Walk of Fame Members (L to R) Pat Moriarity, Peggy Moriarity, Shelley Buhrow, Bev Graves, Arvin Van Zante (Not Pictured: Dottie McGee)

It’s time for the Union Street Players Board of Directors to begin consideration of the 2011 Walk of Fame inductee. Started in 2008, the USP Walk of Fame honors individuals who have gone above and beyond in helping USP fulfill its mission. The Board of Directors began the inaugural year with three inductees (Dottie McGee, Pat Moriarity, Arvin Van Zante), then pared it down to two in the second year (Bev Graves, Peggy Moriarity) and one in the third (Shelley Buhrow). The Board plans on inducting a new member of the Walk of Fame at the annual Awards Dinner which is scheduled for September.

The USP Board is seeking the nomination of individuals who have been involved for ten years or more, have contributed in multiple ways (actor, director, stage manager, lighting, sound, set work, Board Member, etc.), and have helped USP further its on-going mission.

To nominate an individual, simply provide the following information in an email sent to info@unionstreetplayers.com or in a letter mailed to USP Walk of Fame, 712 Union St., Pella, IA 50219:

• Your name
• Your email
• Your phone number
• Name of person you are nominating
• Explanation of why you think this person should be inducted into the USP Walk of Fame.

To help determining who is eligible, the following Microsoft Excel file contains a historical database of individuals and their roles in various productions and positions on the Board of Directors. There is a drop down menu next to the heading of each field. You can filter your view using the drop down menus to view results by individual.

USP_Historical_Database Published

Union Street Players gathered at Monarch’s on the Molengracht last night for their 3rd Annual Award’s Dinner. It was a chance to celebrate the 2009-2010 year and to honor another of USP’s faithful contributors with induction in the USP Walk of Fame.

Current USP President, Tom Vander Well, served as Master of Ceremonies and provided a snapshot of what USP has accomplished in the past year. The group then watched a slideshow of photographs from this past year’s main stage shows (“Little House Christmas at Plum Creek,” “K.O.L.D. Radio, Whitefish Bay,” and “Charlotte’s Web”) played to the strains of “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”

The group honored member, Mike Atkins, who passed away this past spring. Vander Well said that he’d considered asking for a moment of silence, but it just wasn’t appropriate for theatre people. “Silence makes us nervous,” he said, “and gives the feeling that someone isn’t picking up their cues.” He then asked those present to stand, raise their glasses in a toast to Atkins with a resounding “Huzzah!”

USP Vice-President, Deb Linn, introduced this year’s inductee to the USP Walk of Fame. She shared Shelley Buhrow’s many contributions to the community theater over the past 23 years including (but not limited to): actor, director, producer, writer, board member, President and Secretary. Buhrow accepted the honor, expressing her appreciation for those in USP who have meant so much to her.

The program ended, but the evening was far from over as those in attendance sat and socialized far into the night.