Lights flickered on the Geauga Lyric Theatre marquee Saturday evening as theatre-goers and thespians alike trickled inside to recognize a year of noteworthy achievements.
Lights flickered on the Geauga Lyric Theatre marquee Saturday evening as theatre-goers and thespians alike trickled inside to recognize a year of noteworthy achievements.
“I want to make it like the Academy Awards,” said Civia Wiesner, who coordinated the eighth annual Geauga Lyric Theatre Guild Gala Awards. “It’s a place where everyone can dress up and join in the festivities and have fun.”
The celebration included a pre-show party as a prelude to an evening of paying homage to those who create the entertainment, both behind the stage and on.
“The welcoming attitude of those who ‘reside’ here is really the hidden beauty of the organization,” Wiesner said. “It is a place for children and adults to be at their creative best.”
Gold balloons shaped with the numbers six and zero indicating the start of the theatre’s marker birthday greeted guests as friends sipped on Merlot and munched on cheese and crackers Wiesner provided as a special thank you.
The voting process kicked off with self-addressed ballots mailed out to all season pass holders who cast their votes for everything from Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Best Director of a Play to Best Technical Design.
Ballots are tabulated twice. Weisner said they are done by people not involved with the theatre for the count to assure privacy.
Winners are given a medal with a ribbon and an additional keepsake, the envelope announcing their name.
Fifteen-year-old Flo Piotrkowski giggled and mingled with fellow-performers prior to awaiting the results of her first Gala Awards’ nomination.
“It’s exciting,” Flo said, up for her role as Liesl von Trapp from “The Sound of Music.” “I don’t care if I win or lose. The show was enough.”
Moments later, guests journeyed into the theatre to take seats as the house lights dimmed.
Shows being recognized included: “Forever Plaid,” “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Sound of Music,” “The Westing Game” and “The Wizard of Oz.”
Mistress of ceremonies, Wiesner soon joined presenters Kate Wright, Patty Osredkar and Jessica Boalt on stage.
“I start the show with Supporting Actor/Actress awards because it works well in the Academy Awards,” Wiesner said. “I stole that idea for sure, I think it works well to start off the show with a bang.”
Soon, applause filled the theatre after Wiesner thanked the audience for their patronage and as Flo took first honors for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.
“Hi, Dad,” Flo said with a huge smile as her eyes searched for Tony Piotrkowski, also an actor.
“I was really blessed to be part of this production,” she said.
Cameras flashed and applause continued as the next award went to Peter Percassi for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his role as The Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz.”
“Wow, thank you everybody,” Percassi said, sending a special shout out to the show’s crew. “It’s a tremendous honor, it really is. It’s nice to be honored for the thing you like to do.”
Geauga Park District Chief Naturalist John Kolar took the Best Leading Actor in a Musical award for his performance as Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz.”
Kolar — who has garnered other gala awards in the past — also took home a Best Featured Actor in a Musical award, along with Paul Josell, Tom Majercik Sr. and Tony Piotrkowski for their roles as Jinx, Frankie, Sparky and Smudge, respectfully, in “Forever Plaid.”
“I am humbled and honored to have won the award for Best (Leading) Actor in a Musical for my portrayal of Scarecrow in ‘The Wizard of Oz,’” Kolar said. “I’ve loved the show since I was a little kid and it was an amazing experience to actually get to visit Oz. Not too many people can say that.
He added, “The cast and crew were absolutely amazing to work with. It took a community of people to bring ‘The Wizard of Oz’ to life, and I’m happy that I could play a small part in it.
Kolar said he was also very happy to win an award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical along with his “Forever Plaid” cast mates.
“As I mentioned to you the other night at the theatre, I truly enjoy every single role that I do,” he said. “It is such a magical experience to be able to bring characters to life on stage and entertain people and make them smile.
“I must say that my two most recent roles at GLTG as Jinx in “Forever Plaid” and Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” are right up at the top of the list of favorite roles at GLTG. Other favorite GLTG roles include Jesus in “Godspell,” the Dentist on “Little Shop of Horrors” and Pseudolus in “A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum.”
Allison Lehr won Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz,” Jim Ray went home with the Best Leading Actor in a Play award for his role as Kris Kringle in “Miracle on 34th Street” and Angela Miloro-Hansen won Best Leading Actress in a Play for her role as Doris Walker in “Miracle on 34th Street.”
“Miracle on 34th Street” not only won as Best Play (non-musical), but Patty Osredkar took home the Best Director of a Play award.
“Forever Plaid” won Best Musical and Lisa-Marie French nabbed the Best Director award.
Weisner, a Los Angeles area native, said she moved to the area in 1996 and fell in love with Geauga County and the arts’ community.
“I am humbled to be an actor here,” Wiesner said. “My own children began here when they were very young and now they’re in college. I cannot begin to explain how much their theatre experiences have enriched their lives. They’ve been onstage, backstage, in the tech booth and in the musicians’ pit … and happy to have done it all. I’m proud, humbled and happy the Geauga theatre was here for my children and for myself. We’ve made friends who are now family.”
“I love it,” added Flo, a student at Chardon High School. “People here are great. I cry after the ending of every show.”
Upcoming 2014-2015 shows include: “The Fantasticks,” “And Then There Were None…,” “Annie Warbucks,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “The Music Man.”
Other Gala Awards:
Best Overall Show: “The Wizard of Oz”
Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Randy Hansen as Fred Gayley in “Miracle on 34th Street;”
Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Cara Robbins as Susan Walker in “Miracle on 34th Street;”
Best Featured Actor in a Play: Justin Simons as Sawyer in “Miracle on 34th Street;”
Best Featured Actress in a Play: Grace Butcher as Mrs. Dudley in “The Haunting of Hill House;”
Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Chloe Porter as Mother Abbess in “The Sound of Music;”
Best Costume Design: Julie Douglass and LeeAnn Tamburrino for “The Wizard of Oz;”
Best Choreography: Lisa-Marie French for “Forever Plaid;”
Best Music Director: Dave Thomas for “Forever Plaid;”
Technical Awards:
Best Lighting Design: Bradley Allen for “The Haunting of Hill House;”
Best Sound Design: Joshua Suhy for “The Haunting of Hill House;”
Best Set Design: Greg Pribulsky and Bradley Allen for “The Wizard of Oz.”
