AURORA | The best-selling production in the history of the Aurora Fox Arts Center continued its stint in the limelight Tuesday after the Colorado Theatre Guild nominated the East Colfax theater’s 2016 production of “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” for five Henry Awards.
Local theater aficionados tabbed the Fox’s production for awards in the following categories: Outstanding production of a musical, outstanding direction of a musical, outstanding actor in a musical, outstanding supporting actress in a musical and outstanding ensemble performance, according to a post on the Colorado Theatre Guild.
Director donnie l. betts — who prefers his named to be spelled with lowercase letters — and Musical Director Jodel Charles were named in the direction and production categories, and actors Leonard E. Barrett Jr. and Anna High were respectively nominated in the actor and actress categories.
Charles Packard, who served as the longtime executive producer at the Fox before stepping down from his post earlier this spring, said “Porgy and Bess” was the most successful production in the city-owned theater’s history.
The show, which ran from late November of 2016 until the very beginning of 2017, attracted 3,066 attendees and netted $62,829 in revenue, according to city budget documents.
The Fox’s fellow performing arts hub in the Aurora Cultural Arts District, Vintage Theatre Productions, was nominated for one Henry Award this year. Actress Linda Suttle was nominated in the category of “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play” for her role in The Vintage’s recent production of “A Time To Kill.”
The Vintage was a big winner at last year’s Henry Awards, winning in four different categories for its performance of David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Rabbit Hole.”
Dozens of Colorado theater aficionados play a hand in selecting nominees for each year’s Henry Awards, which are named in honor of longtime Denver theater producer Henry Lowenstein.
This year’s Henry Awards ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. July 17 at the PACE Center in Parker. Tickets can be purchased by calling 303-805-6800 or by visiting parkerarts.org.
RELEASE FROM THE COLORADO THEATER GUILD:
The Colorado Theatre Guild Announces Nominees for the Upcoming Henry Awards
12th Annual Gala Honors Outstanding Achievements by Colorado’s Theatre Community
The Colorado Theatre Guild’s 12th Annual Henry Awards will take place Monday, July 17, 2017 at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue in Parker, Colorado. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and the awards ceremony will begin at 7 p.m., followed by an after-party. Tickets are $23 for CTG members (limit 2 per person online with the code Henry2017), $30 non-members or $50 VIP. Tickets go on sale June 30 through the PACE Center website, parkerarts.org, or by calling the box office at 303-805-6800.
Established in 2006, the Henry Awards honor outstanding achievements during the past season and serves as the Colorado Theatre Guild’s annual fundraising event. The awards are named for longtime local theatre producer Henry Lowenstein. Nominations are determined through a judging process conducted by more than 45 statewide theatre reporters, educators and assigned judges.
Last year the Colorado Theatre Guild expanded the number of nominees to seven in each category. The number of eligible shows for 2016-17 totaled 204 and the Guild was able to provide the minimum number of five judges to 190 of those shows.
Our nominees for the 2016 – 2017 12th Annual Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards are:
Outstanding Season for a Theatre Company
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
DCPA Theatre Company
Lone Tree Arts Center
Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
TheatreWorks
Thunder River Theatre Company
Outstanding Production of a Play
“August: Osage County,” OpenStage Theatre & Company, Dulcie Willis, Director
“The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company, Davis McCallum, Director
“Constellations,” TheatreWorks, Joye Cook-Levy, Director
“Don’t Dress for Dinner,” OpenStage Theatre & Company, Wendy S. Moore, Director
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Thunder River Theatre Company, Corey Simpson, Director
“Game of Love and Chance,” TheatreWorks, Murray Ross, Director
“Tartuffe,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Lynne Collins, Director
Outstanding Production of a Musical
“Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts, Meridith C. Grundei, Director;
Gary Grundei, Musical Direction
“Evita,” Lone Tree Arts Center, Gina Rattan, Director; Max Mamon, Musical Direction
“Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company, Scott RC Levy, Director;
Sharon Skidgel, Musical Direction
“Monty Python’s Spamalot,” PACE Center & Inspire Creative, Kelly McAllister, Director;
Tanner Kelly, Musical Direction
“Motones vs. Jerseys,” Midtown Arts Center, Kenny Moten, Director; Jalyn Courtenay Webb, Musical Direction
“Muscle Shoals: I’ll Take You There,” Lone Tree Arts Center, Randal Myler, Director; Dan Wheetman, Musical Direction
“Porgy and Bess,” Aurora Fox Arts Center, donnie l. betts, Director; Jodel Charles, Musical Direction
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Lynne Collins, “The Drowning Girls,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Joye Cook-Levy, “Constellations,” TheatreWorks
Davis McCallum, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
Matt Radcliffe, “The Elephant Man,” Springs Ensemble Theatre Company
Murray Ross, “Game of Love and Chance,” TheatreWorks
Corey Simpson, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Dulcie Willis, “August: Osage County,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
donnie l. betts , “Porgy and Bess,” Aurora Fox Arts Center
Meridith C. Grundei, “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts
