On Saturday, July 23, the Footlight Players will host their 10th annual awards banquet at the Moose Family Center in Michigan City. The event will begin with a cocktail hour at 5:30 PM with dinner at 6:30 PM followed by the awards presentation emceed by the always amusing Mike McCalment. The evening will also feature highlights from the six major productions of this 66th theatre season. Dinner music will be supplied by Ryan and Sherry Sweeney. Ticket prices for the event are $15 if purchased by July 15 and $20 thereafter or at the door. Reservations may be made by calling president Bobby Komendera at (219) 879-5840.
There are 15 different categories for which awards will be presented. Fifteen volunteer viewers from the theatre community and the public have been making nominations within the categories throughout the year. Initially there were 117 nominations, with a final ballot to determine the top three in each of the categories. The nominees for this year’s Footlight awards are as follows:
BEST LEAD ACTOR
Kevin Mellen - The Glass Menagerie
Kevin Mellen - The Odd Couple
Jeremiah Souza - The Odd Couple
Shannon Wyels - Once Upon A Mattress
BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Christine Long - The Cemetery Club
Gail Komer - The Cemetery Club
Kali Rasala - The Glass Menagerie
Brittney Urban - Little Women
BEST FEATURED ACTOR
David Mikolajczyk - The Odd Couple
Noel Carlson - Once Upon A Mattress
Noel Carlson - Little Women
BEST FEATURED ACTRESS
Amy Crane - The Odd Couple
Paige Fowler - Little Women
Lindsey McDermott - Glass Menagerie
Leslie A. Evans - Once Upon A Mattress
BEST NEWCOMER
Brittney Urban - Little Women
John Hutchinson - Once Upon A Mattress
Gail Komer - The Cemetery Club
Kali Rasala - The Glass Menagerie
BEST DIRECTOR
Laura Meyer - The Odd Couple
Leslie Evans - Little Women
Donald Beck - The Glass Menagerie
Bobby Komendera - Once Upon A Mattress
BEST MUSICAL/VOCAL DIRECTOR
Sharon Angelina - Little Women
Lee Meyer - Once Upon A Mattress
BEST CHOREOGRAPHER
Laura Meyer - Little Women
Karen Arden - Once Upon A Mattress
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Sharon Kienitz - Little Women
Laura Meyer - The Glass Menagerie
Laura Meyer-Once Upon A Mattress
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Tom Montgomery - The Cemetery Club
Arturo Pozos - Dashing Through The Snow
Anthony Holt - Little Women
Jim Snyder-The Glass Menagerie
BEST SET CONCEPT DESIGN
Donald Beck - The Glass Menagerie
John Avila-Dashing Through The Snow
Leslie Evans - Little Women
Bobby Komendera - Once Upon A Mattress
Laura Meyer - The Odd Couple
BEST SET CONSTRUCTION DESIGN
Jim Snyder - Little Women
Jim Snyder - Once Upon A Mattress
John Avila - The Odd Couple
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Alayna Lauritsen - The Cemetery Club
Anthony G. Holt - The Odd Couple
Donald Beck - The Glass Menagerie
BEST HAIR DESIGN
Debbie Bartholomew - Little Women
Kathi Jones - Once Upon A Mattress
Ollie Pozos - Dashing Through The Snow
Ollie Pozos-The Odd Couple
This year’s recipient of the Hall Of Fame Award will be presented to the very talented Lee Meyer and Footlight’s president shall announce his selection for the prestigious President's Award. A huge silent auction will also take place during the festivities with items donated from community businesses and supporters.