BDACT Wall of Honor

The Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre Wall of Honor, in the lobby of the BDACT Fine Arts Center, celebrates individuals with significant contributions to the development and growth of the organization. Areas of contribution include leadership, committees, performing, crews, production staff, directing and teaching.

Any community member may nominate an individual for inclusion in the Wall of Honor. Potential nominees must have participated in their first BDACT production at least 20 years ago. Completed forms can be submitted at any time. Once you have nominated someone, they will stay in the pool of nominees – there is no need to re-nominate someone each year.

Nomination forms are available on the BDACT website or at the Fine Arts Center during box office hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 am - 4 pm). The form outlines the nomination process.

Please note: Current employees of BDACT and BDACT Board of Directors are ineligible for Wall of Fame nomination or induction.

Nominations are reviewed by the Recognition Committee and presented to the Board of Directors for approval. Up to three people per year will be added to the wall.

2025 Inductees

John Auten
John Auten joined Beaver Dam Community Theatre in 1970, first helping move furniture and sets before expanding into acting and directing. He has participated in thousands of productions across the Midwest, always embracing the challenge of directing and mentoring actors. To him, theater is a way to entertain—through pizazz, laughter, music, and dance—and to build connections within the community.

It is John's hope that theater will continue to inspire creativity and strengthen the community for generations to come.

Judy Bell Hein
Judy Bell Hein has been involved with BDACT since 1974, starting as a stage crew member for Hello, Dolly! She has contributed as an actress, vocal director, writer and host of In Hein Sight, Tell-A-Tale director, co-writer for Beaver Dam’s sesquicentennial production, Take Note director, set designer, costume designer, and committee member.

Her favorite roles include Judas (Godspell), Sister Hubert (Nunsense), M’Lynn (Steel Magnolias), and Lucy (Charlie Brown). Favorite quotes include: “It’s in the bag!” (Any Color You Like), “That lost and empty feeling…” (Applause), “Everyone should have something to point to.” (Working).

Annette Kamps
As an English teacher at Beaver Dam High School, Annette introduced the idea of community theater to some enthusiastic drama students who asked her to initiate the project in 1964. Consequently, she and her husband, Jerome, co-founded BDCT. As president, Annette collaborated with charter members to establish BDCT's by-laws. Over the course of 61 years, she directed many musicals and plays, helped establish the Tell-A-Tale Children’s Division, served in most production and committee capacities, taught creative drama classes, and served on the board multiple times. Following several years as the first employed BDACT Managing Director, she co-chaired fund-raising efforts for the construction of the BDACT Fine Arts Center. Since its inception, BDACT has spotlighted its mantra and Annette's guiding light, “Theater for Everyone”

Diane Lutz
Diane Lutz began her journey with BDACT in 1983, directing South Pacific, the first production at the theater’s new home on North Spring Street. Her involvement spans main stage and Stage Two productions, AACTFest, and the On-Call Players. As an English, speech, and drama teacher at Beaver Dam High School (1980–2009), Diane served as Drama Director until 2005. In 1998, she earned a Master of Arts in Educational Theatre from New York University, reinforcing her belief that theater imparts invaluable life lessons. She draws inspiration from Arthur Miller: “The mission of the theatre, after all, is to change, to raise the consciousness of people to their human possibilities.”

Patrick Lutz
Patrick began his adventure with BDACT in 1982 when he landed a role in the spring play The Count Will Rise Again. Still fairly new to the community, he saw it as a great way to meet people. Patrick often tells the story of how he volunteered that fall to help with set construction for The Sunshine Boys. Though he waited for a call that never came, he simply kept showing up—and no one ever told him to leave.

In the years since, Patrick has been involved in nearly every aspect of the theater, including on stage, backstage, as building manager, board member, and everything in between. He takes pride in helping transform the Spring Street building into a legitimate theater starting in 1983, repeating the process later with the Maple Street building. His background in teaching building trades has been invaluable.

Patrick is a professional tour guide, historian, and co-founder of the Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation.

Judy Pearce
Judy Pearce was involved in theater throughout her high school years in Horicon, performing in plays and musicals and serving as a student director under Earl Ritter. She became involved with Tell-A-Tale Theatre when her daughters were old enough to audition—and never left. Her passion for both teaching and theater continues to inspire her.

Tina (Spangler) Swain
Tina is a jack-of-all-trades—theater trades, that is. Director, producer, set dresser, “black beauty,” costumer, and actor are just a few of the many hats she has worn. Her comedic talent has made her an audience favorite for decades, while her eye for detail and vision for a show have made directing one of her most satisfying experiences at BDACT. On stage, backstage, and behind the scenes, Tina is thankful for all that BDACT has given her—and BDACT is just as thankful for all she has given in return.

Marilyn VanHaren
"South Pacific" was the 1965 BDCT musical—and the second show—at the Wisconsin Theater. Charter member Marilyn VanHaren was thrilled to portray Nellie Forbush and was honored to appear in both minor and major roles in over forty productions. Marilyn also directed shows, worked on props and publicity, and served as head of the makeup chairmanship for many years.

As a board member, she gained knowledge in many aspects of theater. It was a special treat for her to share both onstage and behind-the-scenes theatrical experiences with her husband and their five children. Their son Chris coined the name "Tell-a-Tale" for the children’s division.

Community Theater has been a highlight of the VanHaren family’s life in Beaver Dam, and they are deeply proud to be named on the plaque of the hallway mural, honoring the many hundreds of dedicated BDACT participants and audiences.

Roger VanHaren
Charter member Roger VanHaren made his debut in BDACT’s first production, Harvey, in 1964. In addition to appearing in 32 other productions, he loved designing, constructing, and painting sets. He shared his passion for theater through his weekly newspaper column, Backstage.

As a board member and officer for multiple terms, Roger gained a deep understanding of the organization he cherished, supporting it further through a major fundraising campaign. He challenged himself creatively by writing and producing a one-act play, Careful Where You Step, and by creating a Mark Twain show that he and his wife Marilyn, as “Livy Twain,” toured for ten years, performing songs from the 1890s.

Roger’s legacy extends beyond the stage to his contributions as a teacher, alderman, and proud member of the Beaver Dam community.