History of the New York State Festival, 1960-2015
Hosted by the New York State Theatre Festival Association, 1960-1986:
1st Festival: Brockport, November 18-20, 1960
Louis Hetler, Chair; James E. Dean, Adjudicator
Best Production: Under Milkwood, SUNY Fredonia
2nd Festival: Corning, April 12-15, 1962
Dorothy Chernuck, Chair; Esse Ljungh & Robert Sinclair, Adjudicators
Best Production: The Glass Menagerie, The Amherst Players
3rd Festival: Corning, March 29-31, 1963
Robert Nossen, Chair; Leonard Cranford, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: John Brown’s Body, SUNY Plattsburgh
Best Short Production: The Zoo Story, The Kodactors
4th Festival: Corning, April 10-12, 1964
Charles H. Lang, Chair; Leonard Bradley, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: I Knock at the Door, The Kodactors
Best Short Production: The Bald Soprano, SUNY Plattsburgh
5th Festival: Corning, March 26-28, 1965
Roger H. Kenyon, Chair; James E. Dean, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Hairy Ape, SUNY New Paltz
Best Short Production: The Typists, The Amherst Players
6th Festival: Corning, March 25-27, 1966
Morris R. Bogard, Chair; Ronald Hartman, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Amorous Flea, Amherst Players
Best Short Production: Gallows Humour, SUNY Geneseo
7th Festival: Corning, April 14-16, 1967
Irvine N. Smith, Chair; James E. Dean, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Fantasticks, Music Theatre of Rochester
Best Short Production: A Phoenix Too Frequent, SUNY Cortland
8th Festival: Corning, March 22-24, 1968
Charles E. Scott, Chair; Dennis Sweeting, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Waiting for Godot, SUNY Brockport
Best Short Production: The Bald Soprano, Fredonia Mummers
9th Festival: Corning, March 21-23, 1969
Paul F. Mulroney, Chair; James E. Dean, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Miser, SUNY New Paltz
10th Festival: Corning, April 17-19, 1970
David Hanhilammi, Chair; Dennis Sweeting, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Marat/Sade, Pace College
Best Short Production: Winners, Little Theatre of Jamestown
11th Festival: Corning, November 20-22, 1970
Samuel V. Kennedy III, Chair; Norris Houghton, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: A Man for All Seasons, SUNY Geneseo
Best Short Production: Bea, Frank, Richie & Joan, Towne Players of Tonawanda
12th Festival: Corning, November 19-21, 1971
Roger C. Hill, Chair; Gerald Freeman, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Barabbas, SUNY Brockport
Best Short Production: The Pickpocket, Performing Arts of Woodstock
13th Festival: Cortland, November 17-19, 1972
Frances Marion Brown, Chair; Paul A. Distler, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Ubu Roi, SUNY Brockport
Best Short Production: Adaptions, Appletowne Players
14th Festival: Ithaca, November 16-18, 1973
Jack L. Cogdill, Chair; Vera Mowry Roberts, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: J.B., Alfred Agriculture & Technical College
Best Short Production: The Monkey’s Paw, Little Theatre of Jamestown
15th Festival: Poughkeepsie, November 22-24, 1974
Peter Edman, Chair; Norman S. Nadel, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Price, Valley Theatre Company
Best Short Production: Krapp’s Last Tape, Ensemble Community Theatre
16th Festival: Cortland, November 21-23, 1975
Mort Clark, Chair; Christopher Jones, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: A Delicate Balance, Valley Theatre Company
Best Short Production: Something I’ll Tell You Tuesday, Appletowne Players
17th Festival: Jamestown, November 19-21, 1976
Alvin Mintz, Chair; Edwin Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Picnic, SUNY Oswego
Best Short Production: The Line, SUNY Buffalo
18th Festival: Oswego, November 18-20, 1977
John F. Kingston, Chair; Edwin Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Alice in Wonderland, National Institute for the Deaf
Best Short Production: Rats, Ensemble Community Theatre
19th Festival: Poughkeepsie, November 17-19, 1978
Sylvia Wildman, Chair; Norman S. Nadel, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: All My Sons, Valley Theatre Company
Best Short Production: Ikke, Ikke, Nye, Nye, Nye, Appletowne Players
20th Festival: Corning, November 16-18, 1979
James C. Copp, Chair; Nellie McCaslin, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Runner Stumbles, Valley Theatre Company
Best Short Production: The Farce of the Worthy, Dryden Footlighters
21st Festival: Jamestown, November 21-23, 1980
Marshall B. Dahlin, Chair; Jarka M. Burien & Shirley Harbin, Adjudicators
Best Long Production: Electra, SUNY Fredonia
