Gillette Castle State Park Supervisor Philip Yuris Receives IMTY Award for Leadership

Gillette Castle State Park Supervisor, Philip Yuris, is the honored recipient of the 2017 International Museum Theater Alliance IMTY award. The award recognizes Leadership in Support of Museum Theatre, and is being given to Mr. Yuris for his past and ongoing support of The East Haddam Stage Company, Resident Theatre Company at Gillette Castle State Park. IMTAL is dedicated to supporting the use of theatre and theatrical techniques in museum and historical settings.
The prestigious award will be presented during the IMTAL Awards Ceremony, at the American Alliance of Museums annual conference. This year the ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 9th in St Louis Missouri. EHSCO's Producing Artistic Director, Kandie Carle, will be in St Louis to accept the award on behalf of Mr. Yuris. There will then be a formal presentation of the award to Mr. Yuris on Saturday, May 27th at 2:00pm on the stage (or inside the visitor's center, in case of inclement weather), at Gillette Castle State Park, 67 River Road, East Haddam CT. All are welcome to attend. That weekend marks the official opening of the historic Castle for the 2017 summer season.

Since 1998, Mr. Yuris, in his various positions at Gillette Castle State Park, has been instrumental in maintaining the grounds, visitor's center and historic house for the enjoyment of thousands of visitors. Even prior to his promotion to Park Supervisor in 2015, Mr. Yuris assisted EHSCO with implementing theater at the park. His efforts have included infrastructure: building the stage, installing amphitheater and bench seating, creating space for props, sets and dressing room, and of course, the promotion of the performances themselves. In 2016 Mr. Yuris granted EHSCO the status and title of Resident Theatre Company at Gillette Castle State Park. (Mr. Yuris is now responsible not only for Gillette Castle State Park, but also for Sunrise State Park, Devil's Hopyard State Park, Machimoodus State Park, and a dozen other state properties.)

Since the summer of 2008 the East Haddam Stage Company has offered live theatre on the grounds of the magnificent retirement home of CT's own Victorian actor William Gillette, best known as creator of Sherlock Holmes for the stage. EHSCO has produced original works as well as adaptations of Gillette's own plays. Along the way, with funding from CTHumanitites, the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park and sponsorship from local businesses, EHSCO has been able to offer the shows free and open to the public. More than 5,500 visitors enjoyed the shows during EHSCO's six-weekend seasons over the past two years.

EHSCO looks forward to the 2017 season, their 9th, producing their original comedy / drama - William Gillette: Senator's Son to Super Sleuth. The weekend-only shows begin July 8th, and run through August 13th. Major funding support is from East Haddam's own Staehly Farm and Winery.

The East Haddam Stage Company thanks Mr. Yuris for his unwavering dedication and enthusiasm, and applauds him as the recipient of such a prestigious award.

PREVIOUS IMTY AWARD RECIPIENTS

2016 David Rosenberg Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey California

2015 Melanie Adams Missouri History Museum, St Louis Missouri

2014 Betty Brewer and Rebecca Gilliam Minnetrista, Muncie Indiana

2013 Judith Gradwohl National Museum of American History, (Smithsonian) Washington D.C.

2012 Deborah Gaston National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D.C.

2011 Kerry Sautner National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Pennsylvania

2010 Joe Imholte Science Museum of Minnesota, St Paul Minnesota

2009 Wilton Corkern Accokeek Foundation, Accokeek Maryland

2007 Jeff Patchen The Children's Museum of Indianapolis Indiana

IMTAL's upcoming annual meeting will take place in September 2017, in Mystic CT.

Photo credit: K. Becker

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