The theme was black and white, but the talent and dedication on hand the evening of June 29, 2024 in Franklin spanned the spectrum. Pull-Tight Players celebrated the end of our 55th season with awards, songs, laughs and cheers. Longtime artist members and banquet committee co-chairs J.T. Landry and Mark Buchanan gave us a night to remember, opening the evening’s festivities with an appropriately rewritten version of “Welcome to the Renaissance” from our 56th season opener, Something Rotten!
Board of Directors President Johnny Peppers then offered remarks that brought attention to the team spirit of Pull-Tight Players. He noted the many unseen and unrecognized volunteer activities that keep our organization running year after year. Johnny also thanked our outgoing board members Jennifer Bennett, Leslie Berra, and Wade Woodruff; and welcomed our incoming members Mark Buchanan, Jeanne Drone, and Joey Echeverria.
And speaking of Something Rotten!, the awards ceremony included a decidedly un-rotten preview of the musical that featured its two lead cast members. Pull-Tight newcomers Caylin Maguire (Bea) and Aaron Gray (Nick Bottom) performed “Right-Hand Man” from the show.
Following is the complete list of our 2024 Knot Award winners.
Show Awards
Guys and Dolls
- Congeniality – Meredith Seymour
- Techie – Bre Hall, Choreographer
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
- Congeniality – Phil Fitzgerald
- Techie – Tim Massey, Set Chief
A Tuna Christmas
- Congeniality – Bryan Kratoska
- Techie – Tim Massey, Set Designer & Set Chief; Clay Walker, Costume Designer
Home, I’m Darling
- Congeniality – Bryan Kratoska
- Techie – Carmela Hofstee, Stage Manager
A Fox on the Fairway
- Congeniality – Jon Kieffner
- Techie – Dan Linney, Set Designer & Set Chief; Jim Hofstee, Set Crew
She Loves Me
- Congeniality – Meredith Seymour
- Techie – Steve Mook, Set Designer & Set Chief
Acting Awards
- Best Lead Actress – Abby Newman as Amalia Balash, She Loves Me
- Best Lead Actor – Chad Stem as Thurston Wheelis et al., A Tuna Christmas
- Best Supporting Actress – Sydney Hooper as Ilona Ritter, She Loves Me
- Best Supporting Actor – Chad Stem as Ladislav Sipos, She Loves Me
- Best Featured Actress – Debbie Kraski as Sylvia, Home, I’m Darling
- Best Featured Actor – Will Kleiner as Arpad Laszlo, She Loves Me
- Best Ensemble Actress – Isabel Behr as Ensemble, She Loves Me
- Best Ensemble Actor – Elijah Bell as Busboy/Ensemble, She Loves Me
Board of Directors Awards
- Newcomer of the Year – Bryan Kratoska
- Jim Highfill Techie of the Year – Steve Mook
- Behind the Scenes – Meredith Seymour
- Howard Tellis Friends of the Year – Gene and Marnie Cotton
- Cam Davis Spirit Award – Bre Hall
Artist Member Awards
- Player of the Year – Steve Mook
- Hall of Fame – Carmela Hofstee