Kelly McAllister, “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” PACE Center & Inspire Creative
Scott RC Levy, “Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Randal Myler, “Muscle Shoals: I’ll Take You There,” Lone Tree Arts Center
Gina Rattan, “Evita,” Lone Tree Arts Center
Nick Sugar, “First Date,” Lake Dillon Theatre Company
Outstanding Musical Direction
Neal Dunfee, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” BDT Stage
Gary Grundei, “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts
Max Mamon, “Evita,” Lone Tree Arts Center
Sharon Skidgel, “Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Jason Tyler Vaughn, “Murder Ballad,” The Edge Theater Company
Jalyn Courtenay Webb, “Motones vs. Jerseys,” Midtown Arts Center
Dan Wheetman, “Muscle Shoals: I’ll Take You There,” Lone Tree Arts Center
Outstanding Actor in a Play
William Hahn, “Burn This,” The Edge Theater Company
Kevin Hart, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Sammie Joe Kinnett, “Game of Love and Chance,” TheatreWorks
Steven P. Sickles, “Le Bête,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Micah Speirs, “The Elephant Man,” Springs Ensemble Theatre Company
Dan Tschirhart, “The Flick,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Adam Verner, “Don’t Dress for Dinner,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Outstanding Actress in a Play
LuAnn Buckstein, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Carley Cornelius, “Constellations,” TheatreWorks
Denise Burson Freestone, “August: Osage County,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Kathleen McCall, “The Glass Menagerie,” DCPA Theatre Company
Emma Messenger, “Misery,” The Edge Theater Company
Sydney Parks Smith, “August: Osage County,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Caitlin Wise, “Game of Love and Chance,” TheatreWorks
Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Leonard E. Barrett, Jr. , “Porgy and Bess,” Aurora Fox Arts Center
Joshua Blanchard, “Cabaret,” Lake Dillon Theatre Company
Stephen Day, “Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Miles Jacoby, “Evita,” Lone Tree Arts Center
August Stoten, “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” PACE Center & Inspire Creative
Colin Summers, “Million Dollar Quartet,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Joe Von Bokern, “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts
Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Jacquie Jo Billings, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Miners Alley Playhouse
Colby Dunn, “The Toxic Avenger,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Sarah Groeke, “Cabaret,” Lake Dillon Theatre Company
Cecilia Iole, “The Little Mermaid,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Marissa Rudd, “Sister Act,” Midtown Arts Center
Tracy Warren, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” BDT Stage
Danielle Hermon Wood, “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” PACE Center & Inspire Creative
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Nathan Cox, “The Tempest,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Rodney Lizcano, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
Wesley Mann, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
Owen O’Farrell, “The Tempest,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Hunter Ringsmith, “Equivocation,” Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Triney Sandoval, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
Corey Simpson, “The Tempest,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Miriam A. Laube, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
Carolyn Lohr, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Leslie O’Carroll, “Silent Sky,” Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
Amelia Pedlow, “The Glass Menagerie,” DCPA Theatre Company
Christina Sajous, “Disgraced,” DCPA Theatre Company
Linda Suttle, “A Time to Kill,” Vintage Theatre Productions
Edith Weiss, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Brandon Bill, “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” PACE Center & Inspire Creative
Ben Hilzer, “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts
John Jankow, “A Christmas Story,” Midtown Arts Center
Matt LaFontaine, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Bob Moore, “Cabaret,” Lake Dillon Theatre Company
Nicholas Park, “First Date,” Lake Dillon Theatre Company
Kyle Ashe Wilkinson, “Titanic,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Jenna Bainbridge, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Joan Bruemmer-Holden, “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts
Charlotte Campbell, “A Christmas Story,” Midtown Arts Center
Anna Maria High, “Porgy and Bess,” Aurora Fox Arts Center
Rebecca Hoodwin, “Cabaret,” Lake Dillon Theatre Company
Carol Rose, “The Little Mermaid,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Megan Van De Hey, “The Toxic Avenger,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Outstanding Ensemble Performance
“August: Osage County,” OpenStage Theatre & Company, Dulcie Willis, Director
“The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company, Davis McCallum, Director
“The Drowning Girls,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Lynne Collins, Director
“Game of Love and Chance,” TheatreWorks, Murray Ross, Director
“Motones vs. Jerseys,” Midtown Arts Center, Kenny Moten, Director; Jalyn Courtenay Webb, Musical Direction
“Muscle Shoals: I’ll Take You There,” Lone Tree Arts Center, Randal Myler, Director; Dan Wheetman, Musical Direction
“Porgy and Bess,” Aurora Fox Arts Center, donnie l. betts, Director; Jodel Charles, Musical Direction
Outstanding New Play or Musical
“The Book of Will” by Lauren Gunderson – Directed by Davis McCallum; Produced by DCPA Theatre Company
“The Firestorm” by Meridith Friedman – Directed by Pesha Rudnick; Produced by LOCAL Theater Company
