Galesburg Reporter

A Princeton-based nonprofit theatre group dedicated to providing professional theatre to central Illinois and promoting theatre education has received top honors from the Illinois Theatre Association (ITA).

State Sen. Win Stoller (R-Germantown Hills), who serves on the Environment and Conservation and Senate Higher Education Committees, applauded the Princeton Theatre Group's Festival 56 for a job well done.

"Congratulations to Festival 56 of Princeton who recently received the highest honor for theatre excellence by the Illinois Theatre Association," Stoller wrote in an Oct. 5 Facebook post. "Great job!"

Festival 56 was given the award of honor to an ITA member last month. According to Shaw Local, it is the highest honor of The Illinois Theatre Association which looks to shine a spotlight on organizations that excel in theatre. Festival 56 board president Ron McCutchan accepted the award on behalf of the group.

Festival 56 was born from a partnership between the Princeton Theatre Group and a New-York based theatre company called The November Ten back in 2003. According to the organization's website, the Princeton Theatre Group's 150-seat studio theatre called The Grace Performing Arts Center used to be the old Bureau County Republican newspaper building until it was renovated in 2007.

The Illinois Theatre Association is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and advocating for theatre. It has six divisions including College/University Theatre, Community Theatre, Creative Drama, Professional Theatre, Secondary School Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences, according to the ITA website.