NH Theatre Awards

Robert Shea

Robert Shea is in his seventh season as Artistic Director/Producer for The Barnstormers Theatre, and has worked with the company for 32 years as an actor, director and designer/technician. Bob's Barnstormers directing credits include Our Town, A Life in the Theatre, Gold in the Hills, The Miser, Babes in Arms, Stones In His Pockets, The Lion In Winter, Big River, A Little Night Music, Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris, Pippin, and The Threepenny Opera. Bob Shea also serves as director of the Dana Center, a regional performing arts center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. In this capacity, Bob annually presents a season of international professional performing artists in contemporary dance, classical theatre, and various music disciplines including jazz, blues, classical, and world music. Other recent professional directing credits include To Kill A Mockingbird, The Crucible, and Amadeus at The Palace Theatre; Antigone, Hamlet, Waiting for Godot and Oedipus Rex for New Art Theatre; Big River at New London Barn Playhouse; and The Phantom of the Opera at Lakes Region Summer Theatre. Bob served from 1996 - 2000 as Vice President for Academic Affairs at New Hampshire Institute of Art. During that tenure, he helped to develop the Institute's four-year BFA degree program in the Visual Arts. From 1983 - 1995, Bob served as Executive/Artistic Director of The Palace Theatre in Manchester. During that time, the Theatre was recognized as a model for historic facility restoration and for performing arts program development. In 1980, Bob received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting and Directing from the University of Memphis.

Keith Weirich

For over thirty years, Mr. Weirich has performed professionally across North America and Europe. He holds a B.F.A. in both Theatre and Music from Otterbein College (OH). In addition to being a founding member of the Children’s Theatre Ensemble (PA), Keith has trained and worked with such prominent theatre organizations as Pennsylvania Governor School for the Performing Arts (PA), Chautauqua Theatre Institute (NY), Stuart Howard Associates (NYC), National Artists Management Company (NYC), Manhattan Theatre Project (NYC), New Hampshire Theatre Project (NH), The Music Hall in Portsmouth (NH), and the Winnipesaukee Playhouse (NH), as well as having served on the Incorporating Board of Trustees for the New Hampshire Theatre Awards, and as an active adjudicator for the New Hampshire Educational Theatre Guild.

Keith currently serves as Artistic Director for Peacock Players. Mr. Weirich has directed and produced over fifty Mainstage productions for Peacock Players. This past year, Keith was honored as the recipient of the Best Director of a Musical (Community Division) at the 10th Annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards. Originally from Erie, PA, Keith now lives in New Hampshire with his wife, Heather, and their son, August.

The Weathervane Theatre

The Weathervane Theatre was founded in 1966 by Gibbs Murray and the late Tom Haas. Originally housed in a 145+-year-old barn, the Theatre found a welcoming home in Whitefield where, for three decades prior, the venerable Chase Barn had been home to professional summer theatre in the region. With their signature summer schedule of seven shows in alternating repertory, open staging (made distinctive with fixed balcony and raked pie), the Weathervane has developed, and continues to practice, a singular style of live theatre that engages audiences and challenges performers and staff to adapt, create, and craft approaches both creative and practical. A not-for-profit institution governed by a Board of Directors, the Weathervane remains true to the artistic vision of the Founders, with Gibbs Murray contributing stage and graphic design, as well as serving on the Board. Artistic Director Jacques Stewart and Managing Director Lyn Winter contribute, between them, decades of Weathervane experience, with Winter responsible for Executive Administration year-round. In addition to their unique and ambitious performance schedule, the Weathervane offers a tuitioned intern program for college-age students, theatre camp for ages 7 through 17, and special events and activities throughout the year. The Weathervane operates under a contract with Actors' Equity Association, offering superb performers with a body of professional experience. Support comes from an active Alumni Association, grantors–among them, the NH State Council on the Arts and New Hampshire Charitable Foundation–along with the generosity of businesses and individuals from North Country and well beyond. The Weathervane Theatre is a founding member of the NH Professional Theatre Association.

Rob Dionne

Robert Dionne is the Founding and Artistic Director of Manchester, NH's own The Majestic Theatre, which, at the age of 17, he started with friends in the summer of 1991. Since then, The Majestic has grown to become NH's largest producer of theatre for and by the community. Robert has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Maine (Orono), where he studied a complete coursework in Music Education and Vocal and Instrumental Performance, as well as served as Associate Conductor and Intern for several music and theatre programs while there. He has worked freelance with many area theatre companies as a director, musical director and actor, including The Majestic, Community Players of Concord, Leddy Center, New Thalian Players, Nottingham Theatre Project, Hampstead Middle School Drama, Nashua Theatre Guild, Manchester Community Players/Second Stage, and Mayhem & Murder Productions. Robert lives in Manchester (and part-time in Ogunquit, Maine) with his three (yes three!) cats Charlotte, Cordelia, and Midnight. He thanks everyone who has ever taken part in The Majestic Theatre's productions and who has contributed to its success.