“The King and I” took top honors, including recognition as the Outstanding Production, at Saturday evening’s Genie Awards Banquet – the swanky Vero Beach Theatre Guild version of Broadway’s Tony Awards.
Once again held at the theater on San Juan Avenue, home to the Guild since 1985, roughly 130 attendees enjoyed an evening of glitz, glamour and great food in the Green Room and backstage areas of the newly enlarged East Wing Expansion, both upstairs and down, followed by talented performances on the main stage.
It’s a family affair for many in the Guild – with parents passing their passion for the craft to their children, and there are even a few love affairs that have blossomed among the actors. Young Isobel Gordon, looking particularly grown up as she showed off her lovely blue gown, said that one of the things she liked best about performing as one of the royal children in “The King and I” was that she got to act on stage with her mother, Sara Gordon.
“We’re newlyweds,” said Sandi Hellstrom-Leonard of her “Hairspray” co-performer Kent Leonard. Her daughter Lauren Hellstrom is also active with the Guild. “We met 25 years ago doing a parody of ‘Music Man’ in Fort Pierce. Then we were in ‘Hairspray’ this past season, and married back in April.”
Guild members also encourage the many Charter High School students who volunteer at the various performances and events such as the banquet.
“They’re just great kids; we love the Charter kids,” said Mark Wygonik, longtime Guild supporter and former president. “We love celebrating our volunteers for the time they take to be in a show – on stage and back stage. That’s what this event is all about. We love thanking them for their time and their talent, and we have a lot of talent in this town.”
In between the actual awards presentations they had planned wonderful songs and dances from the various shows, humorous parodies and a video montage. “We’re doing a lot of audio-visual, something we’ve never done before,” said Wygoink. “As technology advances we try to keep up with it.”
“It’s been a record-breaking year both in terms of money and customer count,” said Guild President Jim Daly. “We had so much success that we’re doing double shows this coming season on the second and third Saturdays; matinees and evening shows for the musicals.”
In addition to winning Outstanding Production, “The King and I” – directed by Clara McCarthy – received: Outstanding Set Design, Isabel Garrett and Shawn Webber; Leading Actor in a Musical and Male Vocalist, Derrick Paul; Supporting Actor in a Musical, Micah Nalzaro; Character Actress in a Musical, Shannon Maloney; Actor in a Secondary Role in a Musical, Doolin Dalton; Cameo Actress in a Musical, Tristen van der Meulen; Outstanding Male Juvenile, Micah Nalzaro; Outstanding Female Juvenile, Shannon McNair; and Group Performance, the other 11 Royal Children.
The musical “Hairspray” received awards for: Leading Actress in a Musical, Dana Rogers; Supporting Actress in a Musical and Female Vocalist, Vallery Valentine; Character Actor in a Musical, Kent Leonard; Actress in a Secondary Role in a Musical, Kelly Clemenzi; Outstanding Female Newcomer, Shannon McNair; Outstanding Male Rookie, Javaune Daley; and Outstanding Female Rookie, Jasmine Bell.
The play “Run for Your Wife” was recognized for: Leading Actor in a Play and Outstanding Male Newcomer, Doy Demsick; Leading Actress in a Play, Leslie Christoffel; Supporting Actor in a Play, Jason Avery; Character Actor in a Play, Michael Flipse; and Cameo Actor in a Play, Brian Lacerda. And “Social Security” garnered awards for Supporting Actress in a Play, Leslie Christoffel; and Character Actress in a Play, Isabel Garrett.
Additional presentations: Steve Stahl President’s Choice Award, Larry Strauss; Joe Paldi Award, Norman Cross; Jim Hindert Award, June Vitti; Bette Parfet Music Award, Karen Wiggins; Jacobus-Seibert-Hazen Award, Gerry King; Lifetime Member Award, Jo-Ann Mattison; Special Appreciation Awards, Isabel Garrett, Martha Kelly and Marion Searfoss; Offstage Genies, Lauretta Hlebichuk and Mark Wygonik; and Backstage Awards, Don Croteau, Kathy Robbins and Greg Squire.
