04/25/2026
Today, we lay to rest a pillar of our theater. One of the many who dedicated their time and effort to see this theater thrive. Eunice Players’ Theatre would not be what it is today without the love, talent, creativity, and selflessness of Annette Harrington.
She participated in a total of 39 shows. She starred in five productions on our theater stage, with four of those productions being musicals. She worked in costumes for six productions. She worked backstage organizing props for three productions. She designed and decorated sets for 19 productions. She directed 10 productions, which included co-directing five shows and two musicals. She was the stage manager for “Any Number can Die”. She took on the role of technical director for “Catch Me if you Can”. She handled the role of musical assistant in everyone’s favorite musical “Grease”. She was the producer for a well known favorite at Eunice Players’ Theatre, “Jake’s Women”. Then, she fittingly took on the role of “Guardian Angel” during “Nunsense”. However, that’s not all. She also holds a spot as one of the former presidents of our theater. While all of this is impressive, there is more, so let’s start at the very beginning…a very fine place to start.
The year was 1985 and Eunice Players’ Theatre was putting on the production “Damn Yankees”. This was the stage debut of Annette. This young woman’s strong alto voice was perfectly suited to play “Meg Boyd''. From there, she went on to play “Mabel” in the “Pajama Game” in 1986; “Viney'' in the “Miracle Worker” in 1987; and starred as one of the singers in “Some Enchanted Evening” in 1988. She took a break from acting and singing on stage to help out in other areas of the theater, but came back one last time in 1993 to play the role of “Miss Lynch” in “Grease”. While she said that she didn’t enjoy being on stage, and it wasn’t an area she belonged in, the theater has heard others say differently and we would have to agree with them. She was a welcomed and loved actress on our stage!
While being on stage may not have been her favorite area of the theater, she pursued other areas and finally hit on directing. She would tell you that she knew nothing about directing and was scared to even try, but under the leadership of Butch Cobb she took a chance and made her directorial debut with the production “Social Security” in 1990. During this production, she was also able to find her true niche in the theater, set design and decoration. The theater bug bit her and bit hard! Using what she had learned, she went on to direct “Rumors” in 1991 by herself. The following year, she combined forces with Mrs. Dorris Stagg, and directed the first “Tuna” play at Eunice Players’ Theater, “Greater Tuna”. This show of course began the succession of “Tuna” plays we have seen at Eunice Players’ Theatre throughout the years. In 1994, she took on directing and designing one of the most difficult shows and sets to create, when she accepted the challenge of “Noises Off”. In 1995, she went out on a limb and took on the huge task of directing “Singing in the Rain”. This was the first musical she had ever directed and with musical director Jimmy Broussard by her side, the show was a success. In 1996, she directed the second production of “Star Spangled Girl” at Eunice Players’ Theatre and brought back a beloved theater favorite to act in it, Van Reed. Unfortunately, work came calling and she felt it was the right time to step away from the theater to pursue her career. She traveled across America to work at many different hospitals, but came back home in 2015. The theater opened the doors to her right away and she picked up right where she left off when she directed the musical “Honky Tonk Angels”. After that, she went on to co-direct “Play On” with Jimmy Broussard in 2017, co-direct “Christmas Belles” with Kristi Burleigh in 2017, brought back “Noises Off” for the second time with a revolving set and co-directed it with Brett Faulkner in 2019 for our 50th season, and in 2022 she directed her last show in the theater with “Same Time, Next Year”. That is quite a resume, but we’re not done yet!
The crown jewel on this woman’s theater resume has to be set design and decoration. She did this for 19 productions! Open any show program from 1990-1996 or 2015-2022 and you will see her name there. She had a true gift! All you had to do was give her a blank canvas and watch her work. She was so visually creative that she could take an empty space and make a masterpiece out of it. Whether she had to work late or come in early to paint, move furniture, hang pictures, and so on, she was there and committed to the task. She brought that same tenacity and creativity when decorating for the Irving Awards. For many years, she was head of the Irving Awards Decorating Committee that always brought the exact theme and ambience that was required for such an event. When she had a vision, there was no stopping her!
She was also a part of our board of directors for many years. She did of course take a break to focus on work, but got right back on the board once she came home. She was once our fearless leader taking on the role of president for our theater. She saw this theater through some very difficult times and she saw it triumph. She had to make some difficult calls, but she also had the joy of seeing the theater thrive and flourish. Ultimately, she was a radiant light of love, hope, happiness, and fun in a very dark world. You could never leave a conversation with her without feeling encouraged, empowered, and loved.
To top it all off, she has the honor of being a “Tim Wooten Award” winner. This award is presented to someone who has gone above and beyond their service and contributions to the theater, and she absolutely did that with a generous heart, accompanied by her talent, which will always make her a key figure in this theater.
She is an icon, a legend, and a sweet friend that will always be recognized for ALL she has done for our little community theater. As a theater with a heavy heart, we humbly say “thank you” to a woman that has left her mark on this theater and everyone in it. Forever our “Netsie”. Forever our angel. Forever our friend.
🎵Most friends fade or they don't make the grade. New ones are quickly made and in a pinch, sure, they'll do. But us, old friend, what's to discuss, old friend? Here's to us! Who's like us? Damn few!🎵
