Dallas Theatre League Announces Rabin Award Nominations

The Dallas Area is one of the largest theatre centers in the country.  The region boats more emerging theatre companies than almost any other metropolitan area in the U.S. and is home to the country's second oldest summer Shakespeare Festival.  Two hundred new plays are premiered here each year—and some achieve broader success.  The Dallas Theatre League (DTL) was founded in 1994 to serve and celebrate this vital artistic community.

The mission of the DTL is to unite, strengthen, and promote the theatre community in the Greater Dallas Area, working on behalf of the conviction that the performing arts are an essential public good, critical to a healthy and truly democratic society, and invaluable as a source of personal enrichment and growth.

The DTL is also the primary sponsor the annual Leon Rabin Awards, an event celebrating the diversity and excellence of live theatre in Dallas.  The Awards were named after Leon Rabin, an avid and influential arts enthusiast who was at the center of every Dallas-based arts organization.  The Awards serve as a means to recognize the outstanding achievements of Dallas area theatres and the artists who support them.  They also give support to the next generation of Dallas artists, with a portion of event proceeds supporting the Dallas Theatre League Scholarship programs.

On September 25, 2006, the DTL announced the 2006 Rabin Award Nominations at the ArtCentre of Plano at a party hosted by the Classical Arts Company.  The awards covered the Dallas area Theatre Season from September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006.

And the nominees are…

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN

•        Curtis Craig - TAKE ME OUT - WaterTower Theatre
•        Emily Young - RAW VISION - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        John Flores - CLOUD TECTONICS - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        Lowell Sargeant - SHAKESPEARE'S KEEPER - Classical Acting Company
•        Marco Salinas - THE NORMAL HEART - Uptown Players
•        Matthew Gray - MARK TWAIN'S HUCK FINN - Classical Acting Company

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN - PLAY

•        Jason Driggers - THIS IS HOW IT GOES - WaterTower Theatre
•        Jason S. Foster - THE CRUCIBLE - WaterTower Theatre
•        Jennifer Owen - NO EXIT - Classical Acting Company
•        Laura McMeley - RAW VISION - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        Linda Blase - CLOUD TECTONICS - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        Russell K. Dyer - VISITING MR. GREEN - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN - MUSICAL

•        David Natinsky - THE WINTER WONDERETTES - WaterTower Theatre
•        Gregg Fields - ONCE UPON A MATTRESS - ICT Mainstage
•        Jeff Stover - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre 
•        Julie Simmons - AIDA - Uptown Players
•        Linda Blasé - JUNIE B. JONES - Dallas Children's Theater
•        Susan A. White - INTO THE WOODS - WaterTower Theatre 

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN - PLAY

•        Bob Lavallee - MARK TWAIN'S HUCK FINN - Classical Acting Company
•        Bryan Woffard - RAW VISION - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        Clare Floyd Devries - THE CRUCIBLE - WaterTower Theatre
•        Jennifer Owen - SHAKESPEARE'S KEEPER - Classical Acting Company
•        Randel Wright - VISITING MR. GREEN - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas
•        Wade Giampa - THE NORMAL HEART - Uptown Players

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN - MUSICAL

•        Clare Floyd Devries - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre
•        Kelly Cox - KISS ME, KATE - Garland Summer Musicals
•        Paul Fiorella - ONCE UPON A MATTRESS - ICT Mainstage
•        Randel Wright - A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - Shakespeare Dallas
•        Wade Giampa - AIDA - Uptown Players
•        Zak Herring - JUNIE B. JONES - Dallas Children's Theater

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN - PLAY

•        Christina Dickson - NO EXIT - Classical Acting Company
•        Claudia Stephens - SHAKESPEARE'S KEEPER - Classical Acting Company
•        Diane Kearney - MARK TWAIN'S HUCK FINN - Classical Acting Company
•        Leila Heise - VISITING MR. GREEN - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas
•        Sue Loncar - LONE STAR/LAUNDRY & BOURBON - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas
•        Tom Jaekels - SAILING TO BYZANTIUM - Echo Theatre

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN - MUSICAL

•        Bill Bullard/Suzi Shankle - TOMMY - Uptown Players
•        Bruce R. Coleman - ONCE UPON A MATTRESS - ICT Mainstage
•        Garry Lennon - THE STINKY CHEESEMAN - Dallas Children's Theater
•        Kyle McClaran - CATS - Garland Civic Theatre
•        Leila Heise - JUNIE B. JONES - Dallas Children's Theater
•        Michael A. Robinson - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre

OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTOR

•        Gary Okeson - ONCE UPON A MATTRESS - ICT Mainstage
•        Larry Miller - KISS ME, KATE - Garland Summer Musicals
•        Lee Harris - TOMMY - Uptown Players
•        Mark A. Mullino - THE WINTER WONDERETTES - WaterTower Theatre
•        Scott A. Eckert - AIDA - Uptown Players
•        Sheilah Vaughn Walker - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY

•        Emily Lockhart/Joseph Jones - SINGIN' IN THE RAIN - Garland Summer Musicals
•        Morgana Shaw - CATS - Garland Civic Theatre
•        Nan Gammon - PAGEANT - Uptown Players
•        Nancy Schaeffer - JUNIE B. JONES - Dallas Children's Theater
•        Paula Morelan - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre
•        Vicki Squires - TOMMY - Uptown Players

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY

•        Ashley Wood - SAILING TO BYZANTIUM - Echo Theatre
•        Bill Jenkins - BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre
•        Mark Shum - THE NORMAL HEART - Uptown Players
•        Nye Cooper - RUMORS - Richardson Theatre Center
•        Randy Pearlman - ART- Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre
•        Ted Wold - TAKE ME OUT - WaterTower Theatre

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL

•        Andy Gosnell - SINGIN' IN THE RAIN - Garland Summer Musicals
•        Anthony L. Ramirez - A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - Shakespeare Dallas
•        Cameron McElyea - TOMMY - Uptown Players
•        Cedric Neal - AIDA – Uptown Players
•        Paul Taylor - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre
•        R Bruce Elliot - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - PLAY

•        Allison Tolman - WONDER OF THE WORLD - Second Thought Theatre
•        Diane Worman - LEONARD'S CAR - My Way Productions
•        Ginger Goldman - WONDER OF THE WORLD - Second Thought Theatre
•        Kim Whalen - BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre
•        Marisa Diotalevi - THE WOMEN - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas
•        Morgana Shaw - THE WOMEN - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL

•        Allison Rogers - SINGIN' IN THE RAIN - Garland Summer Musicals
•        Arianna Movassagh - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre
•        Christine Cunningham - KISS ME, KATE - Garland Summer Musicals
•        Lindsey Holloway - A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - Shakespeare Dallas
•        Patty Breckenridge - AIDA - Uptown Players
•        Sara Shelby Martin - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE - PLAY

•        Ashley Wood - RAW VISION - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        Ian Leson - BUG - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        Jason Ralph - BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre
•        Jerry Russell - VISITING MR. GREEN - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas
•        Joe Nemers - THE CRUCIBLE - WaterTower Theatre
•        Matthew Gray - SHAKESPEARE'S KEEPER - Classical Acting Company

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE - MUSICAL

•        Blake Davidson - KISS ME, KATE - Garland Summer Musicals
•        Casey Robinson - TOMMY - Uptown Players
•        Doug Miller - PAGEANT- Uptown Players
•        Gary Floyd - AIDA - Uptown Players
•        Joshua Doss - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre
•        Kirk Extrell - GREASE - Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE - PLAY

•        Cindee Mayfield - LEONARD'S CAR - My Way Productions
•        Diane Worman - BUG - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        Ellen Locy - SAILING TO BYZANTIUM - Echo Theatre
•        Emily Gray - NO EXIT - Classical Acting Company
•        Jessica D. Turner - THIS IS HOW IT GOES - WaterTower Theatre
•        Marisa Gonzalez - CLOUD TECTONICS - Kitchen Dog Theater 

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE - MUSICAL

•        Emily Lockhart - JUNIE B. JONES - Dallas Children's Theater
•        Kari Curletto - THE SOUND OF MUSIC - Repertory Company Theatre
•        Kia Dawn Fulton - AIDA - Uptown Players
•        Lisa Gabrielle Green - TOMMY - Uptown Players
•        Megan Kelly - ONCE UPON A MATTRESS - ICT Mainstage
•        Stacey Oristano - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A PLAY

•        Christopher Carlos/Christina Vela - CLOUD TECTONICS - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe - THIS IS HOW IT GOES - WaterTower Theatre
•        Mark Mullino - BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre
•        Regan Adair - THE NORMAL HEART - Uptown Players
•        Rene' Moreno - VISITING MR. GREEN - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas
•        Terry Martin - TAKE ME OUT - WaterTower Theatre

