The Warren McDaniel Award for Best Production

Community Theatre

J. Warren McDaniel was a fixture in Coast community theatre for more than 30 years. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. While at Ole Miss he saw a touring company of There Shall Be No Night", starring Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne and "was totally hooked".

Warren 's involvement in community theatre began at Gulfport in 1949-1950, and later in Washington, Ms., where he organized the Washington Little Theatre and became involved in State Competition. He was also an active member of Natchez Little Theater.

He continued his involvement in State and Regional Community Theatre Competition when he moved back to the Coast. During his association with Gulfport Little Theater he served twice as Chairman, was elected Chairman of the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and was a two-term representative to the American Community Theater Association.

At GLT, McDaniel directed such plays as Rebecca, Dr. Cooks Garden, The Runner Stumbles, Twelve Angry Men, Twelve Angry Women, and Caine Mutiny Court Martial.

In 1980 McDaniel was the first recipient of the "Cowboy Maloney Award". This award was given " for his outstanding contributions to the Mississippi Theatre Association".

In 1991 the Mississippi Theatre Association named its highest award in the Community Theatre Division the "J. Warren McDaniel Community Theatre Award". This honor is given to the group judged best community theatre in the annual convention's play festival.

  • 1975 Godspell, Paspoint Players
  • 1977 Pfeiffer's People, Greenwood Little Theatre
  • 1979 Dunelawn, Greenwood Little Theatre
  • 1981 Sea Horse, Bay St. Louis Little Theatre
  • 1983 Echoes, Bay St. Louis Little Theatre
  • 1985 Pushcart Peddlers, Gulfport Little Theatre
  • 1986 Tin Types, Starkville Community Theatre
  • 1987 The Octet Bridge Club, Starkville Community Theatre
  • 1988 The Fantastiks
  • 1989 On The Verge, Northwest Mississippi Theatre Guild Kudzu Players
  • 1990 Laundry And Bourbon, Clinton Community Theatre
  • 1992 The Trial Of The Big Bad Wolf, Gulfport Little Theatre
  • 1993 I Hate Hamlet, Gulfport Little Theatre
  • 1994 Into The Woods, Corinth Little Theatre
  • 1995 Moon For The Misbegotten, Delta Center Stage
  • 1996 Haiku, Delta Center Stage
  • 1997 The Belle Of Amherst, Gulfport Little Theatre
  • 1998 Eleemosynary, Black Rose Theatre Company
  • 1999 Cotton Patch Gospel, Gulfport Little Theatre
  • 2000 Observatory Conditions, Delta Center Stage
  • 2001 The Beauty Queen Of Leenane, Tupelo Community Theatre
  • 2002 Bobby Gould In Hell, Actors Anonymous
  • 2003 The Harry and Sam Dialogues by Karen Ellison
  • 2004 Bel Canto by Will Schaffer. Directed by Tom Booth. Runner-Up at SETC.
  • 2005 The Glider by Kathrin Snodgrass. Directed by Tim Bixler. Winner, SETC.
  • 2006 A Woman Called Truth by Sandra Fenichel Asher. Directed by Sara Armstrong. Delta Center Stage.
  • 2007 Smoke on the Mountain by Constance Ray. Directed by Pattye Archer. Runner-Up at SETC.
  • 2008 Doubt by John Patrick Shanley. Directed by Tom Booth.