The Weekender
Tuesday, April 21, 2009

And the NEPTAs go to ...

by Kelly Clisham

Weekender Correspondent

For 364 days a year, local theatre is not very glamorous. The work is hard, the hours are long and the only reward is having enough people buy tickets so the show can go on. Dedicated members of the cast and crew wear many hats, painting the set after running lines or staffing the box office before appearing on stage in the second act. For many talented folks on the local scene, being involved in theatre is like having a second job without the second paycheck. Still, there’s nothing quite like working with a close-knit group of actors, directors and technicians who come together to produce a show for the sheer joy of it. The group gathers for a few weeks, magically creating an entire world out of nothing, inhabiting that world for a short time and inviting others in before it’s suddenly gone again.

So for all these ups and downs, one night a year, local theatre takes a time to indulge in a little glamour and celebrate the tears and triumphs of the past theatrical season at the annual NEPTA Awards. Produced by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance, the NEPTA Awards is a chance for the 10-member theatres from Luzerne, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Wyoming counties to gather and honor the work of their peers in 30 different categories.

Tim Hutchins and Bonnie Love served as emcees for the awards show, held Saturday night at the Hilton Scranton. The duo kicked off the comedy right away with a musical number welcoming the companies. The laughs continued as the award presentations began. Marty Courtney, who picked up a NEPTA for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, apologized to one of his costars for his gruff treatment of her in their scenes. “Rest assured, I wasn’t thinking of you, I was thinking of my first wife,” he laughed. Michael Marone, nominated twice in the Best Director of a Musical category, joked during his acceptance speech for “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “I’m so glad that guy who directed ‘Hello Dolly’ didn’t win.”

There were some somber times as well, with the crowd sharing in a moment of silence for those in the theatre community who passed away this year. And the room was on its feet following the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Susan M. Jordan, who spoke of her theatre family as “a community of caring people sharing in a common goal” and shared her experiences of theatre as a positive, healing force even in the face of great personal tragedy.

Now with all the envelopes torn open and trophies handed out, Northeastern Pennsylvania’s bustling theatre community will pack away the glamour for another year and get back to producing quality live entertainment on a shoestring budget. But since they’ve got all that shiny new hardware, maybe we can let this year’s NEPTA recipients revel just a little bit longer.

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Christine Skiro – Dancer – “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” – Bracken

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Billy Joe Herbert – Donner – “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” – Bracken

Best Director of a Comedy

Roxan Schwartz – “Fawlty Towers” – Lakeside Players

Best Family Show

“Our Town” – Penn Rep

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama

Marty Courtney – Big Daddy – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama (Tie)

Suzanne St. Pierre – Mae – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom

Adia Williams – Mrs. Boyle – “A Prelude to a Kiss” – Worthington

Best Director of a Drama (Tie)

Tim Hutchins – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” –Rock Bottom

Jon Baptiste – “A Prelude to a Kiss” –Worthington

Best One Act

“If Men Played Cards As Women Do” – Lakeside

Best Set Design

Mark Wayman – “Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC

Best Lighting Design

Bob Balitski – “Parallel Lives” – Diva Theater

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

Robbie Rozelle – Trevor Grayden – “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

Nikola Printz – Rose Smith – “Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC

Best Director of a Musical

Michael Marone – “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA

Best Original Production

“The Doctor is In/Out” – Tom Flannery – Bracken Theatre

Best Juvenile Actor

Addison O’Donnell – Willy Wonka – “Willy Wonka, Jr.” – PTPA

Best Juvenile Actress

Sara Fulton – Miss Adelaide – “Guys & Dolls, Jr.” – Diva Theater

Best Sound Design

Neal Johnson – “A Prelude to a Kiss” – Worthington

Best Costume Design

Joanne Brown-Masters & Eva Schmidt – “Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC

Best Music Director

Joan Moyer – “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA

Best Choreographer

Sandra Graham – “Guys & Dolls, Jr.” – Diva Theater

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy

Frank DeSando – Basil Fawlty – “Fawlty Towers” – Lakeside Players

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy (Tie)

Karen Padden – Multiple Characters – “The Doctor is In/Out” – Bracken Theatre

Marylou Ambrose – Annie Dankworth – “The Housekeeper” – Lakeside Players

Best Lead Actor in a Drama

Dean Hutchins – Brick – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom

Best Lead Actress in a Drama

Eleanor Gwyn-Jones – Anna –“Closer” – Bracken Theatre

Best Lead Actor in a Musical

Michael Hurst – Jimmy Smith – “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA

Best Lead Actress in a Musical

Katy Childs – Millie Dillmont - “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA

Best Comedy

“Fawlty Towers” – Lakeside Players

Best Drama

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom

Best Musical

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA

Best Overall Show

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom