Photo Flash: 2013 Ivey Awards to Honor Heroes of Twin Cities Theater

The 9th Annual Ivey Awards honoring the "Heroes of Twin Cities Theater" are set for Monday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m. This year, the talented, versatile Randy Reyes joins the delightful Shanan Custer to co-host the show at the Historic State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. Tickets ($35-$125) for the extravaganza - featuring a VIP reception, red carpet fashion, live entertainment, awards and after-party - are on sale now. Check out fun promo photos for the awards ceremony below!

Headlining the Ivey Awards VIP Pre-party at Le Méridien Chambers Hotel / Marin will be James Denton, famous for his role as hunky plumber Mike Delfino on "Desperate Housewives." Denton is returning to his small theater roots with his recent move to Minnesota, taking on roles at Park Square and Old Log Theatre this fall.

Established in 2004, the Iveys seek to increase awareness and appreciation of Twin Cities' professional theater community by providing a celebration for both those working within the professional theater community and those in the audience. The show includes recognition for work in all areas of theater, from production and design to direction and performance. Each year the participating theaters also select individuals to be honored as the year's Emerging Artist and Lifetime Achievement honoree. In addition, this year, the spotlight will especially focus on Twin Cities playwrights and the theaters that produce original work.

The 2013 Iveys Entertainment:
• "Let Freedom Ring" from Urinetown: The Musical by the Jungle Theater
• Excerpt from Clybourne Park by the Guthrie Theater
• Excerpt from A One-Hijra Stand-Up Comedy Show by Mixed Blood Theatre
• "Fine" from Ordinary Days by Nautilus Music Theater
• Medley from Stay Tuned by Yellow Tree Theatre
• Excerpt from Love and Marriage by Illusion Theater

The Iveys are unique among awards events in the country in that they are open to the public and there are no nominees, set number of awards, or pre-determined award categories with the exception of the Lifetime Achievement and the Emerging Artist awards. The artists and organizations receiving special recognition are selected from evaluations completed by the general public and more than 150 volunteer theater evaluators who have seen more than 1,000 performances in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area from September 2012-August 2013.

Each participating theater receives a vote to determine the Lifetime Achievement and Emerging Artist awards; for other honorees, a software program summarizes the information provided by the volunteer evaluators and the Ivey Awards advisory committee confirms the results. The 18-member advisory committee is composed of local theater professionals, theater board members, and theater-goers.

The 9th Annual Ivey Awards celebrating professional theater in the Twin Cities will take place on Monday, September 23, 7:30 p.m. at the Historic State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis. Tickets: Regular tickets $35* (includes reserved seating for show plus after-party at Le Méridien Chambers Hotel / Marin); VIP tickets $125 (includes VIP Pre-party at Le Méridien Chambers Hotel / Marin from 5:30 -7 p.m. with exquisite food and a cocktail bar, preferred seating at the State Theatre, plus after-party); Youth tickets for ages 17 and younger $8 (includes pre-party from 5:30 -7 p.m. with interactive entertainment and State Theatre show). Available at www.IveyAwards.com, State Theatre box office, any Ticketmaster outlet, BMW of Minnetonka, martinpatrick3, and MINQ at the West End. *$40 after September 14

Photo Credit: William Clark

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