Best Short Production: The Water Engine, Chappaqua Drama Group
22nd Festival: Valhalla, November 21-22, 1981
Shirley J. Cockrell, Chair; David Young, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Gin Game, Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop
23rd Festival: Corning, November 19-21, 1982
Henry C. Moonschein, Chair; Edwin Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: A View from the Bridge, Valley Theatre Company
Best Short Production: The Coarse Acting Show, Chappaqua Drama Group
24th Festival: Corning, November 18-20, 1983
Chuck Chestnut, Chair; Shirley Harbin, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Real Inspector Hound, SUNY Fredonia
Best Short Production: Today is Independence Day, Towne Players of Ken-Ton
25th Festival: Corning, November 16-18, 1984
Fredric Blumberg, Chair; Christopher Jones, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Mass Appeal, Little Theatre of Watertown
Best Short Production: Golden Fleece, Performing Arts Company of Woodstock
26th Festival: Alfred, March 14-16, 1984
Michael Ferrara, Chair; David Young, Adjudicator
Best Long Productions: Sea Marks, Rochester Community Players and Agnes of God, County Players
Best Short Production: Angels Don’t Marry, Claytown Players
27th Festival: Corning, November 21-23, 1986
Barbara Larsen, Chair; Ronald J. O’Leary, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Deathtrap, Auburn Players Community Theatre
Best Short Production: Of Mice and Men, Creative Theatre Group
In 1987, the New York State Theatre Festival Association (NYSTFA) merged with the New York State Community Theatre Association (NYSCTA) to form the Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS). Hosted by TANYS, 1987-present:
28th Festival: Corning, November 20-22, 1987
Ann Hogg, Chair; Carole Brandt, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Shadow Box, Four Seasons Players
Best Short Production: Dear Liar, Chappaqua Drama Group
29th Festival: Corning, November 18-20, 1988
Henry C. Moonschein, Chair; Edwin Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Nerd, Four Seasons Players
Best Short Production: The Zoo Story, Auburn Players Community Theatre
30th Festival: Corning, November 17-19, 1989
Susan Crary-Steele, Chair; William Martin, Adjudicator
Best Long Productions: The Boys Next Door, Four Seasons Players and Nuts, SUNY Fredonia
Best Short Production: Lies and Legends: the Musical Stories of Harry Chapin, Schenectady Light Opera Company
31st Festival: Corning, November 16-18, 1990
Gordon Miller, Jr., Chair; David Young, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Gin Game, Home Made Theatre Company
Best Short Production: The Belle of Amherst, Cobblestone Art Center
32nd Festival: Corning, November 22-24, 1991
Shirley J. Cockrell, Chair; Ron O’Leary, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Nuts, Great Neck Theatre Guild
Best Short Production: Closer Than Ever, Four Seasons Players
33rd Festival: Corning, November 20-22, 1992
Joan Fuess, Chair; Annette Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Greater Tuna, Four Seasons Players
34th Festival: Corning, November 19-21, 1993
Joan Fuess, Chair; Kate Ufema, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Marvin’s Room, Four Seasons Players
Best Short Production: Words, Words, Words, Auburn Players Community Theatre
35th Festival: Auburn, November 18-20, 1994
Cynthia Nagle, Chair; Annette Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Tissue, PAC, SUNY Fredonia
Best Short Production: Job Interview, Hand to Mouth Players
36th Festival: Auburn, November 17-19, 1995
Cynthia Nagle, Chair; Carole Brandt, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, Chappaqua Drama Group
Best Short Production: My Simple Little World, Hand to Mouth Players
37th Festival: Auburn, November 22-24, 1996
Cynthia Nagle, Chair; Matthew Parent, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Marvin’s Room, Appleseed Productions
Best Short Production: All in the Timing, Albany Civic Theatre
38th Festival: Auburn, November 21-23, 1997
Dick Mahlstedt, Chair; Kevin Gardner, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Moon Over Buffalo, Seneca Community Players
Best Short Production: Finger Food, Rome Community Theater
39th Festival: Auburn, November 20-22, 1998
Minna Badanes, Chair; Peggy Rae Johnson, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Lonely Planet, Nickel and Dime Players
Best Short Production: Travelin’ Show, Sherburne Music-Theatre Society and Sherburne Community Theatre
40th Festival: Olean, November 19-21, 1999
Minna Badanes, Chair; Errol McLendon, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Godspell, PAC, SUNY Fredonia
