Wow. What a night. I was trying to think this morning of what I would highlight about the evening if I were trying to recap it for someone who wasn’t there and realized that there were so many exceptional moments both big and small that it would be impossible. I’d basically just have to recount the entire evening and try to capture just a fraction of excitement and fun and fellowship I felt throughout the evening.
There are things that probably could use some ‘splainin’, the tie for Best Musical being one big example, highlighted in the Times-Dispatch article this morning. But I’m still a little too exhausted for cogent thought so I’ll talk a little more about that perhaps later in the week.
In the meantime, I’d just like to extend a huge heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a part in making last night work out. There are literally dozens of people who came together and did incredible things all focused on the success of last night. All of their work is very deeply appreciated.
Finally, below is the list of Artsie award recipients that were announced last night. Congratulations to those honored for some well-deserved recognition. But even greater congratulations to the community at large for coming together and supporting this event. I probably won’t know the final numbers for a couple weeks, but I expect we raised somewhere in the neighborhood of $7,500 for the Theater Artists Fund last night, 2.5 times what we raised last year and 3 times what we raised to years ago. A good time for a great cause – it doesn’t get much better than that.
2011 RTCC Award Recipients
Best Play
Last Days of Judas Iscariot
Best Musical
Tie: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels & [title of show]
The People's Choice Award
This Beautiful City
Best Direction - Musical
Chase Kniffen, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Best Direction – Play
Rusty Wilson, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Best Actor in a Leading Role – Play
Alan Sader, King Lear
Best Actor in a Leading Role - Musical
Scott Wichmann, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Best Actress in a Leading Role – Play
Laine Satterfield, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Best Actress in a Leading Role - Musical
Rachel Abrams, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Play
J. Ron Fleming, Jitney
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical
Andrew Hamm, This Beautiful City
Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Play
Maggie Horan, Legacy of Light
Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical
Kathy Halenda, White Christmas
Ernie McClintock Best Ensemble Award
Jitney
Best Choreography
Leslie Owens-Harrington, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Best Musical Direction
Sandy Dacus, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Outstanding Achievement in Set Design
Brian C. Barker, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
Lynne Hartman, Legacy of Light
Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
J. Theresa Bush, Legacy of Light
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Derek Dumais, White Christmas
Special Awards:
Outstanding Achievement in Puppetry
Terry Snyder
Liz Marks Memorial Award
Michael Gooding
Don Warren & Jay McCullough
8 comments:
I think the T-D must have sent a drone to cover the awards. It's been a while since I've read an article that didn't have either a grammatical or spelling error and/or false information. Downsizing has not helped...
Thank you for all of your support and I hope that the RT Dispatch decides to list The People's Choice Award :)
Will you be, in the future, once the dust has settled, accepting or interested in any suggestions for how to make next year's event even better? This year's was fabulous - very classy and well done.
Those errors were completely mine...I am really sorry and apologize profusely to Henley Street and Rachel Abrams. No excuses. I did love the event and extend heartfelt congratulations to all nominees and winners. Many thanks to Dave for organizing the event and to John for the great jokes.
Susie Haubenstock
The RTCC awards ceremony was a fun night for camaraderie. I must admit, I'm disappointed that NONE (ZERO) of Swift Creek Mill's THIRTEEN (13) nominations came to fruition. (Really? ZERO out of THIRTEEN? RTCC refused to even throw us ONE bone?!) It felt like another slap in the face to our excellent theater. In any case, the important thing is that everyone had fun (as I understand, this is what the evening's about.) I salute the winners (who are all friends and fellow artists.) Congrats to all. Thanks to Theatre IV's Empire staff for hosting. It was a fun night, and Heather Sullivan was great.
SHORTER! Please shorten the RTCC ceremony. It's a school night...Almost four hours with TWO intermissions? (Guess that's needed to get a cola to stay conscious.) Too much silly patter by the presenters...maybe half would be more than enough.
I think the "People's Choice" award was fun, but awkward. The only people who voted were the people who attended the ceremony (the very same people who were up for nominations.) It was like high-school superlatives, but worse. (Imagine knowing that you're the wall-flower at prom, and having it be publicly confirmed.) Was weird.
[To all: Please understand, I don't begrudge ANYONE of ANY awards. We all work our hardest to do our best, and all bestowed awards are valid. (if you value the RTCC standards. Yikes, I cannot behave.) Cue SFX: Lightening Strike... GO.]
Above all,
I'm happy that my friend Morrie Piersol was recipient of the lovely diamond necklace! (Complements of theater champion, Regina Carreras.) I know it was directly handed-over to Morrie's lovely wife, Carol (who will wear it better!) It was a great incentive for raising funds. It made the night extra-exciting. I did participate in the voting, but it felt... well, awkward, since (frankly) I voted for my own show (why wouldn't I?) and I'm betting that (not all, but probably most) did the same.
Dave, you are more than accustomed to my contrariness. (It seems to be my nature.) I'm sorry if it seems you only get me at my worst. I'm actually not so bitter. Really. Thanks for listening to me babble, once again. Congrats on gathering the Richmond Theatre community together for a great big party!
I have to agree with Paul Deiss (his comment in an earlier post) on the People's Choice award. Unless you had enough votes in attendance that night (willing to spend $5), you had no chance of winning. If I may suggest something that the Library of Virginia does with their literary book awards each year - they announce nominees several months out in all categories and then they have an on-line voting system for the People Choice book. You can vote once and the winner is announced on the night of the ceremony. This allows anyone to vote (once) and levels the playing field. Just a thought!
I also want to add my voice to so many others and thank everyone on the RTCC committee for a wonderfully fun night!
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