History of CTAM
A Brief History of the Community Theatre Association of Michigan
Since its earliest inception as the Michigan Little Theatre Enclave in 1933, the Community Theatre Association of Michigan (CTAM), has been dedicated to fostering a closer relationship among amateur theatres in Michigan and providing the tools, education, and guidance necessary to produce high quality theatrical productions to its members for the benefit of the people of Michigan.
The Michigan Little Theatre Enclave gave way to the Community Theatre Association of Michigan in 1949. The name change was to better reflect the more “modern” sensibilities of the larger national movement of amateur theatre to identify itself as a valuable community asset. In 1950 CTAM hosted the first of what would become its premiere annual event which continues today, the Annual Fall Conference, hosting member groups from around the state for a weekend of workshops, seminars, and informal networking. Formal incorporation as CTAM came shortly thereafter with the election of its first board and president, Norman Carver, of Kalamazoo Civic Theatre in 1951.
As CTAM grew and evolved over the next several decades, new programs were initiated to provide group members with high quality educational opportunities including: Master Classes – intensive weekend long workshops dedicated to one aspect of theatre; Spring Conferences, held in even number years at a member groups’ home town; and Regional Workshops, bringing the conference experience to a variety of locations throughout the state; a playwriting contest to identify new playwrights in Michigan and encourage the use of new works by our member groups was started in 1963; the Joyce A. Schultheiss Memorial Scholarship which was initially issued to promising high school and college age performers was repurposed in 2010 to be used to provide financial assistance to individual members so they could attend education events and directly improve theatre in their communities; an accreditation program; and a formal adjudication program to train objective theatre “observers” who attend member group’s productions and offer feedback for future growth and improvement.
In 2012 CTAM started the Theatre Leadership Conference series. Held every two years this weekend long conference brings together presidents, executive officers, and board members from member groups to discuss issues and share solutions. The model for this conference is now being modeled by other state theatre organizations.
CTAM began a robust awards program to encourage and promote quality theatre with the implementation in 1987 of the Robert A. McKenna Award for lifetime achievement. This award was followed by the Volunteer Service Award in 2000 and the Dorothy Arnett Volunteer Service Award in 2001.
Also, since it’s earliest days, CTAM has collaborated with other associations to provide educational opportunities to its members. These include the Theatre Alliance of Michigan and most notably the American Association of Community Theatres (AACT), acting as AACT’s proxy in the state of Michigan to select the location and host of the bi-annual theatre competition, AACTFest.
Today, CTAM remains a vital resource to community theatres throughout the state of Michigan with national and international recognition for its programs. In the past six years the Board worked diligently to repurpose the organization to the needs of its new “modern” constituents so that CTAM is poised to remain relevant and important into the future.
To view our annual report click here.
PAST PRESIDENTS
| 1951 – 1953 | Norm Carver | Kalamazoo Civic Players |
| 1953 – 1954 | Mel Herr | Lansing Civic Players |
| 1954 – 1955 | Edward H. Brink, Jr. | Grand Rapids Civic Theatre |
| 1955 – 1956 | Dr. Alan Becker | Jackson Civic Players |
| 1956 – 1957 | Edward C. Cummings | Greenville Community Theatre |
| 1957 – 1958 | Robert James | Marshall Civic Players |
| 1958 – 1959 | Charles Lynch | Kalamazoo Civic Players |
| 1959 – 1960 | Al Clausi | Battle Creek Civic Theatre |
| 1960 – 1961 | Homer Story | Alpena Civic Theatre |
| 1961 -1962 | Tom King | Avon Players & Stagecrafters |
| 1962 – 1964 | Charles Chadwick | Ann Arbor Civic Theatre |
| 1964 – 1966 | James Carver | Kalamazoo Civic Players |
| 1966 – 1967 | Caroll Chapman | Avon Players |
| 1967 – 1969 | Betty Ann Smith | Avon Players & Stagecrafters |
| 1969 – 1971 | Del Brown | St. Pius & Southgate Community Players |
| 1971 – 1972 | Eugene H. Miller | Flint Community Players |
| 1972 – 1974 | Robert L. Fritch | Port City Players |
| 1974 – 1976 | Joyce A. Schultheiss | Port Huron Little Theatre & Grosse Pointe Theatre |
| 1976 – 1977 | Joe Rich | Portland Civic Players |
| 1977 – 1979 | Susanne Wesley | Pit & Balcony |
| 1979 – 1981 | Frederick J. Button | Wayne-Westland Civic Theatre |
| 1981 – 1983 | Ann Marks | Community Circle Theatre |
| 1983 – 1985 | James Johnson | Players de Noc |
| 1985 – 1987 | David Oosting | Stage Door Players |
| 1987 – 1988 | Barbara Elliott | Grosse Pointe Theatre |
| 1988 – 1991 | Chancey Miller | Grosse Pointe Theatre |
| 1991 – 1992 | Joanne Berry | Bay City Players |
| 1992 – 1996 | David Wahr | Monroe Community Players |
| 1996 – 1998 | Jeff Springgay | Flint Community Players & Clio Cast & Crew |
| 1998 – 1999 | Barbara Beckers | Northland Players |
| 1999 – 2000 | Nancy Peska | Gratiot County Players |
| 2000 – 2004 | Terry Jolink | Riverbend Players |
| 2004 – 2006 | Mary Jo DeNolf | Grand Rapids Civic Theatre |
| 2006 – 2007 | Joanne Berry | Bay City Players |
| 2007 – 2010 | Art Nemitz | Kalamazoo Civic Theatre |
| 2010 – 2012 | Vincent Weiler | Tawas Bay Players |
| 2012 – 2015 | Mary Lou Britton | Grosse Pointe Theatre |
| 2015 – 2017 | Betsy Willis | Old Town Playhouse |
| 2017 – 2018 | Christy Frick | Gratiot County Players |
| 2018 – 2020 | Betsy Willis | Old Town Playhouse |
| 2020 – 2024 | Michael Wilson | Grand Rapids Civic Theatre |
