Patrick (Pat) Farr
August 2, 1958 - January 23, 2010

In early 2007, Patrick Farr began his adventures with the Red River Community Theatre. Pat’s good friend and coworker at the Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center in Bonham, Dr. Gary Sisson, was directing the upcoming production of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple (Female Version)”. The play had been cast and was in rehearsals, but Dr. Sisson was preparing the lighting and sound crew and asked Pat to assist Richard P “Dutch” Williams in the tech booth. Pat had extensive experience in sound work, having performed in various bands through the years and he gladly accepted the challenge, joining the cast and crew of one of the most successful productions in RRCT’s history.

Later that year, Pat assisted with the audio setup in the Family Life Center in Bonham for the RRCT production of “Bingo Queen”. 2008 was a pivotal year in RRCT history, logging only two productions, but Pat was involved in both. In the awards production “The Ides of March Follies and Night of the Golden Fowl”, Pat again assisted with lighting and sound, and made his debut on the stage as a “Texas Leprechaun” and as one of the “Dixie Hicks”.

Later that year, he took the helm in the tech booth as the head of lighting and sound for RRCT’s production of Zane Smith’s original play, “Shooting Sundown”. During that year he was asked to become a RRCT board member and gladly accepted the challenge, serving in that capacity until his death, Although it was not a production of RRCT, Pat assisted in lighting and sound for the Lake Fannin Association’s production of the murder mystery, “Angel Street”, in the fall of 2008. In 2009 he once again answered the call for service in all three RRCT productions. Early in the year he assisted John Henard in lighting and sound and performed a musical number for the musical variety show, “It’s All About Love”, produced and directed by Donna Henard.

He accepted a new challenge as Stage Manager for the next production, “Crossroads”, directed by Dr. Gary Sisson. His final effort with RRCT found him in various stage and comedy writing roles in the original sketch and standup comedy production, “Funny Side Up” in the summer of 2009, again directed by his good fiend, Dr. Sisson. Through good times and not-so-good times, Par Farr was there to help in any way he could to continue the work of our beloved community theatre here in Fannin County, Words cannot express the grief we all felt when he passed away suddenly on Saturday, January 23, 2010. His work ethic and love for the performing arts is his legacy for which we gladly honor his memory.
 

The American Association of Community Theatre is a national organization that serves as the authority on the performing arts on the community level.  They provide educational resources for community theatres throughout the U.S. as well as all of the USO facilities throughout the world.  In 2004, A.A.C.T. initiated a Spotlight Award to honor community theatre staff members who have given outstanding service to their local theatre effort based on stringent criteria and nominated by their local theatre groups.

Pat Ward, retired past President of Red River Community Theatre, is the 2008 recipient of the prestigious A.A.C.T. Spotlight Award at the RRCT Awards Ceremony on March 15.  Her profile will be featured in the A.A.C.T. national magazine.  She was nominated by the RRCT Board of Directors in appreciation for her dedication and selfless service to RRCT and to the Fannin community.

Even before its official charter date of August 23, 2001, Pat has worked non-stop to make the Red River Community Theatre, Inc. a reality as a member of the original committee whose goal has been to revive live stage theatre as a cultural enrichment for Fannin and surrounding counties after an absence of the performing arts for adult participation in this area for nearly 70 years.

Pat has served not only as Board President, but also as the administrative manager of RRCT and the spokesperson for the theatre with all other professional theatre organizations, publishing companies, civic organizations, newspapers, radio and television outlets and the community at large.  Not stopping with the administrative and clerical duties, Pat has also pitched in as an actor, actor coach, production director, actor and director recruiter, and in other support positions as well as managing the organizational funds and overseeing the renovation of the RRCT performance center in the Old Windom School.  In 2004, she negotiated a long term guaranteed renewable lease with Windom School Memorial Foundation for the use of the old school auditorium and other rooms as RRCT's performing arts facility.

