Annie Awards Recognize Atticus Boidy For Work In Arts Education

Though Atticus Boidy is only 29 years old, his impact can be seen through directorial work, lighting design and theater education throughout Anne Arundel County. On October 15, his accomplishments were recognized by the Annie Awards, a ceremony hosted each year by the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (ACAAC). Awardees are selected in nine categories in honor of their contributions to the arts in the county. Boidy received this year’s Annie Award for Arts Education.

“I’ve been over the moon, honestly. I invited basically everyone who’s worked with me within an education setting to come to the ceremony,” Boidy shared prior to the event.

Boidy is a highly active member of the theater community. In addition to his full-time work as technical director at Children’s Theatre of Annapolis (CTA), he also started his own theatrical consulting business, where he works with schools, consults on their drama programs, helps bring new participants to the programs, and assists with budgets. At any given time, Boidy might be working on seven or eight projects with different theater groups in the area.

Boidy was nominated for the Annie Awards by Amy Schropp, an executive director at CTA. Schropp didn’t tell him that she was nominating him until partway through the process, after she had already received letters of recommendation for him. On the day the winners were revealed, Schropp heard from another friend of hers who won an award, causing her to think Boidy hadn’t won.

Boidy got the call from the ACAAC on his way to work. “So, then I cried, naturally, on the phone with this poor woman,” Boidy said. “I couldn’t believe it. I told her at one point — she was asking me questions — I was like, ‘I am speechless.’”

Though Boidy has been part of award-winning productions before, this is his first time winning an individual award honoring his work. Boidy’s aunt, former Severna Park High School theater teacher and director Angela Germanos, received the same award last year to recognize her over 20-year career in arts education. Germanos played a significant role in Boidy’s interest in theater, and she was happy to learn of his recognition.

“I’m the only other person in our family who is really interested in theater,” Boidy said.

Boidy keeps in touch with many of his former students, some of whom have begun to work in the theater industry with him.

“It is so rewarding … watching these kids interact with each other, learn from each other, grow as people, have a good time, make new friends, and the fact that I can be someone that they can trust to try new things, talk about their ideas, be excited about their ideas and their artistry,” Boidy said.

Boidy’s first theater experience was acting, but he directed a show for the first time when he was 16. He learned lighting design later while working on a show in Annapolis with Joey Guthman, who has recently worked as a lighting designer for popular theater company StarKid Productions. Boidy observed that Guthman was working long hours and offered to help.

“I was like, ‘I don’t know a lot about lighting, but I’d love to learn,’” Boidy said. “And he said, ‘If you don’t mind getting up on ladders, I’ll teach you about lighting.’ And I hated ladders, by the way. I was actually really afraid of heights. I said OK, and he taught me everything.”

Boidy believes an important part of finding ways to get involved in the theater community is to be willing to try new things and talk with new people. “I think the most beautiful thing about theater is that you can learn the skills,” Boidy said. “Try new things. If you don’t make the first show you audition for, try again. Just keep trying to reach out for help. Find people like me who you can say have a lot of connections in theater. Find more opportunities and just put yourself out there.”

Boidy is currently involved in a long list of productions. At CTA, he is the technical director, set designer, light designer and scenic artist for the teen group’s production of “West Side Story.” He is also the director for Theater in the Park’s “Beetlejuice JR.” and “Madagascar — A Musical Adventure JR.” at Broadneck Elementary School, as well as the lighting designer for “Shrek the Musical” at Severna Park High School. Additionally, Boidy is working with Key School in Annapolis on its productions of “Little Shop of Horrors,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “Charlotte’s Web,” and consulting for Pasadena Theatre Company’s “Narnia: The Musical.”

He’s also started preparing for projects that will take place in 2026, and has been teaching acting classes at Woods Church.

“I love being a stepping stone. I’m part of their journey,” Boidy said of the young performers with whom he works. “It just makes me so happy to watch them just succeed and live their lives, and even if they don’t end up still doing theater, I’m just so happy that I’m a part of a good experience for them.”