AUBURN – The Community Little Theatre recently presented the President’s Award to Phil Vampatella for his outstanding service to the theater.

Vampatella has been a theater volunteer since joining in 2001. He made his debut in “Phantom” in 2003, caught the “theater bug” and went on to appear in “Annie,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Scarlet Pimpernel,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Inherit the Wind,” “Mame,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Grand Hotel” and “Annie Get Your Gun.”

A retired airlines pilot, Vampatella is seen most often working backstage. His carpentry skills soon became evident and he has worked on set construction for almost every play.

His truck has become a fixture for the theater, hauling set material and supplies from lumber yard to theater. He has contributed countless volunteer hours and always with his trademark smile. Vampatella lives with wife, Pat, in New Gloucester.