Review: 2019 ARTS-LOUISVILLE BWW THEATRE AWARDS at Arts-Louisville.com

On February 25, in a ceremony held at Spalding University's Columbia Theatre Ballroom, Arts-Louisville Managing Editor Keith Waits presided over an awards presentation for excellence in theatre in Louisville and the surrounding area. Categories for student, professional, and locally produced productions were chosen by participants voting through BroadwayWorld.com's online awards portal.

A Lifetime Achievement recognition was bestowed on Paul Owen, a nationally renowned theatrical designer who was a crucial part of the history of both Actors Theatre of Louisville, beginning in 1971, and more recently, Kentucky Shakespeare. Matt Wallace, the Producing Artistic Director of the latter, paid tribute to Owen's influence before presenting the award, which was greeted by an enthusiastic standing ovation.

Charlotte "Charlie" Douglas was granted Theatre Educator of the Year after 30 years teaching at Louisville's Presentation Academy, a college-preparatory high school for young women. Douglas passed away in late 2018, so the award was accepted by her husband, actor Tom Luce, with tributes from former students (Josh Dallas tribute) and colleagues from Presentation.

Both were emotional and heartfelt moments. The two awards are decided by a committee comprised of event producers and other individuals active in the theatre community.

Two awards for writing were chosen by a jury who reviewed submissions from local playwrights. Gray Shaw's Heads, I Win was picked as Best Short Play, having premiered as a part of The Ten-Tucky Festival of Short Plays produced by The Bard's Town Theatre. Our review described the piece as, "...thoughtful, provocative without sacrificing nuance."

Best Full-Length Play went to Nobody Bunny and the Golden Age of Animation by Eli Keel, which was produced in March 2018 by Theatre [502]. Set in 1930's Hollywood, we noted about the production that it was as" ...easily engaging play because it is very funny, but it is in the way that it plumbs the depths of the human character that it distinguishes itself."

Keel's acceptance speech challenged the audience, dominated by theatre artists, to discover more space for local playwrights to "...tell the stories about Louisville that only they can tell." When Brian Hinds accepted the award for Best Actor in A Play (local) for his performance as Captain Tock in The Fastest Clock in eth Universe, he too delivered an abrasive wit and an exhortation that," You are all teachers...everyone in this room..."

For the second year, the four winners for Best Musical - Student, Professional, Regional, and Local performed musical numbers from the shows after their respective awards were announced.

A full list of recipients:

Lifetime Achievement in Theatre - Paul Owen

Theatre Educator of the Year - Charlene "Charlie" Douglas

Best Student Actor in A Musical
Will DeVary - NEWSIES - Floyd Central Theatre Arts

Best Student Actor in A Play
Will DeVary - RICHARD III - Commonwealth Theatre Center (Louisville)

Best Student Actress in A Musical
Caroline Siegrist - LITTLE MERMAID - Derby Dinner Playhouse

Best Student Actress in A Play
Lila Schaffner - DIARY OF ANNE FRANK - Hayswood Theatre

Best Student Musical
NEWSIES - Floyd Central Theatre Arts

Best Student Play
OUR TOWN - YPAS/DuPont Manual HS

Best Actor in a Musical (professional/national/touring)
Jim Hesselman - A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL - Derby Dinner Playhouse

Best Actress in a Musical (professional/national/touring)
Jillian Prefach - MAMMA MIA - Derby Dinner Playhouse

Best Director/Musical (professional/national/touring)
Lee Buckholz - MAMMA MIA - Derby Dinner Playhouse

Best Musical (professional/national/touring)
THE LITTLE MERMAID - Derby Dinner Playhouse

Best Actor in a Play (professional/national/touring)
Neill Robertson - DRACULA - Actors Theatre of Louisville

Best Actress in a Play (professional/national/touring)
Rita Thomas - Over the River & Through the Woods - Derby Dinner Playhouse

Best Director/Play (professional/national/touring)
Matt Wallace - OTHELLO - Kentucky Shakespeare

Best Play (professional/national/touring)
DRACULA - Actors Theatre of Louisville

Best Musical by A Regional Company (outside 15 mile radius)
MAMMA MIA! - Hayswood Theatre

Best Play by a Regional Company (outside 15 mile radius)
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK - Hayswood Theatre

Best Choreographer
Megan Bliss - NEWSIES - Floyd Central Theatre Arts

Best Costume Design
Vicki Hays - NEWSIES - Floyd Central Theatre Arts

Best Scenic Design
Robbie Steiner - NEWSIES - Floyd Central Theatre Arts

Best Sound Design
Jordan Burger - THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME - Floyd Central Theatre Arts

Best Lighting Design
Crit Fisher - GODSPELL - New Albany Theatre Arts

Best Short Play
Heads, I Win - Gray Shaw/The Bard's Town

Best Full-Length Play
Nobody Bunny and the Golden Age of Animation - Eli Keel/Theatre [502]

Best Director/Musical (local)
Robbie Steiner - NEWSIES - Floyd Central Theatre Arts

Best Director/Play (local)
Jason Roseberry - BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana

Best Actor in a Musical (local)
Jason Roseberry - A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE - TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana

Best Actor in a Play (local)
Brian Hinds - THE FASTEST CLOCK IN THE UNIVERSE - The Liminal Playhouse

Best Actress in a Musical (local)
Julie Riehm McGuffey - CARRIE THE MUSICAL - Acting Against Cancer

Best Actress in a Play (local)
Heidi Platt - BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana

Best Ensemble Cast (Local)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL - Derby Dinner Playhouse

Best Music Director
Angela Hampton - HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME - Floyd Central Theatre Arts

Best Musical (local)
TITANIC THE MUSICAL - TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana

Best Play (local)
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS - TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana

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