Season 12 Most Valuable Performers

As Season 12 winds down, the producers wish to honor a quartet of NET family members who have made it impossible for us to choose only two or three as most valuable.

Our honorees, alphabetically, are Jim Cordingley, J.J. Newberry, Tom Smith and Andrena Wishnie.

Jim Cordingley (the King in tonight’s show) recently retired, enabling him to step up his contributions to The NET. Besides acting in Big River, Cyrano de Bergerac and Goodbye, Charlie, Jim put on his tool belt and helped with set building chores. He helmed the set building project for this show and even designed and assembled his own “Nonesuch” costume. And he has helped in so many other ways! Onstage, backstage and behind the scenes, Jim has made a big difference this year!

J.J. Newberry has been invaluable to us for years — both onstage and off. A professional tailor specializing in period costumes, J.J. outdid himself by providing the lavish male costumes and special props for our recent Cyrano de Bergerac. Every time somebody steps in to take some of the load off Artistic Director Cheryl Doyle’s shoulders, Cheryl’s free to get something else done. And nobody is more resourceful or dependable than J.J.!

Tom Smith started with us a few years back as a shy teen in our Summer Stars program. He’s learned quickly and well. This season alone, thus far, Tom’s distinguished himself acting in Watch On the Rhine, The Song of Bernadette, Saluting the Stars, Cyrano de Bergerac and Big River. He’s also eagerly jumped in wherever he can to help, whether it’s set building, set painting or sweeping out the theatre. He hopes for a career in performing. This positive can-do attitude will serve him well.

Andrena Wishnie came to us last season in time to handle lighting design and operation for Damn Yankees. Incredibly, she’s stuck around to design the lights for every single show this season. And she’s been up in the booth personally operating them for the vast majority of performances — occasionally spelled by her actor/tech son Eric. Her inventiveness has helped us get the most out of our fixtures. Andrena is fearless climbing ladders and aiming lights. And she’s cheerful in isolation up in the booth, keeping the shows lit and looking sharp.

Jim, J.J., Tom and Andrena have each gone above and beyond the call of duty. Patrons continue to comment on the excellence of our shows, frequently thanking the producers for our joint efforts. As we thank them for their compliments, we know that The NET looks good because of the tireless and selfless efforts of company members like the above quartet. We thank them, we salute them!

—Cheryl & Joe Doyle, Co-Founders and Producers