Travis Blatchley Awarded The Sauk's Clint Johnson Award

Travis Blatchley first volunteered at The Sauk as a high school student. His love of theatre developed through college and to this day, almost 25 years later, he is still hooked.

Blatchley was recently honored by The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theatre, with the Clint Johnson Award, the organization's highest honor for volunteerism. The award, named after one of the local theatre organization's founding members, recognizes outstanding contributions to the production aspects of the theatre.

Blatchley began performing at The Sauk, appearing in several Theatre for Youth productions as well as Sauk shows. He appeared onstage at Hillsdale High School and Jackson College before returning to The Sauk.

"I am very proud to say that I have been volunteering at the Sauk Theater for over twenty plus years," Blatchley said. "I take pride in every production I am part of whether being on stage or being part of the production team."

Blatchley began as a performer appearing in "Schoolhouse Rock Jr." and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Some of his favorite onstage roles include Cogsworth in "Beauty and the Beast," Harold in "The Full Monty," Dr. Bennett in "Big Fish," The Duke in "Big River," Mal Beineke in "The Addams Family" and Mr. Drysdale in "The Beverly Hillbillies" for which he won the 2017 BroadwayWorld Detroit Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play.

While he still performs, his newest contribution over the past ten years has been a props designer. Props includes anything actors hold in their hands during a production. His most recent properties design credits are "Clue: The Musical" and "The Cemetery Club."

"The Clint Johnson Award winner is selected each year by our board," said Sauk Executive Director Trinity Bird. "When I mentioned Travis' name, it received immediate, unanimous approval."

"The theater is great place for people young and old to be creative and a great opportunity for volunteering" Blatchley added. "As for winning the Clint Johnson Award, I was shocked and truly humbled."

The award was announced at the organization's annual meeting on Saturday, January 22. Blatchley joins 36 others who have received the award since it began in 1982. A plaque with all the recipients names hangs in the theatre lobby.

"The Sauk has always meant a great deal to me over the years," Blatchley added. "It's an honor to have my name listed among the other recipients."

For more information about The Sauk, visit www.thesauk.org or call 517-849-9100.