By John Hankins
The annual gala celebration of the live and lively theater scene in Ventura County is happening on Feb. 9 honoring the most outstanding productions, directors, actors, producers, music and tech
people of the 2019 season.
As Momma Rose sang, “Curtain up! Light the lights!” it’s the Four-Star Theater Alliance hitting the heights, and you could be in attendance as a limited amount of public tickets are available.
“The Alliance gala has become the yearly highlight,” said Eric Umali who chairs the Alliance.
The alliance includes five Ventura County theaters committed to promoting a spirit of camaraderie and cooperation, playing to literally thousands of patrons every year in Ventura County.
Between them, they’ve produced over two dozen main stage productions ranging from a locally written drama (“Bless Your Heart”) to Broadway blockbusters (“Sweet Charity”) along with a plethora of comedies, dramas and dramadies.
There are 14 ‘outstanding’ categories for each theater and a judge’s choice. Of the 5-6 productions for each theater, judges chose the “Outstanding Overall Production,” which are:
~ Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” David Hatfield and Samantha Netzen- Bingham, Producers.
~ Conejo Players Theatre, “Sweeney Todd,” Patricia Losey, Producer.
~ Elite Theatre Company, “To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday,” L.J. Noel, Producer.
~ Ojai Art Center Theater (Ojai ACT), “Mamma Mia!” Herb Hemming and Tracey Williams Sutton, Producers.
~ Santa Paula Theater Center, “The Humans,” Leslie Nichols, Producer.
For a listing of all awards and to keep apprised of productions coming up in 2020, befriend the Four-Star Theater Alliance on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/vc4star
The evening will be filled with celebration as well as live performance scenes of the 2019 season and the ever-popular fast-moving montage of photos that depict the actors. A reception follows with food, drink, a raffle and silent auction.
This year’s event honoring the 2019 season is at 7pm Feb. 9 at the Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Rd. in Thousand Oaks. For tickets visit the Facebook site.
“Ventura County has always been home to some of the finest productions and talent that community theatre has to offer, and for more than ten years, the Four Star Theater Alliance has served to promote cooperation and camaraderie and to celebrate the achievements that its member theatres produce every year,” Umali said.
The Alliance has raised the bar in quality and variety of live theater here since it started, culminating in a uniquely judged award ceremony. In most locales, a local newspaper hands out awards. Not here. Five representatives from each theater volunteer to go to all the plays at another theater not their own. They take notes and in December decide the most ‘outstanding’ in various categories.
A peek at the 2020 season includes: “You Can’t Take it With You,” “Wit,” “Peter Pan,” “Shirley Valentine,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Bye, Bye Birdie,” “Wait Until Dark,” “9 to 5,” and “Camelot.”
Award Recipients for the 2019 Season
Camarillo Skyway Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performance, Male: Ezra Eells as “Black Stache”, Peter and the Starcatcher
Outstanding Lead Performance, Female: Ryanna Dunn as “Rosalind”, As You Like It
Outstanding Featured Performance, Male: Shawn Adams-Lanz as “Mrs. Bumbrake”, Peter and the Starcatcher
Outstanding Featured Performance, Female: Nora Kay as “Mrs. Ethel Banks”, Barefoot in the Park
Outstanding Set Design: David Hatfield, Peter and the Starcatcher
Outstanding Sound Design: Allan Noel, Peter and the Starcatcher
Outstanding Lighting Design: Jim Diderrich, Peter and the Starcatcher
Outstanding Costume Design: Laura Comstock & Genvieve Levin, Peter and the Starcatcher
Outstanding Music Direction: Erin Fagundes, Peter and the Starcatcher Outstanding Choreography: Julie Hackett, Peter and the Starcatcher Outstanding Direction: R. Shane Bingham, Peter and the Starcatcher
Outstanding Overall Production: Peter and the Starcatcher – David Hatfield & Samantha Netzen- Bingham, Producers
Judges’ Choice Award: “Creative Ensemble Set Changing” Award to Patrick T. Rogers & Lauren Rachel, Barefoot in the Park
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Arriana Rodriguez
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Hannah Garcia
