Walpole Footlighters
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        • Savannah Slide Show
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    • 2022 Scholarship - Sophia Goodsell
    • 2021 Scholarship - Mahoney Cyr
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    • 2021 Scholarship - Cate Lightbody
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    • 2017 Scholarship - Mia Straccia
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    • 2015 Scholarship - Marc Sheehan
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  • In Memoriam
    • Rosemary Mitchell 1944 - 2022
    • Kathleen Hardigan 1970 - 2022
    • Marge Scholz 1930 - 2021
    • Bruce Hainsworth 1923 - 2020
    • Rich Morton 1948 - 2019
    • Gene Guidi 1937 - 2019
    • Parker Chick 1932 - 2018
    • Barbara Pettis 1936 - 2017
    • Roger Pettis 1939 - 2016
    • Rita Rosano 1931 - 2016
    • Ceil Koziol 1922 - 2012
    • Joseph P. Scholz 1926 - 2008
    • Tom Svingen 1935 - 2006
    • Ed Kanter 1931 - 2004
    • Harry Harding 1904 - 2002
    • Sam Greiff 1921 - 2002
    • Sue Bennett Fielding 1928 - 2001
    • Eleanor "Soosie" Harding 1906 - 1999
    • Angelo "Beebe" DeFlaminis 1916 - 1998
  • Walpole Footlighters Privacy Policy

Picture
Picture
Picture

Dan Sheehan Lifetime Achievement Award 
2022 EMACT DASH Award Ceremony August 20, 2022


Dan Sheehan has been with the Walpole Footlighters since 1990 and volunteered with The Un-Common Theatre Company prior to that. He has served as the Footlighters volunteer Technical Director for nearly 30 years, as well as the organization’s Facilities Manager.  He has designed and built countless sets, lighting plots, and stage gimmicks, some of which have won awards. Dan volunteers his time with other community theatres as well, notably the Needham Community Theatre and the Milton Players, and additionally advises our sister company, the Walpole Children’s Theatre. He has trained many volunteers on lighting design, sound design, and set design and construction, always focusing on quality and efficiency.  Some of those volunteers have gone on to professional work in the theatre industry. Dan himself trained as a mechanical engineer and electronics test engineer. He worked as a technician on the Apollo moon shot program, which must have given him his ‘we can do it’ approach to anything that is thrown his way.

Given a challenge from a director or designer, Dan will always come up with a clever and practical solution. His creativity and technical expertise have helped us to stage technically challenging shows like Something's Afoot, with 10 "lethal" gimmicks, Flemming, with multiple concealed entrances, and Blithe Spirit, which featured a dancing armchair in the middle of the stage.  Flying signs, sneakers falling from the sky on cue, and self-spinning disco balls are all made possible by apparatuses that Dan created and built, which are still in place and used time and again. 

Dan will use, and reuse, until a resource is totally used up.  He saves cut outs from flats so that the flat can be made whole again after the show has closed.  All those working with Dan learn how to do things the right way; no cutting corners or slapping it together.  With Dan at the helm, anyone who comes to help during a set build day with the thought, “It’s just a set, so that’s good enough.”, always leaves understanding that quality doesn’t take that much more time but improves the finished product exponentially. Anything that has snuck by Dan's keen eye always gets corrected by him later after everyone has gone. The Footlighters depend on him to make things right and help our production teams achieve their artistic vision.

Regarding Walpole Children’s Theatre (WCT), Dan has been involved with them for as long as he has been with the Footlighters.  It was with WCT that Dan designed his first (and he still says his best) set design for that company’s production of The Golden Grotto.  He has designed and built sets, served as technical advisor, and trained crew members in every aspect of the theater.  He has been a strong supporter of WCT, and when the group has a production question, like the best way to get a peach to grow to a gigantic size on stage, he has eagerly participated in creative discussion and shared his knowledge and experience to help solve the technical puzzle. Whether he had contributed to a WCT production or not, Dan could be counted on to be in his usual seat, L 109, with his wife Rosemary next to him, for at least one show.  Directors would feel honored when he came to more than one show in the run because it meant he really liked it, and what Dan thinks about the production is held in high regard. His devotion to children's theatre has helped WCT tremendously and the group is forever indebted to him.

As the Footlighters Facilities Manager, Dan spent much of his spare time at the Footlighters Playhouse improving our safety systems and rewiring the electrical systems.  He also cares for the rest of the building in such areas as heating, plumbing, and ventilation. He is always improving the use of the building and working out clever ways to keep things organized and in order. Dan is the "go-to" guy for almost everything. Dan signs his bio as "Fixer of Things that Break."  That is no exaggeration.

