Phoenix Theatre, Cookie Company top Arizoni Awards
By CHRIS PAGE
Tribune
Phoenix Theatre’s production of the Leiber and Stoller revue “Smokey Joe’s Café” and its Cookie Company theater for young audiences were big winners at the 2004-2005 Arizoni Awards, the Valley theater community’s version of the Tony Awards, held Monday night at the new $98 million Mesa Arts Center.
“Smokey Joe’s” earned a dozen plaques, including Best Musical, while Cookie Company won across several categories for its original productions of “The Girl Who Saved The Sun” and “Aesops Fables.com.”
The biggest upset? Mesa’s Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, which pulled in 11 nominations for its critically lauded production of the musical “Gypsy,” only to receive one award — for supporting actress Katie Kalahurka.
But victories and upsets are beside the point for the Arizonis. Organizers behind the controversially soft-pedaling awards show, celebrating its 15th year, say the annual show is more about celebrating good work in the community than a competition for top prize.
Which is why it’s not uncommon to see multiple shows take home winning plaques in the same category. Best Play nods went to Arizona Jewish Theatre Company’s “Beau Jest” and Actors Theatre’s “Sight Unseen,” while Phoenix Theatre shared its Best Musical awards between its “Smokey Joe’s” and a season-opening run of “Cabaret.”
Organizers use a complex formula of adjudicating (using some 80 volunteer judges) and bell curve tabulation to pick nominees and winners. Nominees with high scores close enough together split the top awards. Hence five winners of Best Scenic Design in the community theater division and six Best Choreography plaques in children’s theater.
(The Tribune was provided with a list in winners in advance of Monday night’s ceremony.)
“It’s a night where all the theater people can get together and see each other. At this point, it’s a social gathering,” said Peter Hill, an actor/director who heads the Copperstate Dinner Theater and is artistic director of the Fountain Hills Community Theater.
The Arizonis represent 33 of the Valley’s 57 current theater companies, including newcomers like Gilbert’s Hale Centre Theatre (with a dozen wins, including top awards for “Barefoot In The Park” and “The Sound of Music”) and groups like Mesa Community College’s theater department (with nine wins this year), which pay a $75 fee to have up to five of their shows judged each season.
Several prominent theaters, from the large Arizona Theatre Company and Childsplay to smaller Black Theatre Troupe and Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, have refused to join or left the Arizoni organization — most citing either a distaste for awards competition or a dislike of the Arizonis’ adjudicating process.
“With the loss of some of the companies, like ATC, it’s tarnished the awards a lot,” Hill said. “But it’s 15 years old and it’s what we’ve got.”
Hill took several awards Monday night, including those for his direction of the rock musical “Jekyll and Hyde” at Fountain Hills Community Theatre and for penning the Broadway revue “From Berlin to Brooks” for Arizona Jewish Theatre Company.
THE 2004-2005 ARIZONI AWARDS:
Contracted theatre
OVERALL PRODUCTION, PLAY
Beau Jest, Arizona Jewish Theatre Company Sight Unseen, Actors Theatre
OVERALL PRODUCTION, ORIGINAL PLAY
The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company
OVERALL PRODUCTION, ORIGINAL MUSICAL
From Berlin To Brooks, Arizona Jewish Theatre Company
ACTRESS IN A MAJOR ROLE, PLAY
Tyler Olshansky, Aesop's Fables.com, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Cathy Dresbach, You Can't Take It With You, Phoenix Theatre Angelina Ramirez, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Cathy Dresbach, Nickel and Dimed, Actors Theatre
ACTRESS IN A MAJOR ROLE, MUSICAL
Tori Sanchez, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre Fredena Williams, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre
ACTOR IN A MAJOR ROLE, PLAY
Ken Ruta, King Lear, Southwest Shakespeare Company Nicolas Glaeser, Sight Unseen, Actors Theatre
ACTOR IN A MAJOR ROLE, MUSICAL
Darryl Calmese Jr., Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre Arthur Marks, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre Christopher Michael, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre Clark Webb, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PLAY
Debra Stevens, You Can't Take It With You, Phoenix Theatre Jan Sickler, Beau Jest, Arizona Jewish Theatre Company Natalie Messersmith, Sight Unseen, Actors Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PLAY
Ben Tyler, Sight Unseen, Actors Theatre
Chris Vaglio, You Can't Take It With You, Phoenix Theatre Mike Lawler, Cabaret, Phoenix Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, MUSICAL
Brian Laivelle, Beguiled Again, Phoenix Theatre
DIRECTOR, PLAY
Gregory Jaye, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Matthew Wiener, Sight Unseen, Actors Theatre
DIRECTOR, MUSICAL
Robert Harper, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre M. Seth Reines, Miss Saigon, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Alan Ruch, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre Alan Ruch, Cabaret, Phoenix Theatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Robert Harper, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre Michael Barnard, A Christmas Carol, Actors Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN
T.J. Weltzien, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company T.J. Weltzien, You Can't Take It With You, Phoenix Theatre Gregory Jaye, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN
Gail Wolfenden-Steib, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company John P. White, Guys and Dolls, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre Susan Johnson-Hood, A Christmas Carol, Actors Theatre
HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN
T.J. Weltzien, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Manuela Needhammer, Aesop's Fables.com, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Cari Smith, Aesop's Fables.com, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company
LIGHTING DESIGN
Michael Eddy, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Russell A. Thompson, Miss Saigon, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
SOUND DESIGN
Brian Kunnari, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Dave Temby, Smokey Joe's Café, Phoenix Theatre
Non-contracted theatre
OVERALL PRODUCTION, PLAY
Barefoot In The Park, Hale Centre Theatre The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Mesa Community College Theater Arts
OVERALL PRODUCTION, ORIGINAL PLAY
In My Humble Opinion, On The Spot Theater Men On The Verge 2, Teatro Bravo
OVERALL PRODUCTION, MUSICAL
Man of La Mancha, Scottsdale Community Players Sound of Music, Hale Centre Theatre
OVERALL PRODUCTION, ORIGINAL MUSICAL
12 Princesses, Mesa Community College Act One Musical Productions A Beautiful Noise, Fountain Hills Community Theater
ACTRESS IN A MAJOR ROLE, PLAY
Margarita Villa, The Women of Juarez, Teatro Bravo April Shepherd, Barefoot In The Park, Hale Centre Theatre
ACTRESS IN A MAJOR ROLE, MUSICAL
Athena Reiss, Man of La Mancha, Scottsdale Community Players Janine Smith, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Desert Foothills Theater
ACTOR IN A MAJOR ROLE, PLAY
Thomas Murray, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Mesa Community College Theater Arts Joe Kremer, Barefoot In The Park, Hale Centre Theatre
ACTOR IN A MAJOR ROLE, MUSICAL
Jeffry Walker, Jekyll and Hyde, Fountain Hills Community Theater Joe Kremer, Pirates of Penzance, Hale Centre Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PLAY
Andrea Pruseau, Barefoot In The Park, Hale Centre Theatre Janis Webb, Critic's Choice, Tempe Little Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, MUSICAL
Katie Williams-Ivie, The Rocky Horror Show, Nearly Naked Theatre Melissa Van Slyke, The Secret Garden, Mesa Community College Act One Musical Productions Kathi Osborne, Company, Tempe Little Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PLAY
Bob DePalma, Barefoot In The Park, Hale Centre Theatre John Schile, In My Humble Opinion, On The Spot Theater
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, MUSICAL Joshua Alston, The Secret Garden, Mesa Community College Act One Musical Productions Chase Cornett, Sound of Music, Hale Centre Theatre
GUEST ACTOR, PLAY
Sharon Collar, Over The River And Through The Woods, Mountain Shadows Theatre Company
DIRECTOR, PLAY
Christina Marin, The Women of Juarez, Teatro Bravo Damon Dering, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Nearly Naked Theatre
DIRECTOR, MUSICAL
Allen Dietlein, Sound of Music, Hale Centre Theatre Noel Irick, Man of La Mancha, Scottsdale Community Players Peter J. Hill, Jekyll and Hyde, Fountain Hills Community Theater
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Judi Holmberg, Romance In 'B,' Copperstate Dinner Theater Mickey Bryce, Sound of Music, Hale Centre Theatre Kevin Glenn, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Desert Foothills Theater
CHOREOGRAPHY
Stephanie Stone, The Taming of the Shrew, South Mountain Community College Noel Irick, Man of La Mancha, Scottsdale Community Players
SCENIC DESIGN
Brian Daily, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Mesa Community College Theater Arts Robert X. Planet, In My Humble Opinion, On The Spot Theater Kara Thomson, The Lion In Winter, Mesa Community College Theater Arts Jeff Blake, Jekyll and Hyde, Fountain Hills Community Theater Peter J. Hill, Man of La Mancha, Scottsdale Community Players
COSTUME DESIGN
Sandy Bishop, Titanic, Scottsdale Community Players Dawn Chin, Titanic, Scottsdale Community Players Jack Pauly, Titanic, Scottsdale Community Players Sandy Dietlein, Sound of Music, Hale Centre Theatre Gail Oliphant, Jekyll and Hyde, Fountain Hills Community Theater Lisa Suico, Jekyll and Hyde, Fountain Hills Community Theater
HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN
Patsy Johnson, Jekyll and Hyde, Fountain Hills Community Theater Diane Welle, Breaking Legs, Desert Foothills Theater
LIGHTING DESIGN
Glenda Stewart, In My Humble Opinion, On The Spot Theater David Dietlein, A Christmas Carol, Hale Centre Theatre Troy Buckey, The Secret Garden, Mesa Community College Act One Musical Productions
SOUND DESIGN
Christopher Scinto, Breaking Legs, Desert Foothills Theater Luke Dorsett, The Women of Juarez, Teatro Bravo
Children's theatre
OVERALL PRODUCTION
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valley Youth Theatre The Somewhat True Tale Of Robin Hood, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater
OVERALL PRODUCTION, ORIGINAL PLAY
Pau$e For The Clau$e, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater
