Tuesday, August 19, 2008

YACTA results

YOUNGSTOWN — The 2007/ 2008 Marquee Awards were presented Saturday at the Saxon Club.

Jack Ballantyne Jr., chairman of the Youngstown Area Community Theater Awards said the contenders were decided by a 30-member nomination committee, who saw all of the local plays from July 2007 to July 2008. The voting was done by members of the Alliance, the group that runs the YACTA, a group of member community theaters and play reviewers from The Vindicator and Valley24.com.

Twelve area theaters participated in the 27 categories. The winners are:

• Best Properties Design : Pam Sacui, Thomas Copeland, Marilyn Higgins for “An Evening of One-Acts” — Victorian Players.

­• Best Lightboard Operator: Jeffrey Chann for “The Earth Trembled” — Top Hat Productions.

• Best Stage Manager: Joey Monda for “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” — Youngstown Playhouse.

• Best Sound Design: Dan Jankura for “Ragtime-The Musical” — Weathervane Community Playhouse.

• Best Musical Director: John Ebner for “Ragtime-The Musical” — Weathervane.

• Best Scenic Design: Jim Lybarger for “Enchanted April” — Youngstown Playhouse.

• Best Lighting Design: Ellen Licitra for “Titanic-The Musical” — Youngstown Playhouse.

• Best Direction of a Play: John Pecano for “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” — New Castle Playhouse.

• Best Direction of a Musical: Terry Burgler for “Ragtime-The Musical” — Weathervane.

• Best Swing Performance in a Musical or Play: Henry C. Bishop for “Ragtime-The Musical” — Weathervane.

• Best Character Performance in a Play: Nick Opritza as Gus Swenson in “Sandbag Stage Left” — Move Over Broadway Productions.

• Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical: Brandy Johanntges as Madame Bouche in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” — Youngstown Playhouse.

• Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Lori Broderick as Erna in “The Runner Stumbles” — Oakland Center for the Arts.

• Best Costume Design: Kenneth Brown for “Once On This Island” — Top Hat .

• Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical: Shawn Lockaton as Frederick in “Titanic-The Musical” — Youngstown Playhouse.

• Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play: Terry Shears as Markinson in “A Few Good Men” — Youngstown Playhouse.

• Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play: David El’Hatton as Kendrick in “A Few Good Men” — Youngstown Playhouse.

• Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical : Greg Emannuelson as Tateh in “Ragtime-The Musical” — Weathervane.

• Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical : Brandy Johanntges as Kate McGowen in “Titanic-The Musical” — Youngstown Playhouse.

• Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play: Candace DiLullo as Honey in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” — New Castle Playhouse.

• Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical: Nikita Jones as Ti-moune in “Once On This Island” — Top Hat.

• Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Play: Connie Cassidy as Hedda in “Hedda Gabler” — Victorian Players.

• Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical: Tom C. Barnes as Coalhouse Walker in “Ragtime-The Musical” — Weathervane.

• Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play: John Holt as George in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” — New Castle Playhouse.

Best Revival of a Play or Musical: “Man of LaMancha” — New Castle Playhouse.

• Best Play of the 2007 / 2008 season: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” - New Castle Playhouse

• Best Musical of the 2007 / 2008 season: “Ragtime-The Musical” — Weathervane.

Special Awards:

• 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award: George Orr of the New Castle Playhouse.

• Excellence in Theatre Award: New Castle Playhouse, on their 50th anniversary.