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

•        Bruce R. Coleman - TOMMY - Uptown Players
•        Buff Shurr - KISS ME, KATE - Garland Summer Musicals
•        Coy Covington - PAGEANT - Uptown Players
•        Doug Miller - AIDA - Uptown Players
•        James Paul Lemons - URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre
•        Nancy Schaeffer - JUNIE B. JONES - Dallas Children's Theater

OUTSTANDING NEW PLAY OR MUSICAL

•        THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD - Steven Walters - Second Thought Theatre
•        MARK TWAIN'S HUCK FINN - Lee Trull - Classical Acting Company
•        MIND OVER MURDER! - Kurt Kleinmann - Pegasus Theatre
•        RAW VISION - Leslie A. Wade - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        SECOND CHANCE - Tony Sportiello - Labyrinth Theatre
•        SHAKESPEARE'S KEEPER - Chris Pickles - Classical Acting Company

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

•        BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre
•        NO EXIT - Classical Acting Company
•        THE NORMAL HEART - Uptown Players
•        RAW VISION - Kitchen Dog Theater
•        TAKE ME OUT - WaterTower Theatre
•        VISITING MR. GREEN - Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

•        AIDA - Uptown Players 
•        JUNIE B. JONES - Dallas Children's Theater
•        KISS ME, KATE - Garland Summer Musicals
•        PAGEANT - Uptown Players
•        TOMMY - Uptown Players
•        URINETOWN - WaterTower Theatre

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

Every year, three special Rabin Awards are presented to honor outstanding achievement in a specific area.

They are:

The Career Achievement Award – presented each year to an individual or individuals with significant connections to Texas who through their work in theatre have consistently demonstrated a high level of expertise and professionalism.  This effort has lead the contributions of Texas theatre artists to be reflected positively to the world at large.  This year's recipient is Margo Jones (posthumously.)  Miss Jones' Dallas theatre, established in 1947, was the first modern professional resident theatre in the U.S.  She was mentor to playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, William Inge, Horton Foote, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee. Miss Jones co-directed the first Broadway production of The Glass Menagerie.

The Standing Ovation Award – this award was created to honor an individual or organization whose contribution to the advancement of theatre in Dallas has been extraordinary and deserves special recognition.  This year's honoree is Raphael Parry.  Mr. Parry has been affiliated with Shakespeare Dallas for over 20 years—and served as Artistic Director for the previous three seasons.  During his tenure with the company, he has directed six productions. Mr. Parry made his name in the Dallas theatre community first as co-founder and co-Artistic Director of the nationally acclaimed Undermain theatre, established in 1984. He gained recognition as an award winning director/actor and a savvy and experienced producer, participating in more than 100 productions at various theatres in the Dallas area.

He is a three-time recipient of Outstanding Actor by the Dallas Theatre Critics Forum Awards, a six-time recipient of Outstanding Director by Dallas Theatre Critics Forum and a two-time recipient of the Leon Rabin Award for the Best Director. He premiered or commissioned seven new plays at the Undermain, including works by Octavio Solis, Erik Ehn and John O'Keefe. Previous to his work at Shakespeare Dallas, Mr. Parry served for five years as the Artistic Director of Young Audiences of North Texas. Currently he also serves as Director of Texas Bound-Arts and Letters Live at the Dallas Museum of Art, Chief Artistic Officer at Project X: TheatreDanceMusicFilm and is a site reporter for the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Silver Ticket Award – bestowed each year to an individual, corporation or foundation whose primarily focus is not theatre-related, but whose support of theatre in the Dallas deserves special recognition.  This year the award is given to Fortunato Mato of the Dallas Costume Shoppe.  The Shoppe has costumed theatrical productions in the Dallas area since the 1920s.  Mr. Mato is a former owner of the Shoppe who still plays an active part in the store's operations.

The Dallas Theatre League cordially invites you to the 2006 Leon Rabin Awards on Monday, November 13, 2006 at the Rosewood Center for Family Arts, 5938 Skillman, Dallas, TX.  Cocktails start at 6:00PM with the Awards Ceremony commencing at 7:30PM.  A reception will follow.

Tickets are $25.00 ($15.00 for members of the DTL.)

To purchase tickets, visit the Dallas Theatre League website after October 1 or phone 214.876.6638.

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