White Rock Players Club shows – and theatre participants well-known on the Peninsula – are prominent in nominations for Community Theatre Coalition Awards announced last week.
Players Club efforts over the past season are up for a slew of awards – including a nomination June 24 for the year’s best production for the drama The Crucible, produced by Katherine Stadel.
And Players Club artistic director Ryan Mooney was nominated in four categories for his work with the club and his own Fighting Chance Productions – including best director (The Crucible), best actor (Barefoot in the Park), best choreographer (A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum) and best musical production (Spring Awakening, Fighting Chance). The club will also host the annual awards gala, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m., at Coast Capital Playhouse.
In other recognition for club productions, Jennifer Tiles was nominated for best actress in a musical for her performance as Rocky Raccoon in the pantomime Rumpelstiltskin.
The Crucible also received nominations in the categories of best lead actor (J-C Roy); best lead actress (both Rebekah McEwan and Rebecca Strom); and best lighting design (Matthew Davenport).
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum was also nominated for best supporting actress in a musical (McEwan); best supporting actor in a musical (Matt Loop); and best costume design (Pat McClean).
The club’s most recent show, Barefoot in the Park, was recognized with nominations in the categories of best actress (Strom), best supporting actress (Cindy Peterson Good), best set design (Dave Carroll), best set decoration (Laura McKenzie) and best poster graphic design (Stadel).
Fraser Valley Gilbert & Sullivan Society was also high on the recognition list this year with multiple nominations for its two musical productions.
The FVGSS pantomime The Frog Princess gained nominations for best musical director, Timothy Tucker; best actor in a musical, James Walker; best actress in a musical, Chelsea Tucker; best choreographer, Seitz; best costume design, Christy Zaporozan; best lighting design, Mike Balser; and best set design, Omanie Elias.
The society’s HMS Pinafore was nominated for best musical production, Stadel and Dann Wilhelm; best director, Jacqollyne Keath; best musical director, Kerry O’ Donovan; best choreographer, Carol Seitz; best actor in a musical, Mike Friesen; and best actress in a musical, Dodi Barrilec.
The South Surrey-raised O’Donovan was also nominated for his musical direction of Fighting Chance’s Rocky Horror Show.
Other well-known local players up for CTC awards are Sheila Greentree (best supporting actress, for Bus Stop, Langley Players); Mike Busswood (best supporting actor, The Drawer Boy, Surrey Little Theatre) and Reginald Pillay (best supporting actor for Light Sensitive, Langley Players).
For tickets to the awards ($30), call 604-536-7535 or visit www.whiterockplayers.ca
