THE AWARDS
29th Annual
Carbonell Award
Ceremonies & Honorees
FORT LAUDERDALE (Nov. 8, 2004)--Mistress of Ceremonies Florence Henderson opened the show with a Carbonell-themed parody lyric to “Some People.” No “Brady Bunch” mom this night, she gleefully bantered with presenters, winners and bandleader Peter Graves throughout the night, regularly scoring knockdown retorts.
The two and one-half hour show featured The Peter Graves Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Graves. “Purpose” from “Avenue Q” sung by Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia, the full-chorus opening number to “42nd Street” led by original Broadway Peggy Sawyer Wanda Richert, and a lengthy medley of the year’s nominated regional musicals.
The ceremonies produced by Jean Ann Ryan Productions, directed and choreographed by Ryan, also included large rear-screen projections of the year's nominated shows nominated to a voiceover history of the last quarter-century of regional theater growth, plus a later video tribute to the Coconut Grove Playhouse's half-century of professional theater.
Patrick Quinn, president of Actors Equity Association, appeared in stubby coif shortly after finishing a run at Philadelphia's Walnut Theatre as Daddy Warbucks. Quinn congratulated the local theater community for its growth and development.
Sandy Duncan and Martin Vidnovic, costarring in “The King and I” in the Broward Center’s main hall, presented several of the road show awards and accepted on behalf of “The Producers” near sweep: Best Production, director (Susan Stroman), Actor (Lewis J. Stadlen), Supporting Actress (Charley Izabella King) and Supporting Actor (Lee Roy Reams). The show played both the Broward Center and West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center last season.
Several newcomers broke through, notably Jeanne Lynn Gray, Best Actress in a Musical for "The Life" at Atlantis Playhouse. Like the Palm Beach Dramaworks, the Atlantis is a 3-year-old company that earned its first nominations this year, all nine for the rare production of the Cy Coleman musical. Gray’s win is for her professional debut.
Other newcomers were Lorena Diaz as Best Supporting Actress in a Play for “Betty’s Summer Vacation” by Miami’s actor-driven resident ensemble Mad Cat Theatre Company, and E.L. Losada as Best Actor in a Musical for the title role in “Bat Boy,” at the since-shuttered Shores Theatre in Miami Shores.
The 2004 George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, the program’s highest honor, goes to arts executive Sherron Long for a career of arts advocacy that spans the entire state. Long currently heads the Florida Cultural Alliance, a network of hundreds of arts groups, and the Florida Professional Theatres Association.
Producing artistic director Arnold Mittleman accepted the President's Award for the nationally recognized contributions of the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Coral Gables over the past half-century. Built as a movie house in 1927, the theater hosted a semi-professional theater season in 1953, then reopened after renovations in 1956 with the American premiere of “Waiting for Godot.”
Honorees for the 2003-04 season ending Labor Day, 2004:
SPECIAL AWARDS
George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts--Sherron Long, executive director of the Florida Professional Theatres Association (FPTA), and the CEO of the Florida Cultural Alliance, and manager of the Florida Assn. of Local Arts Agencies.
Bill Hindman Award--Meredith Lasher, actress, costume designer, producer and co-founder of several theater companies.
Howard Kleinberg Award--Mark Nerenhausen, President, Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Ruth Foreman Award --Lawrence E. Stein, chairman of the board, and Barbara Stein, executive producer, of the Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, Coral Gables.
President’s Award--The Coconut Grove Playhouse, Arnold Mittelman, producing artistic director
SPECIAL AWARD HONOREES
Ruth Foreman Award: Barbara & Lawrence E. Stein
Howard Kleinberg Award: Mark Nerenhausen
Bill Hindman Award: Meredith Lasher
REGIONAL THEATER AWARDS
Best New Work (award to author): “Beauty of the Father,” Nilo Cruz, New Theatre; “Blind Date,” Mario Diament, New Theatre; “Fell in Love With a Girl,” Samara Siskind, Mad Cat Theatre Company; “Heaven Help Us,” Ray Roderick and James Hindman, Florida Stage; W: “Running With Scissors,” Michael McKeever, Florida Stage.
Best Ensemble: “The Drawer Boy,” Florida Stage; “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; “Summer Shorts,” City Theatre; W: “Tracers,” Juggerknot Theatre Company; “Strands,” M Ensemble Theatre Company.
PLAYS
Best Production (award to producing theater): W: “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” GableStage; “The Dresser,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; “Take Me Out,” Caldwell Theatre Company; “Waiting for Godot,” Sol Theatre Project; “White People,” New Theatre.
Best Director: W: Joseph Adler, “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” GableStage; Nanique Gheridian, “The Dresser,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; Michael Hall, “Take Me Out,” Caldwell Theatre Company; Robert Hooker, Waiting for Godot, Sol Theatre Project; Louis Tyrrell, “Running With Scissors,” Florida Stage.
