During the curtain speeches before the first two performances of “Gypsy,” the recipients of the 2009 Margaret Exton and Bunny Awards were announced. These awards recognize outstanding volunteerism and performance in a community theatre production, respectively.

The 2009 Margaret Exton Award recognized Candy VerBrugghen for her tremendous volunteer contributions over the past four years. VerBrugghen, former Executive and Artistic Director of Orcas Center, took a year off after resigning from her staff position. She then returned to volunteer in the box office each week for a 4-hour shift. This contribution allowed paid staff to focus on other critical areas including promotions and recruitment of other box office volunteers. Orcas Center’s Front of House Manager Artha Kass praised the recipient: “Every Thursday for four and one-half years without fail, Candy worked in the Box Office and when she couldn’t be there, she’d always take the responsibility to find a replacement for herself. She could be counted on to serve beyond any expectation.Having been the director of Orcas Center for six years, she knew the importance of consistency, reliability and constancy. No job, no detail was too much for her to take on. The true definition of ‘treasure.'”

Eska Wilson, treasurer of the Orcas Center Board, said, “During a challenging financial year, as we needed to rebuild for the future, Candace stepped up and led an auction as part of the summer fund raising event. Through her stupendous organization and energy, the auction raised a spectacular $40,000, which went a long way toward returning our Orcas Center to stable financial footing.”

VerBrugghen and her husband Dennis Bonner will be relocating to Oregon later this spring.

The 2009 Bunny Award was presented to Halley McCormick, who delighted Orcas Center audiences last fall with her supporting roles of Herbert and Biddy in “Great Expectations.”

“Halley always arrived at rehearsal focused and ready to work,” said the production’s director Jane Jones, co-founder and artistic director of Book-It Repertory Theatre. “She developed her characters with compassion and sincerity and was a pleasure to watch on stage. If she chooses, she could have a successful career in the theatre.”

McCormick is currently a junior in high school. Her mother, Paige, doesn’t expect her to study theatre in college.

“She’s more of a science head, but I think she looks forward to community theatre in the future,” she said.