Theatre III's
EMACT Lifetime Achievement Awards

Over the years, Theatre III has been blessed with many volunteers who have given countless hours, days, even years of time. We are thrilled that EMACT has recognized the ongoing work of some of our highest contributing community members.

Sandy Armstrong (2024 Awardee)

Sandy Armstrong is well-known in the theater community and has played many roles in many settings over the years, but we are most thankful for her many years of service and dedication to Theatre III. Sandy joined the theater in the early 1990s and immediately took on a role of leadership, joining the Board and using her significant experience in acting, directing, and producing to help Theatre III thrive. While Sandy played many roles on stage, her leadership as a Board member, serving in such capacities as Artistic Director, Executive Producer, President, EMACT rep, and Member-at-Large, over a span of 30+ years, has truly impacted and shaped Theatre III into the community theater that it is today. 

While Sandy is known for her take-charge attitude, her wide network of theater friends, and her indomitable personality, those who her well know that she gives 110%, whether it is to stay up all night casting a show, letting a displaced friend stay in her home for a spell, or caring for her beloved furry babies. Outspoken, intelligent, hard-working, committed, and passionate about the arts, Sandy is one-of-a-kind, and we thank her for her decades of commitment to Theatre III and the theater community.

Kevin Cassidy (2025 Awardee)

For well over 40 years, Theatre III in West Acton has had the absolute pleasure of having Kevin Cassidy as a mainstay of our organization and our productions.  Kevin has always been the man we looked to for building our sets, for repairing our facility, and for acting in our shows. From the beginning, Kevin was the man who made our space into a true theater - he constructed and installed the roll drops, designed and built the stage, and built the tracks to carry the main curtain, as well as the torms (legs), travelers and scrims.  It is fair to say that the theater would not be a “theater” without Kevin’s efforts over the years.

In addition to all his building contributions, Kevin served the organization by being on the theater’s Board of Directors for many years, in various roles, including as its president.  Kevin’s board involvement was during times of real growth for the theater, from its fledgling early days to the grander scale production house it is now.

Beth Nolan Conners (2023 Awardee)

Beth Nolan Conners has been involved in theater around the area since the early 1990s. She has been onstage at Concord Players, Nashoba Players, Theatre III, Sudbury Savoyards, and Open Door Theater, among many others. Theatre III is nominating her because she has repeatedly been a part of Theatre III on all levels, from acting to directing to producing to playreading to being on the board. She first served on the Theatre III board in 1999; from 2009-2011 she served as the Executive Producer (at the time the role was the combination of what we now have as two roles - Artistic Director and Managing Director - and she did it singlehandedly!), and has also been an officer. She has recently come back a third time, taking on the newly-created DEI Manager position…we are tremendously glad she has rejoined us and taken on this very important new role. Beth’s presence at Theatre III spans many years - the most intense time being her days as the Executive Producer, but she’s been a part of the board, an officer, and has participated on- and off-stage in many productions as well as directing and producing.

Shahn & Ed Knights (2023 Awardees)

Shahn & Ed Knights have been a part of Theatre III and other organizations for many years.  Both have served on the board of Theatre III on and off over the years, with Ed serving as president for a stint and Shahn being a costume expert and set designer, among many other jobs they’ve volunteered for. Shahn can be found costuming, set designing, and producing around the region (with several DASH nominations!), and Ed was a key member of Acton TV who showcased local theater. They’ve both acted in more shows than we can count, at Theatre III and elsewhere, and they have directed jointly and separately at multiple theater groups.  Most recently they stepped in to pick up our first live show post-pandemic (“Lovers and Other Strangers”), which was very appreciated given the uncertainty of the time. While Theatre III counts them as “ours,” we know that they have been a part of the community, and we’re so pleased that they’ve been so much a part of our group for so long. Together and separately they have been a key part of Theatre III for many years, as board members, officers, actors, directors, producers, and as volunteers in many other ways.

Don Oliver (2025 Awardee)

Don Oliver was part of the theatrical troupe that existed when Theatre III was born, and he stayed active as a performer for over 50 years. As a thespian, Don could be the serious Mr. Gladstone in Gypsy, the tricky devil in Damn Yankees, the irascible Norman in On Golden Pond, one of the fun-loving patients in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the quietly loving Matthew in Anne of Green Gables, Sonny/Studio Cop in City of Angels, and more. When the board wanted a dinner theater, a special performance, or a quick fundraiser, the phrase “let’s have Don write something!” was often heard. Don’s shows had a wry sense of humor and were well-plotted. Audiences loved them!

Don’s wife, Betty, would organize the ticket sales, while Don would perform (often with his daughters), direct, write and create scripts, and serve many years on the Board of Directors with many years as the theater’s Treasurer. Don was a leader - one who led by example. He was always courteous and kind, welcoming to new members, and while considerably talented as an actor, always humble. Don and his family have been a driving force in our current quest to make the theater more accessible to theater-goers. 

Marlene & Tom Wachtell (2023 Awardees)

Marlene & Tom Wachtell have been a fixture at Theatre III for decades, and they were also previously very involved at Open Door Theater. Theatre III is nominating them. Together, they have served an extensive amount of time on the board of directors at Theatre III. They served jointly as the Executive Producers at Theatre III for four years, as well as various offices on the board and other volunteer roles.  As local business owners, they facilitated Theatre III’s participation in the chamber of commerce for many years as well.  Between them, they have also produced, directed, and (in Marlene’s case) choreographed any number of shows over the years, as well as appearing on-stage. They have multiple DASH nominations and wins between them for City of Angels, Urinetown, and Falsettos.  Marlene and Tom have recently joined the Theatre III board again and we are thrilled that they are still involved!  Their continued participation in all levels of the theater…on-stage, as directors or producers, and back-stage across many shows, being board members and officers, being a part of our fundraising efforts and benefit events…has been a mainstay of Theatre III for literally decades.