After the marathon presentation of the 23rd annual
B. Iden Payne Awards -- at nearly four hours, it outlasted your average production of
Götterdämmerung -- the city's stagehounds were more than unusually anxious approaching this year's ceremony. As it ended up, however, the 24th Payne Awards finished in record time. By 9:30pm Monday night, September 14, the
Austin Circle of Theatres (ACoT), which hosts the annual celebration of achievements in local theatre, had handed out all its awards at The Austin Club. No single production dominated the awards this year, but the
Zachary Scott Theatre Center (ZSTC) was the most heavily honored company, with 11 awards, including Production of a Musical, Production of a Play for Children, and a shared award with
Frontera@Hyde Park Theatre (F@HPT) for Production of a Play (
Steven Tomlinson's engaging solo work
Managed Care). Tomlinson was also honored for his performance in that show and for original script. The event's most prestigious award -- recognizing an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the theatre community -- was renamed this year in memory of two of its past recipients, both of whom died in 1998. The first
Deacon Crain/
John Bustin Special Recognition Award was presented to longtime actor/director/producer
Norman Blumensaadt, commemorating his 18 years of local stage work. In accepting the honor, Blumensaadt paid tribute to many of the artists who contributed significantly to Austin theatre in the Seventies and Eighties. Providing the evening's entertainment were members of the troupe
Naughty Austin, who poked fun at assorted local personalities and groups in tart parody songs written by
Blake Yelavich. When the smoke cleared, the winners were:
Production, Play: Managed Care (F@HPT/ ZSTC)
Production, Musical: Dreamgirls (ZSTC)
Production, Play for Children: The Roman Nose in Exile (ZSTC's Project InterAct)
Director, Play: Jill Parker-Jones, Beast on the Moon
Director, Musical: Scott Thompson & Richard Byron, Annie
Director, Play for Children: Judy Matetzschk, The Roman Nose in Exile
Lead Actor & Actress, Play:
Steven Tomlinson, Managed Care
Boni Hester, Beast on the Moon
Lead Actor & Actress, Musical:
Charlie Pollack, The Who's Tommy
Janis Stinson, Blues in the Night
Featured Actor & Actress, Play:
Patrick Amos, Angels in America, Part One Janelle Buchanan, A Delicate Balance
Featured Actor & Actress, Musical:
T. Mychael Rambo, Dreamgirls
Rembert Block, Triskelion
Actor & Actress, Play for Children:
Michael Silverstone, Ordinary People
Jennifer Nickolyn, Charlotte's Web
Choreography: Scott Thompson & Richard Byron, West Side Story
Musical Direction: Allen Robertson, The Who's Tommy
Original Script: Steven Tomlinson, Managed Care
Costume Design: Leslie Bonnell, The Who's Tommy
Lighting Design: Jason Amato, Triskelion
Set Design: Christopher McCollum, Annie
Sound Design: Carlos Treviño, The Whimsy
Production/Stage Manager: Bill Sheffield & Susan Threadgill, Austin Shakespeare Festival & Zilker Theatre Productions
Technical Assistance: Zach Murphy, VORTEX Repertory Company