“Full Code” by David Valdes Greenwood – Directed by Stephen Weitz; Produced by Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
“The History Room” by Charlie Thurston – Directed by Pesha Rudnick; Produced by Creede Repertory Theatre
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Music and Lyrics by David Nehls, Book by Kenn McLaughlin –
Directed by Gavin Mayer; Produced by Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
“Lost Creatures” by Melissa Lucero McCarl – Directed by Patrick Elkins-Zeglarski; Produced by And Toto too Theatre Company
“Muscle Shoals: I’ll Take You There” by Randal Myler – Directed by Randal Myler; Produced by Lone Tree Arts Center
Outstanding Choreography
Mary Ripper Baker, “Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Joan Bruemmer-Holden & Amanda Berg Wilson, “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts
Jeff Duke & Stephanie Hanson, “The Little Mermaid,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Kelly Kates, “The Robber Bridegroom,” Town Hall Arts Center
Michael Lasris, “A Christmas Story,” Midtown Arts Center
Matthew D. Peters, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” BDT Stage
Kate Vallee, “42nd Street,” Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
In recent years the theatre community reached out and asked that we consider ways that allow our larger and smaller companies to compete, more appropriately, with each other. The Colorado Theatre Guild has created two categories, or tiers, for our technical awards. The breakdown is for productions, of larger and smaller scale, based upon currently established production budgets.
Outstanding Costume Design Tier 1
Camille Assaf, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
Stephanie Bradley, “Game of Love and Chance,” TheatreWorks
Janson J. Fangio, “Enchanted April,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Sydney Gallas, “Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Clare Henkel, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Clare Henkel, “Tartuffe,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Lex Liang, “Shrek” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Costume Design Tier 2
Kari Armstrong, “The Snow Queen,” Bas Bleu Theatre Company
Buntport Theater, “The Crud,” Buntport Theater
Pamela Clifton, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Judith Ernst, “The Wizard of Oz,” Candlelight Dinner Playhouse
Tricia Music, “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” PACE Center & Inspire Creative
Jesus Perez, “The Little Mermaid,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Annabel Reader, “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts
Outstanding Lighting Design Tier 1
Charles R. MacLeod, “The Glass Menagerie,” DCPA Theatre Company
Shannon McKinney, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Jon Olson, “The Drowning Girls,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Holly Anne Rawls, “Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Paul Toben, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
Brian Tovar, “Frankenstein,” DCPA Theatre Company
Mike Wood, “Constellations,” TheatreWorks
Outstanding Lighting Design Tier 2
Seth Alison, “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” PACE Center & Inspire Creative
Brandon Ingold, “August: Osage County,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Sean Jeffries, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Sean Jeffries, “The Last Romance,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Jen Kiser, “Evita,” Lone Tree Arts Center
Sean Mallary, “Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage,” The Catamounts
Brett Maughan, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” BDT Stage
Outstanding Scenic Design Tier 1
Paul Black, “Mamma Mia,” Theatre Aspen
Sandra Goldmark, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
Brian Mallgrave, “The Drowning Girls,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Brian Mallgrave, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Lisa Orzolek, “Disgraced,” DCPA Theatre Company
Christopher L. Sheley, “Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Jason Sherwood, “Frankenstein,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Scenic Design Tier 2
Shaun Albrechtson, “Steel Magnolias,” PACE Center & Inspire Creative
James Brookman, “August: Osage County,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
M. Curtiss Grittner, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Sean Jeffries, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Sean Jeffries, “The Last Romance,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Lori Rosedahl, “The Flick,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Kyle Scoggins, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Miners Alley Playhouse
Outstanding Sound Design Tier 1
Jason Ducat, “Constellations,” TheatreWorks
Jason Ducat, “The Drowning Girls,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Benjamin Heston, “Man of La Mancha,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company
Morgan McCauley, “Tartuffe,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Stowe Nelson, “The Book of Will,” DCPA Theatre Company
David Thomas, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Zach Williamson, “The Secret Garden,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Sound Design Tier 2
Travis Duncan & Jeremiah Walter, “The Elephant Man,” Springs Ensemble Theatre Company
Carlos Flores, “Misery,” The Edge Theater Company
Sean Jeffries, “The Tempest,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Allen Noftall, “Evita,” Lone Tree Arts Center
Allen Noftall, “Muscle Shoals: I’ll Take You Theatre,” Lone Tree Arts Center
Jon Northridge, “Million Dollar Quartet,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Tom Quinn & Kenny Storms, “Murder Ballad,” The Edge Theater Company
Additional Special Awards will be announced in July.