Column Awards Winners Announced, Include ICT, Uptown Players, Dallas Theater Center

Monday February 27, THE COLUMN AWARDS (TCA) organization honored excellence in theater within the Dallas-Fort Worth Theater community, which held its 13th annual gala this past Monday. TCA is the only awards organization in the United States that donates all money (after expenses) to BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS. A charity they have been associated since its inception. To date, THE COLUMN AWARDS have donated close to $70.000.00 to BC/EFA. See the full list of winners below.

Two time Tony Award winner, Kennedy Honor recipient, Broadway legend Chita Rivera hosted. Her past Broadway credits include West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Chicago, The Rink, Nine, and The Dancer’s Life. She returns to Broadway this fall in the revival of DROOD at the Roundabout.

Ms. Rivera co-hosted the gala with the organization’s founder/director/producer, John Garcia.

“We have been so very lucky, honored, and blessed to have major stars of Broadway, film, and television who accept our invitation to be our special guest stars. Each of them have brought their own special fantastic talents to our gala. They all have helped us in becoming the success we are today, and for that we are so, so grateful,” Garcia stated.

“But Chita is a whole other level. The surreal level. As a Latino musical theater actor I thought we could never play those roles that were written for others. I thought as a child and teen that we Latinos were regulated to the chorus or roles that had us as immigrants, maids, migrant workers, or that we could not speak English. Then as a teen I saw Sweet Charity the film-and there she was! Chita Rivera. Not playing a role that boxed her in. I devoured everything I could about her. I was floored and amazed by her career. She was the light at the end of the tunnel. She was my beacon of hope. Latin actors could play any role.”

Garcia went on to say, “So fast forward several years later and here I was about to interview her when she was in Dallas for CASPER THE MUSICAL. We had a private conversation about Latinos, musical theater, and the struggle of fighting non-traditional casting. She gave me great insight, advice and inspiration that I carry to this day. We bonded at that interview. She gave me a long hug that almost had me in tears. She told me that if I was in New York to come see her! So I did. I visited her backstage when she was on Broadway in the revival of NINE and then later in THE DANCER’S LIFE. Each time we laughed, hugged, kissed, and had wonderful, personal conversations. She truly is the person who saved my life. She made me believe Latino actors can do musical theater in leading roles. I owe her so, so, so much. Both personally and professionally.”

The gala broke attendance records in having both the highest volume of audience attendance and the sale of VIP tickets (where guests can pay a higher ticket price to meet & greet the celebrity) in its 13 year history.

This year’s theme was RAZZLE DAZZLE with the opening number becoming a combination mix of “All that Jazz” and “Razzle Dazzle”.

The nominees for Best Musical (equity and non-equity) performed at the gala, they were: Next to Normal (Uptown Players); How To Succeed…(ICT Mainstage); Cats (Garland Summer Musicals); Joseph…Dreamcoat (Plaza Theatre Company); Pippin (Theatre Three); Spring Awakening (Watertower Theatre); The Scarlet Pimpernel (Plaza Theatre Company); Joseph…Dreamcoat (Artisan Center Theatre); Great American Trailer Park Musical (Greater Lewisville Community Theatre); and Xanadu (Level Ground Arts).

“It takes a full year of planning to put this mammoth show on its feet and make it run smoothly. But thankfully I have the hardest working, most dedicated board of directors to make this event come alive. I cannot thank enough Garland Summer Musicals Executive Director Patty Granville and the GSM guild for co-sponsoring the gala this year. Also we must give a standing ovation to the army of volunteers, backstage crew, Production Stage Manager, the designers, musical director, choreographer, dancers, performers, presenters, and the orchestra. Just so many to thank. I am deeply humbled by their support each year.” Garcia said.

The winners are voted by the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Theater community who are subscribers to THE COLUMN (over 22,000).

Link to the winners page: http://www.thecolumnawards.org/Gala2012/2012-winners.asp

Here is the official list of 2012 COLUMN AWARD WINNERS for 2012:

Best Sound Design of a Play - Non-Equity
G. Aaron Siler
TREASURE ISLAND
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Sound Design of a Play – Equity
David H.M. Lambert
BOEING-BOEING
Circle Theatre

Best Sound Design of a Musical - Non-Equity
Robin Stephens
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
ICT Mainstage

Best Sound Design of a Musical – Equity
Virgil Justice
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Lighting Design of a Play - Non-Equity
Sam Nance
THE LITTLE FOXES
ICT Mainstage

Best Lighting Design of a Play – Equity
Clifton Taylor
THE TEMPEST
Dallas Theater Center

Best Lighting Design of a Musical - Non-Equity
Sam Nance
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
ICT Mainstage