Best Actor: John Archie, “Permanent Collection,” Florida Stage; Paul Bodie, “Master Harold…and the Boys,” GableStage; Steve Gladstone, “Blind Date,” New Theatre; William Hayes, “The Dresser,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; W: David Kwiat, “QED,” GableStage; Bob Rogerson, “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” GableStage (Committee allowed 6 nominations in this category).
Best Actress: Bridget Connors, “White People,” New Theatre; Lauren Feldman, “Proof,” Mosaic Theatre Company; Margery Lowe, “No Exit,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; Annemaria Rajala, “Times Like These,” New Theatre; W: Laura Turnbull, “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” GableStage.
Best Supporting Actor: Gary Cowling, “Take Me Out,” Caldwell Theatre Company; David Kwiat, “Blind Date,” New Theatre; Carlos Orizondo, “Beauty of the Father,” New Theatre; Michael Polak, “Take Me Out,” Caldwell Theatre Company; W: Paul Tei, “Running With Scissors,” Florida Stage.
Best Supporting Actress: W: Lorena Diaz, “Betty’s Summer Vacation,” Mad Cat Theatre Company; Lisa Morgan, “Blind Date,” New Theatre; Angie Radosh, “The Dresser,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; Teresa Maria Rojas, “Beauty of the Father,” New Theatre; Karen Stephens, “Running With Scissors,” Florida Stage.
MUSICALS
Best Musical (award to producing theater): “Annie,” Actors’ Playhouse; “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company; “W: Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse.
Best Director: David Arisco and Barbara Flaten, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; Kathi E.B. Ellis, “West Side Story,” Stage Door’s 26th Street Theatre; Michael Hall, “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company; W: J. Barry Lewis, “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; Gary Waldman, “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse.
Best Actor: David Arisco, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; Tangi Colombel, “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; Avi Hoffman, “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; W: E.L. Losada, “Bat Boy,” Shores Performing Arts Theatre; Martin Vidnovic, “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company.
Best Actress: W: Jeanne Lynn Gray, “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse; Margot Moreland, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; Patti Murin, “Annie Get Your Gun,” Broward Stage Door Theatre; Stacy Schwartz, “Closer Than Ever,” Hollywood Playhouse; Lourelene Snedeker, “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company.
Best Supporting Actor: Carl Barber-Steele, “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse; Brian M. Golub, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; W: Terrell Hardcastle, “Annie,” Actors’ Playhouse; Ricky J. Martinez, “West Side Story,” Stage Door’s 26th Street Theatre; Dean Swann, “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse.
Best Supporting Actress: Irene Adjan, “Annie,” Actors’ Playhouse; Elizabeth Dimon, “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company; Nadeen Holloway, “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse; Lisa Manuli, “Bat Boy,” Shores Performing Arts Theatre; W: Margot Moreland, “Annie,” Actors’ Playhouse.
Best Musical Direction: Eric Alsford, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; Eric Alsford, “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company; W: Craig D. Ames, “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; Phil Hinton, “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse; David Nagy, “Annie,” Actors’ Playhouse.
Best Choreography: W: Chrissi Ardito, “West Side Story,” Stage Door’s 26th Street Theatre; Kevin Black, “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse; Barbara Flaten, “Annie,” Actors’ Playhouse; Barbara Flaten, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; Barbara Flaten, “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company.
DESIGN (Plays and Musicals Combined)
Best Scenic Design: Tim Bennett, “Take Me Out,” Caldwell Theatre Company; Tim Connelly, “Master Harold … And the Boys” GableStage; Kent Goetz, “Permanent Collection,” Florida Stage; William Hayes, “The Dresser,” Palm Beach Dramaworks; W: Rich Simone, “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” GableStage.
Best Lighting: Jim Fulton, “Mercy of a Storm,” Florida Stage; Jim Fulton, “Permanent Collection,” Florida Stage; W: Jeff Quinn, “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” GableStage; Patrick Tennent, “Return to the Forbidden Planet,” Actors’ Playhouse; Thomas Salzman, “Take Me Out,” Caldwell Theatre Company.
Best Costumes: Kevin Black, “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse; Mary Lynne Izzo, “Annie,” Actors’ Playhouse; Mary Lynne Izzo, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; W: Mary Lynne Izzo, “Return to the Forbidden Planet,” Actors’ Playhouse; Estela Vrancovich, “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company.
Best Sound: Michael J. Hoffmann, “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” GableStage; Matt Briganti Kelly, “Mercy of a Storm,” Florida Stage; Nate Rausch and Alexander Herrin, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse; Steve Shapiro, “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company; W: Steve Shapiro, “Take Me Out,” Caldwell Theatre Company.
