The Osy Strong Awards

The Osy Strong Award is given annually to "any adult Player, past or present, whose service to the organization has been notable ... of general benefit to the Players as a group ...over and above the normal duties of membership."  

For the 2006-07 season, the Osy Strong Award was presented to Betty Lent (in absentia).  The presentation of the award plaque occurred at the 2007-08 Season Kickoff Party at the Lent home on August 25, 2007.  On that occasion, Immediate Past President Doug Schwarz made the following remarks:

"As most of you know, when I announced the winner of the Osy Strong Award at last season's Annual Meeting, she was not on hand to receive the award. The board decided it would be most appropriate to actually present the award at this party, where the winner would surely be on hand since she was hosting the affair! Yes, as everybody - including herself - surely knows by now, the winner of the 2006-2007 Osy Strong Award is Betty Lent.

"Betty joined the Players in 1981 - coincidentally, as a performer in that year's fall production of "Gypsy"! Her next outing with the group was in the winter of '82, when she worked on the set of "On Golden Pond." It was then that Betty first demonstrated her legendary resourcefulness. According to an anonymous source, while assembling the set at the Audi the crew discovered that they needed an extra doorknob. Betty grabbed a screwdriver, disappeared, and shortly returned with the needed parts. To this day no one knows where they came from, and it's probably just as well!

"In her 26 years with the Players, Betty has done virtually everything it is possible to do. She has appeared in over a dozen shows, and directed nine others. She's worked on sets and set dressing, lighting and makeup, painting and costumes, props, and even photography.

"She served two years as President, and has chaired or co-chaired the Director's Committee more-or-less continuously since its inception. In that capacity, she has been the driving force behind our highly-successful and much-acclaimed Directors Workshops.

"Betty has also been a staunch supporter of the Children's Theater Project, serving in many different capacities with their productions.

"More recently, when Phyllis Stuart was temporarily incapacitated, Betty stepped forward and took on a hefty share of the workload to help keep our costume department functioning.

"And as if all that weren't enough, she throws a hell of a mean pool party!

"For all these reasons and many more, it is my honor and pleasure to present the 2006-2007 Osy Strong Award to Betty - or as it says here, 'Elizabeth' - Lent."

Who was Osy Strong?

Dr. Osmond R. Strong’s first appearance on stage in a Players production was in DOUBLE DOOR in 1935 (he played Dr. John Sully). His last stage appearance was in MY FAIR LADY in 1964 as The Prince of Transylvania.

But when "Osy" wasn't on stage during those 29 years, he worked in some back stage or staff capacity in jobs ranging from Producer, Stage Manager, Carpenter, and Grip, to House Manager, Set Painter and Props Chaser. And for another 8 years until his death in 1976, 0sy continued serving the Players as President, Secretary, Member of the Board of Directors, and as Chairperson for the Play Reading, Policy and Procedures, Membership and various other committees.

Among the more than forty productions in which he appeared on stage were: Grey Meredith in A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT, Senator Lauterback in STATE OF THE UNION, Charles Thorndyke Winton in WINNER TAKE ALL, Lewis Carroll and The King of Hearts in ALICE IN WONDERLAND, Dr. Gibbs in OUR TOWN, Horace Giddens in THE LITTLE FOXES, Seth Lord in THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, Capt. Brackett in SOUTH PACIFIC, The Heavenly Friend in CAROUSEL, and The Bishop of Lax in SEE HOW THEY RUN. He played romantic leads, doctors, lawyers, clergymen and military men; he was right at home in dramas, musicals, romances and farces.

For over forty years, Osy gave generously of his time, talent and expertise to the Community Players of Concord – and equally generously of his kindness, encouragement and friendship to his fellow members. How better to remember him and keep his name alive in this organization that he loved so much than to present annually to outstanding current members, The Osy Strong Award for achievement above and beyond the expectations of membership?

Past Osy Strong Award recipients include: