The Prince George Pocket Theatre production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike won the Central Interior Zone Drama Festival held at the Studio Theatre in Williams Lake, May 18 to 22.
The award was presented to the cast and crew by festival adjudicator Sarah Rodgers during the awards ceremonies held at the Studio Theatre Saturday evening.
The Prince George play will go on to compete at the Theatre BC Mainstage provincial festival taking place in Chilliwack July 2-9.
“I had a wonderful time,” Rodgers said. “I loved watching the shows. It’s been so much fun getting to know the community and working with everybody the next morning (at the coffee critques). I really love that. It was effortless working with everybody.”
Numerous individual and team awards were presented by Rodgers during the awards ceremonies which followed a casual catered banquet held at the theatre. Balancing Act was the festival theme so in addition to their awards certificates winners were presented with fun little trophies featuring a silver bell on a pole with a miniature plane propeller on top.
The festival included one play from Prince George and three Williams Lake entries.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
In addition to the Outstanding Production Award the Prince George Pocket Theatre production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike written by Christopher Durang won the following awards:
Best Performance by an Actress: Jody Newham as Sonia.
Best Performance by a Supporting Actor: Adam Harasimiuk as Spike.
Best Performance by a Supporting Actress: Katherine Trepanier as Masha.
Adjudicator’s Award for Best Work as an Actor: Pierre Ducharme as Vanya.
Outstanding Work by a Director: Dominic Maguire.
Death Defying Acts
The Studio Theatre production of Death Defying Acts, written by David Mamet, Elaine May and Woody Allen, won the following awards:
Best Performance by an Actor: Chris Armstrong as the attendant in The Interview by; Ken in Hotline; and Howard in Central Park West.
Best Performance by a Novice Actress: Veronica Abel as Dorothy in Hotline and as Carol in Central Park West.
Outstanding Work by a Novice Director: Shane Tollefson.
Outstanding work in Hair and Makeup Design: Tanis Daum.
Outstanding Work in Set Design: Curt Sprickerhoff and Sheryl-Lynn Lewis.
Outstanding Work in Lighting Design/Operator: Dan Patterson.
Annoyance
The Studio Theatre production of Annoyance written by Sam Bobrick won the following awards:
Best Performance by a Novice Actor: Oren Barter as the annoying Ethan Steckler.
Outstanding Work in Props: Director Brad Lawryk and Christa Obergfell.
Outstanding Work in Costume Design: Christa Obergfell.
Snake in the Grass
The Maranatha Players production of Snake in the Grass, written by Tim Kelly won the following awards:
Outstanding Ensemble Performance.
Outstanding backstage work and co-operation.
Best Youth Actress: Shelby McCauley as Wild Prairie Rose.
Best Youth Actor: Spencer Blois as Sheriff Billy Bold.
Adjudicators Choice Award for Physical Comedy: the four poker boys, Nathan Seibert, Justin McKee, Jeff Vogt, and Tian Walker.
Outstanding Work in Sound Design: director Becky Strickland.
The festival wrapped up Sunday afternoon with an intensive workshop for the cast and crew of the winning play at the Studio Theatre.