Each year, after the season wraps up, Theatre 7 celebrates the season with an annual awards banquet, typically held in June. The location of the banquet changes from year to year, and the cost to members is generally between $20 and $25 per person. At the banquet, the directors and/or producers from the season that just wrapped thank the people who helped with their shows, directors for the next season's shows also preview their shows, and two types of awards are presented - Jay-Jay Awards and Merit Awards.
Jay-Jay Awards
In Theatre 7’s first production Light Up the Sky, a parrot name Jay Jay prophetically squawked,"SRO, Darling, SRO," which meant "Standing Room Only." Curiously enough, one year from the opening night of Theatre 7’s first show, the production of Guys and Dolls had a standing-room-only crowd. As a result of this, the acting awards given each year are small gold parrots called Jay-Jays.
A nominating committee made up of the current Vice-President, season directors and past directors puts together the slate of nominees that are then voted upon by members, patrons, and season ticket holders. The nomination categories are: Best Male Actor in a Major Role, Best Female Actor in a Major Role, Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Male Actor in a Minor Role, Best Female Actor in a Minor Role, Best Actor (male or female) in a Cameo Role, and Best Child Actor (male or female). There can be up to two nominations from a single show in each category.
2010 Winners
- Best Male Actor in a Major Role -Shawn Becker as "Leo/Maxine" in Leading Ladies
- Best Female Actor in a Major Role - Catheryn Eccleston as “Meg” in Leading Ladies
- Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Kevin Collins as “Hines” in The Pajama Game
- Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Kathy Zientara as "Gladys" in The Pajama Game
- Best Male Actor in a Minor Role - Hank Norris as “The Decatur Chicken" in The Baseball Show
- Best Female Actor in a Minor Role - Tamara Bivins as “Aunt Florence” in Leading Ladies
- Best Actor (male or female) in a Cameo Role - Jo Ellen Tamen as "Marge O'Malley" in The Baseball Show
- Best Child Actor (male or female) - Gabe Sphar as "Joseph" in The Baseball Show
Merit Awards
Theatre 7 also hands out Merit Awards to people who have dedicated the most time to assisting productions in non-acting capacities. To be eligible for a merit award, volunteers must have worked on at least 2 productions and earn a minimum of 20 points. Volunteers earn points based on their level of involvement in the show...the more involved in the production, the more points earned. Show producers and directors assign points to the crew for the show and submit these to the nomination committee for consideration. The top 7 volunteers earning more than 20 points are the recipients of the Merit Awards. Volunteers who receive three merit awards are placed on the Lifetime Merit Award Plaque and are no longer eligible for further merit awards. Special merit awards are occasionally given for outstanding service to Theatre 7.
2010 Merit Award Recipients
Judy Bitzer - 1st Merit Award
Nancy Bloom - 2nd Merit Award
Marla Christensen - 3rd Merit Award (Lifetime)
Dreux Lewandowski - 1st Merit Award
Lyn Sly Mallard - 1st Merit Award
Katrina Wilkerson - 2nd Merit Award
Eleanor Wood - 1st Merit Award