LEONGATHA Lyric Theatre not only hosted the recent Gippsland Associated Theatre Awards but collected a swag of honours for its popular production of Into the Woods, Colin Mitchell OAM’s final show as director.
Into the Woods won Most Outstanding Production (Musical), Colin going out in style as Most Outstanding Director and being recognised for the best set design and best costume design, also picking up the Alby Fisher Memorial Award for Creative Design.
Other awards won by those involved with the production were:
• Judges Certificate to Yas Tough – Milky White
• Most Outstanding Technical Design – Puppetry
• Most Outstanding Props – Don Devonshire, tied with Pixie Jones from FAMDA
• Most Outstanding Lighting Design – Will McCarthy and Matt Saario
• Most Outstanding Sound Design – Brett van Hoorn
• Most Outstanding Makeup and Hair Design – Emily Chadwick
• Most Outstanding Youth Performance (Over 13) – Taine Lowe (Jack)
• Most Outstanding Small Ensemble – Forest Spirits
• Most Outstanding Male Support Actor – Jonah van Stekelenburg (Cinderella’s Prince)
• Most Outstanding Female Lead Actor – Kerryn Lockhart (Baker’s Wife)
• Most Outstanding Musical Director – Carmel Slater and Malcolm McCaffery
Leongatha Lyric Theatre president Bron Beach was delighted with the evening’s success.
“There were 200 people here from all across Gippsland,” she said of the Leongatha Memorial Hall gathering, observing, “We’ve obviously got a lot of talent here.”
FAMDA and Wonthaggi Theatrical Group savour awards success
FOSTER Arts Music & Drama Association (FAMDA) enjoyed great success at the recent Gippsland Associated Theatre Awards, taking out all 12 categories in which it was nominated, with Wonthaggi Theatrical Group also collecting awards.
FAMDA’s production of The Architect claimed the Most Outstanding Drama/Comedy, the hard-hitting show fitting more into the former category but sprinkled with moments of humour.
The production’s director Bernadette Grainger picked up Most Outstanding Director for Drama/Comedy, while Most Outstanding Female Lead Actor for that category of production went to Susie
Sparkes for her role as the terminally ill Helen, with Dan Lawrie who played Lennie getting Most Outstanding Male Lead Actor.
Bruce Grainger claimed Most Outstanding Support Actor for his part as John.
Judy Barnard received Most Outstanding Costume Design for Drama/Comedy, with Tania Pell grabbing Most Outstanding Makeup & Hair Design for that production type.
Chris Gale claimed Most Outstanding Sound Design, and Most Outstanding Lighting Design in that category.
FAMDA’s Pixie Jones tied with Don Devonshire of Leongatha Lyric Theatre for Most Outstanding Props.
Ben Cooper claimed Most Outstanding Set Design for Drama/Comedy, with FAMDA rounding out its honours by winning Most Outstanding Program for Drama/Comedy.
Wonthaggi Theatrical Group’s
Kayla Precht was Most Outstanding Choreographer for Seussical the Musical, Kayley Lockhart named Most Outstanding Youth Performance Under 13 for her role as Jo Jo in that show.
That production was also awarded Most Outstanding Program for a Musical.
Jonah van Stekelenburg was Most Outstanding Lead Actor for a Musical for his part as Jimmy Ray in the company’s production of Bright Star, that show taking out Most Outstanding Large Ensemble.