Posted By Admin | July 14, 2010 - 3:15 pm - Posted in News
Rushville Times Photo by Alan Icenogle
Rushville Mayor Scott Thompson (right) presented the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award to David Haney and Jane Boyd Wendling during the meeting of the Rushville City Council on Tuesday, July 6. The two were honored for their work in establishing the Pandora’s Playhouse Community Theater group in Rushville.
Mayor Presents Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award
Rushville Mayor Scott Thompson presented Jane Wendling and David Haney with the Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award at the Rushville City Council meeting on July 6. Wendling and Haney were presented with the award in recognition of the founding of Pandora’s Playhouse in 1975. In alternating years, the Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) invites mayors throughout the state to nominate one individual who has demonstrated a sustained and significant contribution to furthering public understanding of the humanities in their community. These unsung “humanities heroes” contribute to cultural life through projects related to historic preservation, heritage, adult and childhood education, and the study of arts or music. Wendling remembers Haney saying, “Let’s get together and put on a show.” “It wasn’t just one or two people,” commented Haney. “It was a whole bunch of us. It’s nice that Pandora’s is being recognized for its efforts.” The best thanks that Haney ever received for Pandora’s Playhouse was when someone told him the best part of growing up in Rushville was being in the summer musicals. The first Pandora’s Playhouse show, Send Me No Flowers, was staged at the Virginia Community Building in Scripps Park in November of 1975. Haney directed the play and was on stage. The next year, Wendling wrote a play about the Scripps family in honor of America’s bicentennial. Since those first years, it’s estimated that Pandora’s Playhouse has produced 117 productions. Now the plays and musicals are staged at either the Phoenix Opera House or at the outdoor stage in Schuy-Rush Park.
