HONOREES
Read more about the C1 awards and see past winners here.
Carlos PiSierra
The C1 Founders Award - honoring long time donors who have invested in the Company One mission to change the face of Boston theatre.
Carlos has served the Company One Board as advisor, member, and treasurer since 2008. “When Carlos joined the Board seven years ago we were entirely artist run,” says Gala Co-Chair Victoria Marsh. “As the first financial professional on the Board, Carlos brought crucial expertise and the steady hand we needed to manage the organizational growth that we’ve experienced since 2008. Carlos’s generous spirit and enthusiasm for our mission is reflected in each artistic award that we’ve received during his tenure, and in our increased audience size, and the expansion of our educational programs.” Carlos joined the Company One Board after completing the Arts and Business Council Business On Board program. Carlos chose Company One Theatre, “because of the outstanding work C1 does to promote social justice and education for young artists in the community.” Mr. PiSierra is currently Senior Vice President and CFO for the Advisory Services division of Fidelity Investments, where he has worked for 20 years in various senior finance positions, including CFO of Fidelity Family Office Services. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross, and a Masters in Business Administration in Finance from Fordham University. Carlos lives in Charlestown, Massachusetts with his wife Cathy O’Connor who has been named Honorary Gala Chair.
Obehi Janice
The David Wheeler Award - given annually in recognition of an emerging talent from the Boston theatre scene.
Writer and actress Obehi Janice's one woman show was featured in the 2014 XX Playlab Festival produced by Company One and the Boston Center for the Arts. The Improper Bostonian named Obehi "Boston's Best Actress" in 2014. Obehi was featured in the C1 productions of Splendor and The Overwhelming.
Her plays have been developed or seen at Bridge Repertory Theater, Boston Center for the Arts, Sleeping Weazel, Interim Writers, Our Voices Festival, Boston One-Minute Play Festival, Boston Theater Marathon, Berkshire Fringe Festival, MPAACT, ImprovBoston, GAN-e-meed Theatre Project, and 119 Gallery.
She has also been featured on Bustle, WBUR, DigBoston, For Harriet, and The Boston Globe.
Her comedic short, BLACK GIRL YOGA, was winner of the Reel 13/Afropunk Film Competition (WNET/New York Public Media).
Joyce Linehan
The Lois Roach Award - given annually in recognition of outstanding commitment to the Boston theatre community.
Joyce Linehan is the Chief of Policy for the City of Boston. "I can't think of a person who has had more impact on the Boston's arts scene than Joyce,” says C1 Artistic Director, Shawn LaCount. "She has radically changed the city of Boston's attitude towards the arts community. For the first time in over 20 years, we have a cabinet level Chief of Arts and Culture. The Company One community credits her as the driving force behind this effort.” Honorary Chair Linda Nathan adds, "I love Joyce's energy, vision and commitment to ensuring that arts and culture are a pillar of our city."
Joyce is a Dorchester native who built a career promoting arts and culture in Boston through her work with organizations like ARTSEmerson, First Night Boston, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, and as owner of Ashmont Records and Ashmont Media. Connecting people to the arts led to grass roots organizing for President Barack Obama, City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, Senator Elizabeth Warren and ultimately to her central role in the Walsh campaign and administration.
Says Linehan, “I am humbled to receive recognition from one of the most creative and inclusive theatre companies in a theatre town. What makes this even better is that it’s the Lois Roach Award, named for my dear friend. She has always been an inspiration.”
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