Although Pat retired as President of the RRCT Board in November 2007 to pursue other interests which she has put on hold for the past seven years, she accepted a position on the Board as an advisor and is overseeing the training of other members on the Board on the many details of the duties that she served in the past.  Pat has accomplished all of this without asking for or receiving any personal recognition for the success of the Red River Community Theatre.

2008 RRCT Awards

Fannin County patrons of the performing arts of Red River Community Theatre were treated last Saturday to its own local version of the "Oscars"  when a panel of judges selected their favorite play and actors for the  previous RRCT season. Called by the director and choreographer of the  awards ceremony, Lisa Avila, "The Night of the Golden Fowl", a stab at a joke  started by Dr. Gary Sisson when he directed "The Odd Couple (female  version)" last year featuring a rubber chicken.

The evening included video scenes from each of the plays on wide screen television monitors loaned to RRCT by Rent-A-Center of Bonham. Comedy skits, musicians and vocalists entertained between presentations of the awards.  The Sam Rayburn High School Drama Club provided the complimentary refreshments in exchange for donations by patrons to support the school's UIL competition effort and participated in the presentation of awards. Gabe  Parker of Homestead Winery made a cameo appearance as the keeper of the sealed envelopes, appearing at the beginning of the show carrying a briefcase chained to his wrist with a heavy link chain. Charlie Avila served as moderator and commentator, introducing the acts and presenters throughout the  evening.
 
Appearing in the entertainment segments of the awards presentation were famed cowboy poet Lanny Joe Burnett who also teamed with Dr. Gary Sisson for vocal and guitar renditions, songs by local trio Reminisce featuring Allison Cardile, Judy Warren and Jan Allen, Samantha Lumpkin's Bonham School of Dance, Brent Frailicks of Savoy and owner of The Savoy Star newspaper, played bluegrass, country and folk fiddle exhibition. Pat Farr, Dr. Sisson and John Henard appeared as the Dixie Hicks with a take-off on the Dixie Chicks. Donna Henard appeared sporadically onstage as the famous mime, Harpo, bringing "the envelope" to the presenters and heckling the moderator of the  evening, Charlie Avila, at the podium.
 
Allison Cardile mimicked a famed television interviewer as she quizzed actors from past plays. Interviewed were Donna West as the ditsy Mother Superior from Nunsense, and Dr. Gary Sisson as the mad serial killer in Ten Little Indians. Judy Warren, part of the Reminisce trio, and local private voice teacher, sang a duet with Donna West as Mother Superior with a song from Nunsense, "Turn Up the  Spotlight". Allison Cardile brought patrons to their feet with a moving 'torch' piece.  Zane Smith, former DJ for local radio station KFYN, and  Dr. Sisson performed a favorite comedy routine, "Who's on First".  Several actors from past plays and performances dressed in costume presented a chorale piece.
 
On the selection committee were Roy & Loretha Riales, Larry and Barbara Wilson, Rebecca Gholston, and Debbie Vest. Presenting the awards were Kay Sisk, local romance writer, Cindy Godbey, Lanny Joe Burnett, Samantha Lumpkin, and Karen  Tobias. Those receiving awards were Best Production, Ten Little Indians presented as dinner theatre at  Lake Fannin Lodge last October and earning the Best Director award to the director of that production, Cheryl Youree. Dr Gary Sisson was awarded Best Actor for his role in Ten Little Indians.  Best Actress award went to Lisa Avila for her role in The Odd Couple.  Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress went to Norman Young and Donna West, respectively, for their roles in The Odd Couple.

 
Next year's awards will be judged by patron members of the theatre who have attended all or most of the RRCT productions in the 2007-2008 season and will be judged by additional criteria and categories. Annual Patron membership is $25 per person with the additional benefit of early admission to the theatre on performance nights and reserved preferred seating, and advance notice of auditions and upcoming productions.   The 2009 awards ceremony will include the Board of Directors' awards honoring plays and actors who have exemplified excellence in performance and production since the beginning of the Red River Community Theatre in 2002.

Member Award John Henard