OVERALL PRODUCTION, MUSICAL
The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre
The Wizard of Oz, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
OVERALL PRODUCTION, ORIGINAL MUSICAL
The Snow Faerie, East Valley Children's Theatre Mumblety Peg, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater
ACTRESS IN A MAJOR ROLE, PLAY
Kyla Druckman, The Somewhat True Tale Of Robin Hood, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater Willa Darian, Mother Hicks, Theater Eclectic
ACTRESS IN A MAJOR ROLE, MUSICAL
Carly Goldberg, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater Katie Olsen, Footloose, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre Alex Starks, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater Jessica Rupnik, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater Marissa Leigh, The Wizard of Oz, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
ACTOR IN A MAJOR ROLE, PLAY
David Griswold, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valley Youth Theatre Drew Ignatowski, The Snow Faerie, East Valley Children's Theatre Edgar Torrens, Footloose, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PLAY
Taylor Popish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valley Youth Theatre Kendall Arrington, The Magical Lamp of Aladdin, East Valley Children's Theatre Tierney Formanek, Sleeping Beauty, Valley Youth Theatre
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, MUSICAL
Kayla Long, The Wizard of Oz, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre Katie Olsen, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, PLAY
David Griswold, Sleeping Beauty, Valley Youth Theatre Jeff Driskill, Footloose, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, MUSICAL
Mark Jacobson, Godspell, Phoenix Centere Youth Theater Jeffrey Reynolds, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Valley Youth Theatre Anthony Coslett, Into the Woods, Valley Youth Theatre
GUEST ACTOR, PLAY
Maurice Blalack, Mother Hicks, Theater Eclectic Ron Jennings, The King and I, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
DIRECTOR, PLAY
Ross Collins, The Somewhat True Tale Of Robin Hood, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater Katie Rex, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valley Youth Theatre
DIRECTOR, MUSICAL
D. Scott Withers, Footloose, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre Bobb Cooper, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Katie Rex, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Valley Youth Theatre
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Mark Fearey, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Miciah Dodge, Footloose, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre Alan Plado, The Wizard of Oz, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
CHOREOGRAPHY
Kevin Bender, Grease, Valley Youth Theatre Katie Rex, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valley Youth Theatre Sheryl Cooper, Sleeping Beauty, Valley Youth Theatre Sarah Kukes, Footloose, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre Sandra Knutson, The Wizard of Oz, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre Kevin Bender, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN
Michael Anania, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Dr. Geof Eroe, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valley Youth Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN
Karol Cooper, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Margaret Payson, The Wizard of Oz, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
HAIR AND MAKEUP DESIGN
Karol Cooper, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valley Youth Theatre Karol Cooper, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre David Nixon, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Evan Cowden, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Jennie Rojas, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Karol Cooper, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Valley Youth Theatre
LIGHTING DESIGN
Michael Eddy, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Michael Eddy, Grease, Valley Youth Theatre Michael Eddy, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valley Youth Theatre Ronald Bonanni, Mother Hicks, Theater Eclectic Catherine Zatarski, Mother Hicks, Theater Eclectic Michael Eddy, Sleeping Beauty, Valley Youth Theatre Bob Nelson, Footloose, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
SOUND DESIGN
Dave Temby, The Wizard of Oz, Valley Youth Theatre Sarah Kukes, Footloose, Greasepaint Scottsdale Youtheatre
Original writing
ORIGINAL PLAYSCRIPT
Gregory Jaye, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Alan Prewitt, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company
ORIGINAL SCRIPT, MUSICAL
Heather Parsons, The Snow Faerie, East Valley Children's Theatre Ross Collins, Mumblety Peg, Fountain Hills Community Youth Theater Alan Prewitt, There's Something In My Kitchen, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Peter J. Hill, From Berlin To Brooks, Arizona Jewish Theatre Co.
Rob Gardner, 12 Princesses, Mesa Community College Act One Musical Productions
ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION
Brian Kunnari, The Girl Who Saved The Sun, Phoenix Theatre Cookie Company Kathie McMahon, The Snow Faerie, East Valley Children's Theatre
