SPELLING BEE, AIDA, HISTORY BOYS et al. Among 2010 Column Award Winners

The Column Awards, a 501(c)3 nonprofit honoring excellence in theater in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, presented its 11th annual awards last night in Carpenter Hall at the Irving Arts Center. Uptown Players and Plaza Theatre Company tied for most wins with 10 each. In all, 17 theaters companies shared 62 awards, divided between Equity and non-Equity productions.

Monday night's gala also made history by having its largest audience turnout ever in their eleven year history. The gala actually doubled its audience attendance, thereby breaking their own attendance record set by last year.

The evening, hosted by The Column Awards founder and President John Garcia and Broadway leading man Ron Bohmer, kicked off with the largest opening production number in the show's history. "Sing, Sing, Sing," choreographed by C. Nicholas Morris, featured more than 20 dancers and actors and was set in "The Column Club," the theme for the evening. Following a humorous entrance for Mr. Garcia set to the song "Sit Down, John" performed by the cast of Greater Carnegie Players upcoming production of "1776," Mr. Bohmer wowed the crowd with "This is the Moment" from "Jekyll & Hyde." He closed the evening with "Music of the Night" from "The Phantom of the Opera," a role played by Mr. Bohmer in the long-running Los Angeles company of the Andrew Lloyd Webber megahit musical. The evening also included performances from many of the nominees for Best Musical in both the Equity and non-Equity divisions.

The evening's top play honors were taken by OnStage in Bedford's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (Best Play-Non-Equity) and "The History Boys" from Dallas's Uptown Players, which, in addition to winning Best Play-Equity, was the evening's most-honored play with nine awards. In the musical categories, "Aida," from Cleburne-based Plaza Theater Company, also took home nine trophies, including Best Musical-Non-Equity, to make it the year's most decorated musical. The Best Musical-Equity award went "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" produced by Theatre Three in Dallas. A complete list of winners is listed below.

Nominees and winners are selected by readers of "The Column," a national entertainment newsletter distributed via the Internet. From a pool of 80 eligible musicals and 140 eligible plays, six nominees were chosen in 59 categories, split into Equity and non-Equity divisions. The majority of subscribers are local theater artists-actors, producers, designers, choreographers, etc.-but the subscribership also includes many theatergoers and lovers of the art of theater.

More than an awards show, the organization is the only awards organization in the United States to be a major fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA), the nation's leading industry-based HIV/AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. Each year all money raised (after operating costs) goes to BC/EFA.

 

___________________2010 COLUMN AWARD WINNERS__________________

Best Musical - Equity
The 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE-Theatre Three

Best Musical - Non-Equity
AIDA-Plaza Theatre Company

Best Play - Equity
HISTORY BOYS-Uptown Players

Best Play - Non-Equity
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST-OnStage in Bedford

 

Steve Lovett Outstanding New Work by a Local Playwright Award
Scott A. Eckert, DEATH - THE MUSICAL
Pocket Sandwich Theatre

 

Best Director of a Musical - Equity
Bruce R. Coleman-THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Theatre Three

 

Best Director of a Musical - Non-Equity
JaceSon and Tina Barrus-AIDA
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Director of a Play - Equity
Bruce R. Coleman-HISTORY BOYS
Uptown Players

 

Best Director of a Play - Non-Equity
Bill Fountain & Lisa Long-ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
OnStage in Bedford

 

Best Music Director of a Musical - Equity
Jay Dias- FUNNY GIRL
Lyric Stage

 

Best Music Director of a Musical - Non-Equity
Dick Helmcamp-AIDA
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Choreography of a Musical - Equity
Kelly McCain- BREATHE
Uptown Players

 

Best Choreography of a Musical - Non-Equity
Eddie Floresca- WEST SIDE STORY
Artisan Center Theater

 

Best Stage Manager of a Musical - Equity
Doug Miller- THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Theatre Three

 

Best Stage Manager of a Musical - Non-Equity
Stefanie Glenn, Monica Glenn, Karen Trahan
AIDA
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Stage Manager of a Play - Equity
Amy Fisher Hughes-THE HISTORY BOYS
Uptown Players

 

Best Stage Manager of a Play - Non-Equity
Tom Ortiz-ALL MY SONS
ICT Mainstage

 

Best Actor in a Musical - Equity
Dennis Canright
RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL
Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre

 

Best Actor in a Musical - Non-Equity (TIE)

Stan Graner
MY FAIR LADY
Artisan Center Theater

Tom DeWester
MAN OF LA MANCHA
OnStage in Bedford

 

Best Actor in a Play - Equity (TIE)