Best Short Production: What A Moon, Hand to Mouth Players
41st Festival: Olean, November 17-19, 2000
Minna Badanes, Chair; Joe Musumeci, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Turn of the Screw, Albany Civic Theatre
Best Short Production: Thirty Odd Years, Philipstown Players
42nd Festival: Auburn, November 16-18, 2001
Ruth Legg, Chair; Kevin Gardner, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: bash: the latterday plays, Nickel & Dime Players
Best Short Production: One Person, Olean Community Theatre
43rd Festival: Auburn, November 22-24, 2002
Ruth Legg, Chair; Kevin Gardner, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, PAC, SUNY Fredonia
Best Short Production: Art, M&M Productions
44th Festival: Troy, November 21-23, 2003
Ruth Legg, Chair; Annette Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Talley’s Folly, Olean Community Theatre
Best Short Production: Double Date, Hand to Mouth Players
45th Festival: Auburn, November 19-21, 2004
Ruth Legg, Chair; Annette Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Waiting for Godot, Irish Players of Rochester Community Players
Best Short Production: Going to the Chapel, Philipstown Depot Theatre
46th Festival: Auburn, November 18-20, 2005
Laura W. Andruski, Chair; Annette Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Kings of the Kilburn High Road, Irish Players of Rochester Community Players
Best Short Production: Twice Upon a Time, Philipstown Depot Theatre
47th Festival: Glens Falls, November 17-19, 2006
Laura W. Andruski, Chair; Annette Procunier, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Over the River and Through the Woods, Olean Community Theatre
Best Short Production: A Personal Appearance, Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop
48th Festival: Glens Falls, November 16-18, 2007
Bruce O’Connell, Chair; Kevin Gardner, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Faith Healer, Irish Players of Rochester Community Players
Best Short Production: Stick ’em Up, Rome Community Theater
49th Festival: Batavia, November 21-23, 2008
Michael Arve, Chair; Steve Willis, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: Proof, Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop
Best Short Productions: Snow Stars, Wyoming County Bicentennial Singers and Gornish, M&M Productions
50th Festival: Batavia, November 21-23, 2009
Michael Arve & Robert Sharman, co-Chairs; Steve Willis, Adjudicator
Best Long Production: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the
Rainbow is Enuf, The Forum Players, Genesee Community College
Best Short Productions: Dearth of a Salesman, Hand to Mouth Players and Lay-Off, William Andia presents
51st Festival: Batavia, November 19-21, 2010
Robert Sharman, Chair & VP Festival; Steve Willis, Adjudicator
Best Short Productions: Physical Therapy, Wyoming County Bicentennial Singers and Two Women and a Chair, Auburn Players Community Theatre
Best Long Production: Broken Images, Kalidas
52nd Festival: Batavia, November 18-20, 2011
Robert Sharman, Chair & VP Festival
Steve Willis, Ruth Brown & Jen Plants, Adjudicators
Best Short Productions: Bedtime Story, Rochester Community Players and The Stand-In, Circle Theatre Players
Best Long Production: Dog Sees God: Confessions of A Teenage Blockhead, Confetti Stage
53rd Festival: Batavia, November 16-18, 2012
Robert Sharman, Chair & VP Festival
Steve Willis, Steve Krempasky, & Annette Procunier, Adjudicators
Best Short Productions: ’night, Mother, Auburn Players Community Theatre and The Lesson, Confetti Stage
Best Long Production: The Six Realms of Pizza Delivery, Harlequin Productions of Cayuga Community College
54th Festival: Auburn, November 22-24, 2013
Ann Frame, Chair; Robert Sharman, VP Festival
Steve Willis, Annette Procunier & Rose Bonczek, Adjudicators
Best Short Productions: Peace in Our Time, Wyoming County Bicentennial Singers and The Zoo Story, Everyone’s Theatre Company, Inc.
Best Long Production: Race, Limelight Productions
55th Festival: Auburn, November 21-23, 2014
Ann Frame, Chair; Robert Sharman, VP Festival
Steve Willis, Annette Procunier & Rose Bonczek, Adjudicators
Best Short Productions: Feeding the Moonfish, Rochester’s Black Sheep Theatre and Paradise Enow, M&M Productions
Best Long Production: Ordinary Days, The Gatesinger Company LTD
56th Festival: Auburn, November 20-22, 2015
Ann Frame, Chair; Robert Sharman, VP Festival
Steve Willis, Annette Procunier & Tanya Lazar, Adjudicators
Best Short Productions: It’s About Forgiveness, M&M Productions and Nailing It, Confetti Stage
Best Long Production: The Receptionist, Limelight Productions
