the scholarship fund; and served for two terms as the chairperson of the Scholarship Committee, and the Newsletter. Tammie's involvement in fundraising to benefit the scholarship fund was rewarded at the 16th Annual Zenon Awards Ceremonies with an eighth Zenon for her ongoing work in that area.
At the 19th Annual Zenon Awards Ceremonies in early October, 2004, Tammie added two more Zenons to her trophy case. She received, with Kris Schmidt, the Best Producers Award for their work on Jennifer Westergom's outstanding costume drama, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and a second Zenon for Best Director for her splendid musical, Jesus Christ, Superstar, bring her total awards into the double digits.
In 2005 at the General Membership Meeting on June 2nd, Tammie was voted to the exclusive membership of the Life Members for her ongoing good works at HLT; although there is no trophy for this award, it is considered the most desired of all HLT accolades
Most recently, at the Twenty-first Zenon Ceremonies held on October 7, 2006, Tammie made more HLT history in a very theatrical way. The musical Grease, which she directed the previous August, was awarded 12 Zenons, making it the second-most decorated play in the theatre's history, only two awards behind the all-time winner of last season, Cabaret #2
In addition to this astonishing sweep, Tammie not only received Zenons for directing the best play and collaborating with the best lighting design and costuming of the season, she also became the twenty-first recipient of the Janelou Buck Significant Achievement Award, the most prestigious and celebrated Zenon that a member can receive. Tammie received a total of five awards that evening, raising her total to fifteen Zenons which put her in fifth place as the recipient of that very coveted award.
Congratulations Tammie on your many efforts and the high level of professionalism that you have brought to all your endeavors at Highlands Little Theatre. You have helped raise the level of expectations that has taken all of us to higher degree of presentation and expression, far beyond the melodrama that introduced you to Sebring audiences in HLT's salad days. Your vision is an inspiration for all members to duplicate.
