As the local entertainment section for Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri, we strive to recognize and highlight the talent in the area -- from rock bands to classical musicians to community theater.

This weekend, the community theater group in town will acknowledge and commend itself and its members during the annual Abbott Awards.

The River City Players group produces about four plays a year. They're usually two-act comedies that take place on one set. And they're usually pretty entertaining.

The players spend weeks rehearsing for about five performances. Back in 1997, someone decided that the applause at the end of each performance just wasn't enough recognition.

I do not disagree. The people involved in River City Players sacrifice countless hours for nothing more than the spotlight and the sound of audience laughter.

And so that year, the group started the Abbott Awards, named for Ann Abbott, who started the theater group in the 1970s. At the end of each season -- which typically runs from February to November -- the set designers, actors, directors, coaches, etc., gather to commend each other.

They'll do it again Saturday.

We'll have a story about the winners in the Jan. 20 edition of SE Live. I take this moment to congratulate and salute everyone involved in the group and its plays.