Fall 2024 Director's Grant Award

The Foundation is pleased to announce the second winner of the Mark W. Foreman Director's Grant award! On September 17, 2023, we presented director Adam Hughes with this grant to benefit his upcoming production of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner at Little Town Players, Bedford. Adam is making his directorial debut with this show after becoming recently involved at LTP in the past year. He hadn't acted or participated in theater since college, but decided to audition for LTP's 12 Angry Men in winter 2023. Since then, he has participated in nearly every show LTP has produced in 2023, including playing Oliver Warbucks in the production of Annie Warbucks. Even though Adam is a recent addition to the Greater Lynchburg theater family, he has become a rising star in the area both on and offstage.

Adam has shown an immense understanding of the story and production value of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. The 1967 film starring Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn was one of the first films to depict an interracial marriage. To Adam, this is not just a stage adaptation of a popular movie.

"When the movie was made, Loving v. Virginia was just being [ruled on]; just a few months prior to its release, the movie would have been illegal to view in seventeen states - and even today it remains a poignant reminder that racism and prejudice can hide behind the facade of the most genteel families. I want to introduce the audience to the best and most diverse cast available to me and showcase the range, emotion, and talent of our local actors."

Being such a poignant story, Adam understands the value of adequate representation and diversity in his casting and production staff. The Director's Grant committee was encouraged by Adam's active role in ensuring talent from the entire theater community, including those who are not local to Bedford, Virginia.

"There are many very talented persons of color in the area theater community. However, sometimes the theaters on the outskirts - including Little Town Players in Bedford - struggle to get that talent to make the drive. I intend to use some of the grant funds to bring talent from Lynchburg or surrounding areas to Bedford, offering gas money or small stipends to ensure the cast is diverse and the best it can possibly be. Additionally, I would like to be able to have the option of a small honorarium to a stage manager of color. I am a white male and I believe that having a member of the production team be a person of color is incredibly important."

As a reminder, this grant is for $1,000 and is awarded to a local director for a specific show he/she is directing. The grant is given in addition to the theater's budget for the show so it can be used to enhance the production at no cost to the theater. It was not uncommon for Mark Foreman to use his personal funds towards his own shows, and he even helped cover gas and travel costs for cast members from time to time. As community theater is almost entirely volunteer-based, any financial aid is much appreciated by cast and production members.

Our Director's Grant committee is comprised of seven members of the theater community that are not affiliated with any specific theater. The committee reviews the applications and makes a recommendation for the winner, which is voted on by the Board. The independence of this committee is crucial for the integrity of this award, and the recipient of this award was chosen based on his stated needs for the production and the benefits this show will bring to the theater.

The next grant will be awarded by January 31, 2024. Applications are being accepted now and the deadline is December 31, 2023. Visit the application page on our website if you qualify and you could be the next winner!

Congratulations Adam Hiughes! Make sure you visit our ticketing page to get your tickets for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, opening November 10 at Little Town Players in Bedford, Virginia!

"Let's all support each other and help the Lynchburg community theatres thrive."