Best Lighting Design of a Musical – Equity
Jason Foster
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Scenic Design of a Play - Non-Equity
G. Aaron Siler
TREASURE ISLAND
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Scenic Design of a Play – Equity
Clare Floyd DeVries
BOEING-BOEING
Circle Theatre

Best Scenic Design of a Musical - Non-Equity
Judd Vermillion
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
ICT Mainstage

Best Scenic Design of a Musical – Equity
Andy Redmon
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Costume Design of a Play - Non-Equity
Tina Barrus
TREASURE ISLAND
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Costume Design of a Play – Equity
Michael A. Robinson
THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE
WaterTower Theatre

Best Costume Design of a Musical – Non-Equity
Tina Barrus
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Costume Design of a Musical – Equity
Bruce R. Coleman
PIPPIN
Theatre Three

Best Stage Manager
Lindsay Hardisty

Kathleen Freeman Award
B.J. Cleveland

Rudy Seppy Volunteer Award
David Ruffin

Ben Brettell Youth Award – Female
Alex Altshuler

Ben Brettell Youth Award – Male
Cam Wenrich

Steve Lovett Outstanding New Work by a Local Playwright Award
Benjamin Schroth
SHERLOCK HOLMES VERSUS GODZILLA
Pocket Sandwich Theatre

Best Music Director of a Musical - Non-Equity
Scott A. Eckert
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
ICT Mainstage

Best Music Director of a Musical – Equity
Scott A. Eckert
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Choreography of a Musical – Non-Equity
Eddie Floresca
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Artisan Center Theatre

Best Choreography of a Musical – Equity
John de los Santos
SPRING AWAKENING
WaterTower Theatre

Chita Rivera Dance Award – Female
Gina Gwozdz
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Artisan Center Theatre

Chita Rivera Dance Award – Male
Darius-Anthony Robinson
PIPPIN
Theatre Three

Best Featured Actress in a Play - Non-Equity
Neeley Jonea
THE LITTLE FOXES
ICT Mainstage

Best Featured Actor in a Play - Non-Equity
Doug Fowler
THE LITTLE FOXES
ICT Mainstage

Best Featured Actress in a Play – Equity
Liz Mikel
DIVIDING THE ESTATE
Dallas Theater Center

Best Featured Actor in a Play – Equity
Jackie L. Kemp
TRAVESTIES
Theatre Three

Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Non-Equity
Lori Jones
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Artisan Center Theatre

Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Non-Equity
Joey Geisel
ANNIE
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Featured Actress in a Musical – Equity
Sara Shelby-Martin
GYPSY!
Lyric Stage

Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Equity
Jonathan Bragg
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Supporting Actress in a Play - Non-Equity
Neeley Jonea
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
ICT Mainstage

Best Supporting Actor in a Play - Non-Equity
Aaron Lett
TREASURE ISLAND
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actress in a Play – Equity
Denise Lee
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Dallas Theater Center

Best Supporting Actor in a Play – Equity
Brad Stephens
SEVEN IN ONE BLOW
Circle Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical - Non-Equity
Caroline Rivera
ANNIE
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical - Non-Equity
Blake Rodgers
THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL
Greater Lewisville Community Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical – Equity
Erica Harte
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical – Equity
David Coffee
CABARET
Dallas Theater Center

Best Actress in a Play - Non-Equity
Tina Barrus
THE MAN WITH THE POINTED TOES
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Actor in a Play - Non-Equity
Gregory Hullett
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Garland Civic Theatre

Best Actress in a Play – Equity
Betty Buckley
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE
Dallas Theater Center

Best Actor in a Play – Equity
Chamblee Ferguson
THE TEMPEST
Dallas Theater Center

Best Actress in a Musical - Non-Equity
Daron Cockerell
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Actor in a Musical - Non-Equity
Max Swarner
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
ICT Mainstage

Best Actress in a Musical – Equity
Patty Breckenridge
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Actor in a Musical – Equity
Gary Lynn Floyd
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Director of a Play - Non-Equity
G. Aaron Siler
TREASURE ISLAND
Plaza Theatre Company

Best Director of a Musical - Non-Equity
Michael Serrecchia
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
ICT Mainstage

Best Director of a Play – Equity
Bruce R. Coleman
THE TEMPERAMENTALS
Uptown Players

Best Director of a Musical – Equity
Michael Serrecchia
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

Best Play - Non-Equity
THE LITTLE FOXES
ICT Mainstage

Best Musical - Non-Equity
HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
ICT Mainstage

Best Play – Equity
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Dallas Theater Center

Best Musical – Equity
NEXT TO NORMAL
Uptown Players

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