A board member of the Boyertown State Theatre recently received national recognition for his contributions to the historic 1912 theatre’s renovation efforts.
The League of American Historic Theatres — a national organization dedicated to supporting the preservation and enhancement of historic theaters — presented the Joe Rosenberg Honorary Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to Ken Shaw in recognition of his exceptional leadership and commitment to the Boyertown theatre’s seating renovation project.
Presented to Shaw during the League’s annual conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin., the Joseph Rosenberg Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates vision, dedication, selflessness and excellence through their contribution to historic theatres and their communities as a volunteer, board member, patron, donor, service provider, staff member or historic theatre advocate-at-large, according to the League website.
“The recipient of this award will have demonstrated excellence through his/her/their significant contributions, the impact of their services and breadth of populations served, and the length of time and/or intensity of contributions that benefit the field of historic theatres,” states the website, https://www.lhat.org/program-services/awards-program.
The Boyertown theatre’s renovation project was undertaken to preserve the historical integrity of the theatre’s seating while simultaneously enhancing its comfort and visual appeal. One of the notable improvements included the addition of cup holders, providing a modern upgrade to enhance the audience experience. Throughout the duration of the project, the theatre continued to operate.
“The Joe Rosenberg Honorary Award, named in honor of a pioneering advocate for historic theaters, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the preservation and enhancement of historic theater properties,” the State Theatre said in a release. “Ken and Shannon Shaw’s dedication to the Historic State Theatre exemplifies the spirit of this prestigious award.”
In the release, the State Theatre credits Ken Shaw’s tireless efforts as instrumental in the transformation of the theatre’s seating, a project that spanned over one year and seven months.
“Demonstrating an extraordinary level of dedication, Ken volunteered more than 500 hours to meticulously manage the renovation,” stated the theatre.
His hands-on involvement included removing each seat and preparing them for shot blasting, reupholstering, powder coating and then reinstallment with new components, including cup holders.
Shaw’s efforts were further supported by his wife, Shannon Shaw, who also dedicated her time to the project.
“Together, the Shaws contributed more than 1,000 hours of volunteer work, reflecting their shared commitment to enhancing the theater’s experience,” stated the theatre. “Their collaborative effort ensured the successful completion of the renovation while the theatre continued its day-to-day operations.”
The Historic State Theatre and its board members would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Ken and Shannon Shaw for their remarkable contributions and to the League of American Historic Theaters for this esteemed recognition.
“The theater continues to celebrate its rich history while embracing modern upgrades, ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come,” board members shared in the statement.
The State Theatre Preservation Society, a Boyertown-based non-profit organization, preserves and operates the historic 1912 theatre through films, performing arts and education to enrich the cultural life of the local Boyertown community and surrounding areas. As a non-profit, the society is powered by the work of volunteers focused on making sure guests have the best time at the theatre, according to https://boyertownstatetheatre.com/about-us.
For more information about the Historic State Theatre and ongoing projects, visit www.BoyertownStateTheatre.com.
Source: Berkshire mont