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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Victor Damigella - This Actor Cooks By: Roy Riedy |
Vic Damigella's name first appears in the Highlands Little Theatre playbill for the musical Oliver! in November of 1983, the Dickensian musical that opened to the second round of HLT First Nighter audiences as a member of the stage construction team. It was the first and last time that his name appeared with the group of names that were responsible for stage construction.
When his name reappeared for the second time in June of 1986 in a playbill of I Do, I Do, it had found the classification in which it was to appear from that time to the present date: "Chairman, Salad Bar and Desserts." It became certain after that title kept reappearing that Vic had found his niche and vocation in the kitchen of HLT. This turned out to be true for his name appears in that category for seventy more times, and has now appeared unbroken since November of 1994 to the current production of Move Over Mrs. Markham in June of 2002. In the last five HLT programs in which his name appears he has been awarded a fitting title to round out his kitchen career: "Chair-Emeritus."
To add some variation to his salad days, Vic has also acted in nine different roles at HLT that include Erronius in the first presentation of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in 1986; Mordcha in the March, 1987 performance of Fiddler on the Roof; and his Zenon winning portrayal of Herr Schultz in the November, 1987 musical, Cabaret.
For his unprecedented loyalty and service to his salad and dessert duties, Mr. Damigella has received two Board Service Awards, the first at the First Annual Zenon Presentations in 1986, and the second at the Tenth Annual Zenon Presentations in 1995, which was actually his third Zenon, for he had received the Best Supporting Actor Zenon for his portrayal of the hesitating Herr Schultz in Cabaret at the Third Annual Zenon Awards Ceremonies in September of 1988.
I know that Vic is proud of these recognitions of his acting ability, his untiring work in the kitchen, and a stint as a Board member in early 1990, but I'm sure his proudest moment at Highlands Little Theatre was on the night of October 3rd, 1998 when he became the thirteenth recipient of the prestigious Janelou Buck Significant Achievement Award, the great honor that Highlands Little Theatre bestows on its deserving members. I was at that gathering and I remember the warm and heartfelt applause that greeted the announcement of his name. His peers knew that once again the proper choice had been made.
Above and beyond these official duties which have been noted, appreciated, and acknowledged, Vic has taken on the continuing responsibility of catering, year in and year out, a hot entree for all of those who turn out for the Highlands Little Theatre monthly business meetings. It's difficult to calculate how much this commitment has cost Vic in time and effort, but the Janelou Buck Significant Achievement Award is certainly an tangible symbol that HLT has attempted to give Mr. Damigella his just desserts.
Not all the work that Vic has done for HLT is recorded in the theater's programs. Since 1990 Vic has watched the annual parties that HLT caters for the Sebring Race grow from 350 participants to over 1000 in the year 2000. A Dinner Dance is held in the Playhouse during Race time and usually during the space of a fiscal year the theater kitchen normally provides food for approximately ten weddings, and a dozen special group parties. Despite the time and labor involved in preparing these extra events, Vic claims that no one has a better time than he does.
Thank you Victor Damigella for your outstanding work, both on HLT's stage and also in its kitchen which must be as familiar to you and the one in your home. We have all benefitted by your ongoing efforts. Once again, the Selection Committee of the Significant Achievement Award has made an outstanding choice and be assured that their decision reflects the choice of all of the HLT members who know your work and applaud your accomplishments.
