2019 B. Iden Payne Award Winners
Five shows share top honors with four awards each
By Robert Faires, 2:15PM, Wed. Nov. 6, 2019
For many in Austin's theatre community, they will remember, remember the fourth of November, as that's when the 45th annual B. Iden Payne Theatre Awards ceremony was held at the Austin Scottish Rite Theater. More than 30 shows from the 2018-19 season were honored on Monday, with five productions earning four awards apiece.

The top comedy was Hidden Room Theatre's The Rover, for which Beth Burns' direction was recognized, along with Toby Minor's performance and the entire cast performance.
The outstanding production of theatre for young audiences was the Austin-created musical Tortoise and Hare, by the Best of Austin Award-winning team of Damon Brown and Allen Robertson. It was produced this past season by Zach Theatre and directed by Nat Miller, who was honored for his direction of the show. Also recognized were cast member Leslie Ann Leal and choreographer Sara Burke.
In the realm of musical theatre, two shows took home four awards: Ground Floor Theatre's Fun Home, which took the outstanding production prize, along with awards for director Lisa Scheps and actors Mariela Denson and Sarah Marie Curry; and Trouble Puppet Theater Company's American Blood Song, which was honored for the performance by Zac Crofford, its original score by Mother Falcon, and its puppetry, plus it received a special citation for historical reenactment.
The full list of awards follows:
Drama
Production
We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Südwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915, Street Corner Arts
Direction
Liz Fisher, We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Südwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915
Lead Actor
Kareem Badr, Heartland
Lead Actress
Florinda Bryant, black do crack
Featured Actor
Delanté G. Keys, *some humans were harmed in the making of this show
Featured Actress
Katy Taylor, *some humans were harmed in the making of this show
Comedy
Production
The Rover, Hidden Room Theatre
Direction
Beth Burns, The Rover
Lead Actor
Nate Dunaway, Who Framed Roger Replicant?
Lead Actress
Eva McQuade, Lady Macbeth and Her Pal, Megan
Featured Actor
Toby Minor, The Rover
Featured Actress
Amber Quick, Your Mother’s Copy of the Kama Sutra
Musical Theatre
Production
Fun Home, Ground Floor Theatre
Direction
Lisa Scheps, Fun Home
Lead Actor
Tristan Tierney, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Lead Actress
Sarah Marie Curry, Fun Home
Featured Actor
Zac Crofford, American Blood Song
Featured Actress
Coty Ross Williams, Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Improvised Theatre
Production
LatiNacional, ColdTowne Theater
Direction
Ben G. Bázan and Lilli Lopez, LatiNacional
Rudy Kloptik Award for Outstanding Resident Troupe
Sugar, Water, Purple
Martin DeMaat Award for Outstanding Itinerant Troupe
Rook
Ethel Hinkley Award for New Improv Troupe
¡Escándalo!
Theatre for Young Audiences
Production
Tortoise and Hare, Zach Theatre
Direction
Nat Miller, Tortoise and Hare
Actor
Delanté G. Keys, RapUnzel
Actress
Leslie Ann Leal, Tortoise and Hare
Design
Set
Lisa Laratta, The Divine Narcissus
Costumes
Jennifer Rose Davis, Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Lighting
Chris Conard, Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Sound
Lowell Bartholomee, *some humans were harmed in the making of this show
Media
Lowell Bartholomee, *some humans were harmed in the making of this show
Properties
Taylor Travis, Mr. Burns, a post-electric play
Wigs, Masks and Makeup
Delena Bradley, The Women of ______ (a song not song)
Improvised Technical Design
Michael Yew, Greg Blank, Sasha Stadler and Amanda Kate, Make It So
Stage Management
Jasmine Kurys, Not Every Mountain
Backstage
Music Direction
Allen Robertson, Once
Dance Choreography
Sara Burke, Tortoise and Hare
Fight Choreography
Toby Minor, Who Framed Roger Replicant?
Dramaturgy
Sharon Bridgforth, black do crack
Dialect Coach
Melissa Grogan, Seven

Performances and Composition
Young Actor
Jayden Wallace, The Face of Emmett Till
Young Actress
Mariela Denson, Fun Home
Small Cast Performance in Scripted Theatre
We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Südwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915, Street Corner Arts
Large Cast Performance in Scripted Theatre
The Rover, Hidden Room Theatre
Cast of Improvised Theatre
One Hour Til Air, ColdTowne Theater
Ensemble Performance
Ann Catherine Zárate and Sarah Zeringue, Side Show
Live Music Performance
Michael Ferstenfeld, Howard Burkett, and Dan Patrevito, Your Mother’s Copy of the Kama Sutra
Stage Movement
Shark Ensemble, Matawan
Puppetry
American Blood Song, Trouble Puppet Theater Company
Original Script
Gabriel Jason Dean, Heartland
Original Score
Mother Falcon, American Blood Song
Special Citations
Historical Reenactment
American Blood Song, Trouble Puppet Theatre Company
Collaborative Dramaturgy
Indian Ink, Austin Shakespeare
Sustainable Design
Mr. Burns, a post-electric play, Better Mr. Burns
Theatre for Social Change
Tales of Sleepless Nights, Gathering Ground
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Robert Faires, Nov. 7, 2018
Robert Faires, Oct. 25, 2017
Sept. 24, 2021
Sept. 17, 2021
B. Iden Payne Awards, Ground Floor Theatre, Street Corner Arts, Trouble Puppet Theater Company, Hidden Room Theatre, Zach Theatre