Four longtime volunteers at the Butler Little Theatre were presented the Spotlight Award from the American Association of Community Theatre.

The awards were presented to Gary and Sue Collar, Ron Lockwood and Marge Bankert.

All four recipients have been involved with community theater for 50 years or more and have served on the board and as actors, directors and producers as well as in almost every possible backstage assignment.

All have been presented the Life Membership at BLT and have numerous awards for directing, producing or acting.

Bankert has been a part of community theater in Butler since 1965. Beginning with the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler, she has done countless shows with both MTG and BLT.

She has been a BLT board member for more than 20 years and has been active backstage coordinating costumes and as a dresser for numerous shows. She also has worked props and set construction.

For many years, Bankert was the ticket manager for BLT. She has co-directed shows such as “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” and produced shows such as “The Book of Liz” and “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

On stage at BLT, her favorite roles were Mildred Wilde in “The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wilde” and Fonsia in “Gin Game.”

Before her retirement, Bankert worked as a draftsman for Mine Safety Appliances.

Lockwood has been involved with BLT since 1965 as well. He has been chairman of the board twice and a board member for more than 30 years. Currently he is serving as secretary and houseman coordinator, as he has for many years.

Backstage he has served many roles, from technical director to stage manager to set construction worker, basically whatever was needed.

As a director, Lockwood lists “A Man for All Seasons,” “Mornings at Seven” and “Someone Who'll Watch Over Me” as his favorite shows. As an actor, he has taken on a wide variety of roles, his favorite being Gaston in “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and Count Orsini-Rosenberg in “Amadeus.”

Before his retirement, he worked as an educator for 48 years. He taught English and communications, was a principal and also supervised student teachers at Clarion University. He has been mayor of Cherry Valley for the past 45 years and is president of the Butler County Boroughs Association and vice chair of the Butler County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Gary Collar has been involved with BLT since 1966.

For six terms he served as chairman of the board and was a board member for more than 32 years.

He directed more than 20 shows with his favorites being “How the Other Half Loves” and “84 Charing Cross Road.” He has received more than 15 acting awards, his favorite roles being Elwood P. Dowd in “Harvey” and C.S. Lewis in “Shadowlands.”

Additionally, he produced a number of shows. He was most proud of “Private Lives” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Gary retired as a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard.

Sue Collar, Gary's wife, has been an active part of BLT since 1965. She is chairman of the board and has served as chairman for 12 years.

She directed “Avanti” and has produced more than 30 shows, her favorites being “84 Charing Cross Road” and “Lilies of the Field.”

On stage, she has done a variety of roles, several of her favorites being Chick in “Crimes of the Heart” and Mary in “How the Other Half Loves.” Backstage she has done every imaginable job, doing set construction if she has her choice.

She worked as an office administrator for 10 years and as the manager of a book store for more than 25 years. She also participated in a wide variety of local theaters.

BLT is celebrating its 75th season in 2015-16.