Encore is thrilled and proud to announce that our Board of Directors’ very own Jim Clancy has been named Allstate’s National Volunteer of the Year! A technology manager for 30 years with Allstate, Jim bested more than 350 nominees to win the accolade. The volunteer award is part of the company’s annual Helping Hands volunteer recognition program, celebrating employees who go above and beyond in donating their time to the causes they care about – and creating positive social change in their communities.
We were lucky enough to chat with Jim about this honor, as well as his wonderful work volunteering for Encore, in all of his various positions.
Encore: Congratulations on being named Allstate’s National Volunteer of the Year! What were your first thoughts when you found out you’d received this award?
JC: My Vice President said I was chosen as the National volunteer of the year and my first thought was, “They have one of those?” My second thought was, “Does Encore get more money?” Apparently, the answer to both questions is “Yes!” Allstate donated $5,000 to Encore Stage & Studio because I volunteer.
Encore: What was your first involvement with Encore? What is it like to work alongside your children at the theatre?
JC: I first worked with the kids in the scene shop, and then was asked to join the Board of Directors to represent the technical side of the operations. After driving the boys to and from many rehearsals and getting to know Susan, she asked me to share my stage combat experience by choreographing the fights in Treasure Island. All of it is fun for me because I get to see the kids learn and implement their new skills and develop truly amazing productions.
Encore: Can you share a favorite moment or memory at Encore?
JC: I don’t have favorites. I enjoy every moment!
Encore: You have been fight director for Treasure Island and for this season’s Night at the Wax Museum; can you share what that position entails and if you have any important lessons/tips?
JC: Important tip: don’t get blood on the costumes. Blood stains are nearly impossible to get out. Just kidding. But more seriously, safety is number one. Making it look real is what makes it fun, but it takes concentration and dedication to the craft.
Encore: On the topic of safety, could you describe what it was like to fly actors in Mary Poppins?
JC: Landing Mary Poppins perfectly center stage, or landing Bert on the chimney, is much more difficult than you’d think. But the most fun was zooming the nasty nanny off stage while she screamed at Mary Poppins to “Put me down!” My flight crew was the best, of course, so really all credit goes to Paddy, Josh, Sarah, and Fred.
Encore: What do you enjoy most about being on the Board?
JC: The staff at Encore energize everyone around them. You simply cannot interact with anyone at Encore and not smile. It’s a special place.
Encore: What have you learned or gained through your involvement with Encore?
JC: I’ve met many wonderful staff, equally wonderful parents, and especially wonderful kids. And I’ve seen some amazing live theatre.
Encore: Anything else you’d like to share?
JC: My recommendation to anyone reading this blog? Purchase a season subscription: you’ll enjoy every minute of every show!
Many thanks to Jim for sitting down with us to be interviewed and, of course, for all of the tremendous work he’s done for Encore, in the shop, on the Board, and in our community! We wanted to wrap up this post by including some words about Jim from our Artistic Director, Susan Keady:
Jim Clancy began volunteering one summer in the technical shop, building and painting a set with his sons. Through the years, he has remained working alongside the crew but he expanded his influence to include the casts, the parents and our board of directors. His infallible work ethic and steady attention to detail is remarkable. Jim remains consistently even-handed as he teaches the crew about building a set, safely works with the cast conducting stage combat, or while he shares advice on how to craft an authentic character role. He is knowledgeable and he shares his knowledge. He is reliably wonderful as a pragmatic infinitely creative force on the Encore team.
Click here to read the full press release.
To witness the thrilling combination of Jim’s fantastic fight choreography and Susan’s directing expertise, be sure to get your tickets for our upcoming production of Night at the Wax Museum! Click here to buy your tickets today.
A special thank you to Allstate for their support of community non-profits and their generous donation.
Photos by: Larry McClemons, Aileen Pangan, and Caitlyn Barron for Allstate Insurance Company
Graphic by: Aimee Pangan
Blog contribution: Shannon McCarthy, 2016-17 Arts Apprentice