Bradley Campbell
THE HISTORY BOYS
Uptown Players

Chris Robinson
GREATER TUNA
Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre

 

 

Best Actor in a Play - Non-Equity (TIE)

Jeff Swearingen
HELLO HUMAN FEMALE
Audacity Theatre Lab

Elias Taylorson
TALK RADIO
Upstart Productions

 

Best Actress in a Musical - Equity
Diana Sheehan
GREY GARDENS
Water Tower Theatre

 

Best Actress in a Musical - Non-Equity
Feleceia Benton
AIDA
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Actress in a Play - Equity
Liz Mikel
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Dallas Theater Center

 

Best Actress in a Play - Non-Equity
Arianna Movassagh
HELLO HUMAN FEMALE
Audacity Theatre Lab

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical - Equity
Darius-Anthony Robinson
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Theatre Three

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical - Non-Equity
Shane Strawbridge
EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL
Level Ground Arts

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Play - Equity
Alexander Ross
THE HISTORY BOYS
Uptown Players

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Play - Non-Equity
Brad Stephens
ALL MY SONS
ICT Mainstage

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical - Equity
Megan Kelly-Bates
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Theatre Three

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical - Non-Equity
Courtney Sikora
AIDA
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Play - Equity
Wendy Welch
THE HISTORY BOYS
Uptown Players

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Play - Non-Equity
Dana Harrison
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
Richardson Theatre Centre

 

Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Equity
Alexander Ross
FUNNY GIRL
Lyric Stage

 

Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Non-Equity
Alex Rodriguez
CHICAGO
Music Theatre of Denton

 

Best Featured Actor in a Play - Equity
John Venable
THE ROYAL FAMILY
Theatre Three

 

Best Featured Actor in a Play - Non-Equity
JaceSon Barrus
CASH ON DELIVERY
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Equity
Pam Dougherty
GREY GARDENS
Water Tower Theatre

 

Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Non-Equity
Crystal Hires
AIDA
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Featured Actress in a Play - Equity
Carrie Slaughter
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

 

Best Featured Actress in a Play - Non-Equity
Lulu Ward
TALK RADIO
Upstart Productions

 

Best Costume Design of a Musical - Equity
Bruce R. Coleman
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Theatre Three

 

Best Costume Design of a Musical - Non-Equity
Tina Barrus
AIDA
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Costume Design of a Play - Equity
Ryan Matthieu Smith
GREATER TUNA
Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre

 

Best Costume Design of a Play - Non-Equity
Ande Bewley
PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE
Level Ground Arts

 

Best Lighting Design of a Musical - Equity
Amanda West
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Theatre Three

 

Best Lighting Design of a Musical - Non-Equity
Julie Moroney
ALTAR BOYZ
Uptown Players

 

Best Lighting Design of a Play - Equity
Tyler Micoleau
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Dallas Theater Center

 

Best Lighting Design of a Play - Non-Equity
Sam Nance
ALL MY SONS
ICT Mainstage

 

Best Scenic Design of a Musical - Equity
Jeffrey Schmidt
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Theatre Three

 

Best Scenic Design of a Musical - Non-Equity
Dennis Canright and Jason Leyva
WEST SIDE STORY
Artisan Center Theater

 

Best Scenic Design of a Play - Equity
Clare Floyd DeVries
THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A TRAILERTRASH HOUSEWIFE

 

Best Scenic Design of a Play - Non-Equity
Wade Giampa
ALL MY SONS
ICT Mainstage

 

Best Sound Design of a Musical - Equity
Bill Eickenloff
FUNNY GIRL
Lyric Stage

 

 

Best Sound Design of a Musical - Non-Equity
G. Aaron Siler
AIDA
Plaza Theatre Company

 

Best Sound Design of a Play - Equity
Andi Allen
THE HISTORY BOY
Uptown Players

 

Best Sound Design of a Play - Non-Equity
Bill Fountain
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST
OnStage in Bedford

 

Chita Rivera Dance Award - Male
Michael Sylvester
WEST SIDE STORY
Artisan Center Theater

 

Chita Rivera Dance Award - Female
Gina Gwozdz
WEST SIDE STORY
Artisan Center Theater

 

Kathleen Freeman Award: Delynda Johnson Moravec

Rudy Seppy Volunteer Award: Richard S. Blake

 

Ben Brettell Youth Award - Male
Cayman Mitchell
Seth Cunningham

 

Ben Brettell Youth Award - Female
Mary McElree
Mandy Smith

Wade Giampa Technical Scholarship Recipient: Patrick Griffin

Photo: Ron Bohmer

 

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