National award honors Shelby County Players for community impact

Shelby County Players has received the Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award from the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT), one of the nation's highest honors recognizing community theatre organizations whose growth and leadership create lasting impact beyond the stage.

This is the first Indiana theatre organization to win an AACT award. The award recognizes Shelby County Players' transformation from a volunteer theatre into a regional community asset serving education, economic development, tourism, and civic engagement.

"This award belongs to everyone who believed our community deserve something extraordinary," said Executive Director Justin Stenger. "Volunteers, donors, businesses, foundations, local government, and regional economic development partners all played a role in creating something much larger than a theatre."

The recognition follows the opening of the Wortman Family Civic Theatre, where a vacant bowling alley was transformed into a modern performing arts and community center that now hosts theatrical productions, youth programming, nonprofit events, educational activities, business meetings, and civic gatherings.

The project was made possible through a broad coalition of public and private investment, including support from Indiana's Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI 1.0), the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Accelerate Rural Indiana (ARI), philanthropic foundations, local governments, businesses, and hundreds of community donors.

Community leaders view the theatre as an anchor for Shelbyville's west-side revitalization while helping attract visitors, strengthen quality of place, expand educational opportunities, and support regional economic development.

"This award demonstrates the return on investment made by READI 1.0,  IEDC, ARI, and so many community partners," Stenger said. "Their support placed both Shelby County Players and Indiana on the national stage."

Shelby County Players continues to expand the theatre through a second phase of technology improvements that will enhance accessibility, educational partnerships, and provide students and volunteers with hands-on training using professional production equipment.

Founded in 1988 as an all-volunteer group, Shelby County Players has grown into one of Indiana's leading community theatre organizations. The Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award recognizes not only artistic excellence, but also the organization's success in strengthening its community through collaboration, education, and economic development.