Kirk Players president wins community theater award

Sheila Bourque, longtime member and newly installed president of the Kirk Players, will receive Illinois Theatre Association’s 2011 Award of Excellence in Community Theatre.

The award will be presented Saturday, Oct. 1, at The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights.

“We are absolutely thrilled for Sheila,” said Paddy Lynn, artistic director for the group. ”I can’t think of a more deserving recipient. When you consider all that Sheila has done in over 20 years with The Kirk Players, and especially her leadership in the development of the technical aspects of our theater programs here, it’s an award well-deserved.”

The award is based on demonstrating excellence in leadership among peers, innovation in the field of theater, mentorship in the broader theater community and, finally and most importantly, instilling a passion for theater in young people.

Bourque, who begins the 46th season of the Kirk Players as president, has helped develop a strong and rich children’s program in the Mundelein-based Kirk Players organization.

In addition to managing the production of all but one of the 20 children’s shows presented by the group since 1991, she has served in several capacities on the board of directors, created stage management manuals for aspiring techies, assisted in the development of local scholarships and honoraria, developed a transactional website platform for the group and is presently spearheading grant development.