It took nearly four hours, but the folks at the Austin Circle of Theatres (ACoT) did finally hand out all the 1996-97 B. Iden Payne Awards this past Monday, September 15, at The Metropolitan Club. The annual celebration of outstanding achievements in local theatre typically runs closer to two and a half hours, but an infusion of new awards for support, the presentation this year of ACoT’s Special Recognition Award to three theatre greats — Alice Wilson, just-retired artistic director of the Zachary Scott Theatre Center (ZSTC); Eva Paloheimo, former managing director of Frontera@Hyde Park Theatre; and the late Michel Jaroschy, founder and producing director of Capitol City Playhouse — instead of one, the expansion of the entertainment (several very funny parody numbers written by Blake Yelavich), and the addition of an extra intermission ballooned the event to, as one attendee put it, Wagnerian length. (Yes, I did emcee the event, but I had nothing to do with that added time.) Even that long, though, fun was had, and the winners were:
Play: Sylvia (ZSTC)
Musical: The Gospel at Colonus (ZSTC)
Children’s Production: The Christmas Schooner (Austin Theatre for Youth)
Director, Play: Laura Worthen, Vinegar Tom
Director, Musical: Dana Younger, Water
Director, Children’s Production: Mary Alice Carnes, Deep in the Heart of Texas
Lead Actor & Actress, Play:
Marc Balester, A Perfect Ganesh
Emily Balanoff, Sylvia
Lead Actor & Actress, Musical:
Joe York, Sweeney Todd
Andra Mitrovich, Love, Janis
Lead Actor & Actress, Children’s Production:
Dan Sullivan, A Christmas Schooner
Linda Nenno, A Christmas Schooner
Featured Actor & Actress, Play:
Martin Burke, A Family Affair
Aimee McCormick, The Glass Menagerie
Featured Actor & Actress, Musical:
Scott Schroeder, Peter Pan
Jacqui Cross, The Gospel at Colonus
Featured Actor & Actress, Children’s Production:
Ev Lunning, Jr., The Hardy Boys in The Mystery of the Haunted House
Carla Nickerson, Deep in the Heart…
Choreography:
Richard Byron & Scott Thompson, Peter Pan
Musical Direction:
Allen Robertson, Ruthless! The Musical
Original Script: Kirk Lynn, Pale Idiot
Costume Design: Michael Raiford, Ruthless!
Lighting Design: Jason Amato, Panoptikon
Set Design: Christopher McCollum, Peter Pan
Sound Design: Kevin Freedman, Clayangels
Production/Stage Manager:
Willa Kaye Warren, River City Pops
Theatre Volunteer:
Kate Miranda, River City Pops
Technical Assistance:
Jim Chapman, River City Pops
Audience Members:
Natalie & Steve Lamoreaux, ComedySportz
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This article appears in September 19 • 1997 and September 19 • 1997 (Cover).