It’s theatre awards time and South Gippsland’s theatre companies have been doing brilliantly in garnering state awards.
Louise Dower received a Judge’s Award at the prestigious Music Theatre Guild of Victoria held at the Frankston Arts Centre on Saturday 5 December 2009.
Louise won the award for her sensitive and intelligent performance as the cow, Milky White, in FAMDA’s production of the ‘Into the Woods’, staged in Foster in October.
Louise attended the awards with her father, Ray, and an extra surprise was having her grandmother in the audience because she had gone to see her grandson perform with Carey Musical Theatre Company.
Louise also received congratulations from Leongatha Lyric friends with whom she performed in ‘A Little Hotel on the Side’ and Wonthaggi friends who worked with her last year in ‘Les Misérables’.
It turned out to be an exciting night for South Gippsland theatre companies with four “Bruce Bricks” going to Leongatha Lyric Theatre for its production of ‘The Witches of Eastwick’.
Three of these were awarded to Colin Mitchell in the categories of Settings, Wardrobe and Design.
The design award was described as being for Colin’s work on the “flying scene / welding scene / moon scene”.
Leongatha Lyric also received the Technical Achievement award for ‘The Witches of Eastwick’.
The Choreography award was won by Leasal Liddle-Pirouet for her work on ‘West Side Story’ for Wonthaggi Theatrical Group.
Another award going to Wonthaggi was a judge’s award to Chris Beasley for his performance as Tony, in ‘West Side Story’.
The prestigious Production of the Year award went to Ballarat Lyric Theatre for ‘Les Misérables’ which also earned awards for Direction, Musical Direction and Lighting as well as Male Performer in a Leading Role and Cameo performance.
The only other company to earn multiple awards was Williamstown Musical Theatre with two Bruce Bricks for its production of ‘Assassins’.
A full list of Music Theatre Guild of Victoria awards is available on www.musictheatreguildvic.org
VICTORIAN DRAMA LEAGUE
The Victorian Drama League awards for plays were presented in Melbourne on Sunday night, 6 December.
FAMDA scored a Judge’s Award for the original music created for ‘Dinner at Hugo’s’. The songs were composed and performed by Rob Ellis with assistance from John Laurie and Jules Schmidt.
Leongatha Lyric Theatre had entered its comedy, ‘A Little Hotel on the Side’, and was delighted to receive nominations for Most Outstanding Comedy, Director (Raymond Dunstan), Costumes (Heather Drury), Lead Male (Bruce Grainger), Support Female (Christine Skicko) as well as a Judge’s Award for hairstyling by Maria Arestia.
The award for best comedy went to Geelong Repertory Company for ‘Popular Mechanicals’ and the Most Outstanding Drama award went to ‘Wit’, staged by Encore Theatre.
A full list of Victorian Drama League awards is available on www.theatrecraft.org.au
GIPPSLAND THEATRE
Gippsland theatre’s own night of nights happens on Saturday evening, 12 December, at the Foster War Memorial Arts Centre.
It’s time to face the music and find out what the Gippsland Associated Theatre judges thought of each company’s productions and star performers in 2009.
The theme is masquerade and it’s a celebration of all the good things that have happened on the Gippsland theatre scene during the past year.
Come along and support your local theatre group as well as having a great night of theatre as Gippsland’s drama companies strut their stuff.