NON-RESIDENT
(Touring, Independent Productions, Plays and Musicals Combined)
Best Production: "Forty Second Street," Broadway Series, Gleason Theater and Kravis Center; "Mamma Mia," Broadway Series, Kravis Center; "My Fair Lady," Maltz Jupiter Theatre; W: "The Producers," Broadway Series, Broward and Kravis Centers; "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Broadway Series, Broward and Kravis Centers.
Best Director: Susan V. Booth, "My Fair Lady," Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Mark Bramble, "42nd Street," Broadway Series, Gleason Theater and Kravis Center; W: Susan Stroman, "The Producers," Broadway Series, Broward and Kravis Centers; John Tillinger, "Tea At Five," Cuillo Centre; Marion J. Caffey, "Cookin' At The Cookery," Coconut Grove Playhouse.
Best Actor: Neal Benari, "My Fair Lady," Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Matt Cavanaugh, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Broadway Series, Broward and Kravis Centers; Daren Kelly, "42nd Street," Broadway Series, Gleason Theater and Kravis Center; Alan Ruck, "The Producers," Broadway Series, Broward and Kravis Centers; W: Lewis J. Stadlen, "The Producers," Broadway Series, Broward and Kravis Centers.
Best Actress: Ernestine Jackson, "Cookin' at the Cookery," Coconut Grove Playhouse; Marcy McQuigan, "42nd Street," Broadway Series, Gleason Theater and Kravis Center; Lauren Mufson, "Mamma Mia," Broadway Series, Kravis Center; W: Kate Mulgrew, "Tea At Five," Cuillo Centre; Amanda Watkins, "My Fair Lady," Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
Best Supporting Actor
Fred Applegate, "The Producers," Broadway Series, Broward and
Kravis Centers;
Harry Bouvy, "The Producers," Broadway Series, Broward and
Kravis Centers;
Sean Allen Krill, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Broadway Series,
Broward and Kravis Centers; W:
Lee Roy Reams, "The Producers," Broadway Series, Broward and
Kravis Centers; Robert Spring, "42nd Street," Broadway Series, Gleason Theater
and Kravis Center.
Best Supporting Actress: W:
Charley Izabella King, "The Producers," Broadway Series, Broward and Kravis
Centers; Sara Kramer, "Mamma Mia," Broadway Series, Kravis Center;
Patrice Pitman Quinn, "The Exonerated," Broadway Series,
Broward Center;
Hollis Resnick, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Broadway Series,
Broward and Kravis Centers;
Natalie Toro, "Jesus Christ, Superstar," Broadway Series, Gleason
Theater.
REGIONAL THEATER NOMINATION BREAKDOWNS
Totals by theater (101 nominations total) (16 theaters represented) (Greater West Palm Beach theaters: 48; Greater Miami theaters: 45; Greater Fort Lauderdale theaters: 8)
18 Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
16 Caldwell Theatre Company
12 Palm Beach Dramaworks
11 Florida Stage
10 GableStage
10 New Theatre
9 Atlantis Playhouse
4 Broward Stage Door
2 Mad Cat Theatre Company
2 Sol Theatre Project
2 Shores Performing Arts Theatre
1 City Theatre
1 Hollywood Playhouse
1 Juggerknot Theatre Company
1 M Ensemble Theatre
1 Mosaic Theatre
Totals by show (101 nominations total) (32 shows represented)
9 “Fiddler on the Roof,” Actors’ Playhouse
9 “Heartbeats,” Caldwell Theatre Company
9 “The Life,” Atlantis Playhouse
7 “Annie,” Actors’ Playhouse
7 “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?,” GableStage
7 “Take Me Out,” Caldwell Theatre Company
6 “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” Palm Beach Dramaworks
5 “The Dresser,” Palm Beach Dramaworks
4 “Blind Date,” New Theatre
4 “Running with Scissors,” Florida Stage
3 “Beauty of the Father,” New Theatre
3 “Permanent Collection,” Florida Stage
3 “West Side Story,” Broward Stage Door
2 “Bat Boy,” Shores
2 “Master Harold … and the Boys,” GableStage
2 “Mercy of a Storm,” Florida Stage
2 “Return to the Forbidden Planet,” Actors’ Playhouse
2 “Waiting for Godot,” Sol Theatre Project
2 “White People,” New Theatre
1 “Annie Get Your Gun,” Broward Stage Door
1 “Betty’s Summer Vacation,” Mad Cat Theatre Company
1 “Closer Than Ever,” Hollywood Playhouse
1 “Drawer Boy,” Florida Stage
1 “Fell in Love with a Girl,” Mad Cat
1 “Heaven Help Us,” Florida Stage
1 “No Exit,” Palm Beach Dramaworks
1 “Proof,” Mosaic Theatre Company
1 “QED,” GableStage
1 “Strands,” M Ensemble Company
1 “Summer Shorts,” City Theatre
1 “Times Like These,” New Theatre
1 “Tracers,” Juggerknot Theatre Company
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