As Dan begins to step back from his second home at the Footlighters Playhouse, it's nearly impossible to perform well the many, many things Dan does for the Footlighters.  He has been a mentor, a voice of reason, a problem solver, a handy man, a friend, a clever designer… a fixer of things.  The Footlighters will be forever grateful for all that Dan has given to them. 
Privacy Policy
Playhouse: 2 Scout Rd, East Walpole, MA
Mail: PO Box 189, Walpole, MA 02081
Box Office: 508-668-8446
Copyright © The Walpole Footlighters
  • Home
  • Directions
    • Snow Policy
  • COVID-19 Protocols
  • Tickets
    • FAQ for Subscribers
    • Ticket Exchanges
    • Playhouse Seating Chart
    • Card to Culture
  • Auditions
    • Audition Tips
    • Information for Cast and Crew
    • Children's Theatre
  • About Us
    • Calendar
    • News
    • Board of Directors
    • Play Selection Committee
    • Walpole Footlighters Harassment Policy
    • Walpole Footlighters History
    • Past Productions >
      • Walpole Footlighters 2021-2022 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2020-2021 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2019-2020 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2018-2019 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2017-2018 Season >
        • Savannah Slide Show
        • Radium Girls Slide Show
        • Lucky Stiff Slide Show
      • Walpole Footlighters 2016-2017 Season >
        • Great American Trailer Park Slideshow
      • Walpole Footlighters 2015-2016 Season >
        • Charlie Brown Slide show
      • Walpole Footlighters 2014-2015 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2013-2014 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2012-2013 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2011-2012 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2010-2011 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2009-2010 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2008-2009
      • Walpole Footlighters 2007-2008 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2006-2007 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2005-2006 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2004-2005 Season
      • Walpole Footlighters 2003-2004 Season
    • Dan Sheehan Lifetime Achievement Award
    • 90th Anniversary Slide Show
  • Members
    • Members Handbook
    • Production Schedule Checklist
    • Program Book Checklist
    • Tax Laws
    • Board of Directors Job Descriptions >
      • President
      • Vice-President
      • Secretary
      • Treasurer
      • Public Relations Manager
      • Facilities Manager
      • Publications Manager
      • Member at Large
      • Social Media Manager
      • Play Selection Committee Chair
      • Box Office Manager
      • Subscriptions Manager
    • Walpole Footlighters Bylaws
  • Support Us
    • Backers Program >
      • Walpole Footlighters 2021-2022 Backers
      • Walpole Footlighters 2021-2022 Backers
      • Walpole Footlighters 2020-2021 Backers
      • Walpole Footlighters 2019-2020 Backers
      • Walpole Footlighters 2018-2019 Backers
      • Walpole Footlighters 2017-2018 Backers
      • Walpole Footlighters 2015-2016 Backers
    • Advertise with Us
    • Volunteer and Learn >
      • Usher Guidelines
  • Walpole Footlighters Scholarship
    • 2022 Scholarship - Sophia Goodsell
    • 2021 Scholarship - Mahoney Cyr
    • 2021 Scholarship - Brenna Hughes
    • 2021 Scholarship - Cate Lightbody
    • 2018 Scholarship - Riley Mulroy
    • 2017 Scholarship - Mia Straccia
    • 2016 Scholarship - Bridget Connell
    • 2015 Scholarship - Marc Sheehan
    • 2014 Scholarship - Michael McKeon
  • In Memoriam
    • Rosemary Mitchell 1944 - 2022
    • Kathleen Hardigan 1970 - 2022
    • Marge Scholz 1930 - 2021
    • Bruce Hainsworth 1923 - 2020
    • Rich Morton 1948 - 2019
    • Gene Guidi 1937 - 2019
    • Parker Chick 1932 - 2018
    • Barbara Pettis 1936 - 2017
    • Roger Pettis 1939 - 2016
    • Rita Rosano 1931 - 2016
    • Ceil Koziol 1922 - 2012
    • Joseph P. Scholz 1926 - 2008
    • Tom Svingen 1935 - 2006
    • Ed Kanter 1931 - 2004
    • Harry Harding 1904 - 2002
    • Sam Greiff 1921 - 2002
    • Sue Bennett Fielding 1928 - 2001
    • Eleanor "Soosie" Harding 1906 - 1999
    • Angelo "Beebe" DeFlaminis 1916 - 1998
  • Walpole Footlighters Privacy Policy