Conejo Players Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performance, Male: John David Wallis as “Sweeney Todd”, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Lead Performance, Female: Dana Kolb as “Mrs. Lovett”, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Featured Performance, Male: Gabriel Gentile as “The Beadle”, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Featured Performance, Female: Olivia Heulitt as “Suzette”, Don’t Dress For Dinner
Outstanding Set Design: Rick Steinberg, Sweet Charity
Outstanding Sound Design: Larry Lindsay, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Lighting Design: Jack Allaway, Pippin
Outstanding Costume Design: Manuel Silva, Teri O’Connor, and Laurel Marion, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Music Direction: Jim Holmes, Shelley Ross Saxer, David Fraley, and Diann Alexander, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Choreography: Miriam Durrie-Kirsch, Sweet Charity
Outstanding Direction: Miriam Durrie-Kirsch, Sweet Charity
Outstanding Overall Production: Sweeney Todd – Patricia Losey, Producer
Judges’ Choice Award: “Outstanding Mechanical, Technical, and Special Effects” Award to Alex Choate, John Holroyd, and Lee Marks, Sweeney Todd
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Peter Umipig
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Ainsley Shapiro
Elite Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Performance, Male: Bill Walthall as “David”, To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Outstanding Lead Performance, Female: Jen Ridgway as “Esther”, To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Outstanding Featured Performance, Male: Patrick T. Rogers as “Barnette Lloyd”, Crimes of the Heart
Outstanding Featured Performance, Female: Catie Sayeg as “Joanne”, Vanities
Outstanding Set Design: Rolland Petrello, To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Outstanding Sound Design: Rolland Petrello, To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Outstanding Lighting Design: Kylie Anne, To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Outstanding Costume Design: Lorna Bowen, Breaking Legs
Outstanding Direction: Rolland Petrello, To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday
Outstanding Overall Production: To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday – L.J. Noel, Producer
Judges’ Choice Award: “The Little Theatre That Could” Award to The Board of Directors of The Elite Theatre Company
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Hannah Garcia
Ojai Art Center Theater
Outstanding Lead Performance, Male: David Nelson Taylor as “Thomas”, Bless Your Heart
Outstanding Lead Performance, Female: Susan Kelejian as “Martha”, Bless Your Heart
Outstanding Featured Performance, Male: Daniel Mitchell as “Cléante”, The Miser
Outstanding Featured Performance, Female: Marisa Miculian as “Gertrude McFuzz”, Seussical
Outstanding Set Design: Steve Pronovost & Kenny Dahle, Mamma Mia!
Outstanding Sound Design: James Antunez, Mamma Mia!
Outstanding Lighting Design: Steve Grumette, Night Must Fall
Outstanding Costume Design: Sheryl Jo Bedal & Debbie Ayers, Seussical
Outstanding Music Direction: Andrew Street & Smitty West, Mamma Mia!
Outstanding Choreography: Anna Kotula, Mamma Mia!
Outstanding Direction: Paul Sulzman, The Miser
Outstanding Overall Production: Mamma Mia! – Herb Hemming & Tracey Williams Sutton, Producers
Judges’ Choice Award: “Heartwarming Wordsmith” Award to Richard Camp for Bless Your Heart
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Arshan Barati
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Kyra Maal-King
Santa Paula Theater Center
Outstanding Lead Performance, Male: Michael Perlmutter as “Erik Blake”, The Humans ‘
Outstanding Lead Performance, Female: Jill Dolan as “Elizabeth”, Complications From a Fall
Outstanding Featured Performance, Male: Ron Feltner as “Louie”, Lost in Yonkers
Outstanding Featured Performance, Female: Jessi May Stevenson as “Sarah”, Seascape
Outstanding Set Design: Michael Carnahan, Casa Valentina
Outstanding Sound Design: Jessi May Stevenson & Allan Noel, The Humans
Outstanding Lighting Design: Gary Richardson, Complications From a Fall
Outstanding Costume Design: Barbara Pedziwiatr, Casa Valentina
Outstanding Direction: Jessi May Stevenson, The Humans
Outstanding Overall Production: The Humans – Leslie Nichols, Producer
Judges’ Choice Award: “Outstanding Season Selections” Award to David Ralphe & Fred Helsel
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Ryan Garces
Outstanding Youth in Theatre: Wesley Umali
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