Roll out the red carpet. The best and brightest in Colorado’s theater scene are streaming in to the Arvada Center to honor their own for the Eighth Annual Henry Awards, a ceremony that recognizes the very top in local culture. There are plenty of Aurora artists, actors, directors and crew members up for honors tonight. Terry Dodd is nominated for best director and James O’Hagan Murphy is up for best actor for “RFK: A Portrait of Robert F. Kennedy” at the Vintage. SuCh is up for outstanding lead actress for her performance in “The Color Purple” at the Aurora Fox. Speaking of the Aurora Fox, the theater’s executive producer Charles Packard is nominated for outstanding scenic design for his work on “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity” at the Curious Theatre in Denver. I’m in the front row waiting for each winner to be announced. Stay tuned for moment-by-moment updates.
10:15: Final Performance: “Medley of Songs” from the Town Hall Arts Center’s production of “Hair.” Show ends with rousing version of “Let the Sun Shine In” with entire audience standing up.
10:10: Steven J. Burge and GeRee Hinshaw present Henry Award for Outstanding Season for a Theater Company. Nominees: Arvada Center, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, Curious Theatre Company, Denver Center Theatre Company, Town Hall Arts Center.
Curious Theatre Company wins award.
10:06: Jamie Ann Romero and Geoffrey Kent present Henry Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical. Nominees: “42nd Street,” “The Color Purple,” “Hair,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Man of La Mancha.”
The Arvada Center’s production of “Man of La Mancha” wins award.
10:05: Haley Johnson and Lindsey Pierce present Henry Award for Outstanding Production of a Play. Nominees: “The Brothers Size,” “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” “Ghost-Writer,” “RFK – A Portrait of Robert Kennedy,” “Time Stands Still.”
The Curious Theatre Company’s production of “The Brothers Size” wins.
10:00: Christy Montour-Larson presents Henry Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical. Nominees: Christopher Alleman, donnie l. betts, Michael J. Duran, Rod A. Lansberry, Nick Sugar.
Rod A. Lansberry wins for Arvada Center production of “Man of La Mancha”
9:55: Cajardo Lindsey and Jack Wefso present Henry Award for Outstanding Musical Direction. Nominees: Donna K. Debreceni, Neal Dunfee, David Nehls, Jonathan Parks, Chris Starkey.
David Nehls wins for the Arvada Center’s production of “Man of La Mancha.”
9:50: Performance of “Medley of Songs” by the cast from Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s production of “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
9:45: Donna Debreceni and Nick Sugar present Henry Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play. Nominees: Dee Covington, Terry Dodd, Josh Hartwell, Peter J. Hughes, Chip Walton, Robert Wells.
Robert Wells wins for the Town Hall Arts Center’s production of “The 39 Steps.”
9:40: T. David Rutherford presents Special Award For Outstanding Regional Theatre – TheatreWorks, Colorado Springs
9:30: Hannah Duggan and Mitch Slevc present Henry Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play. Nominees: Laurence Curry, Jonathan Farwell, Cajardo Lindsey, James O’Hagan-Murphy, Steef Sealy.
Jonathan Farwell wins for OpenStage Theatre and Company’s production of “Amadeus.”
9:28: Sean Scrutchins presents Henry Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play. Nominees: Abby Apple Boes, Rhonda Brown, Laura Norman, Anne Oberbroeckling, Kim Staunton.
Laura Norman wins Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company production of “Ghost Writer.”
9:20: In Memoriam slideshow prepared by John Moore
9:15: A performance of “On My Own” from Les Miserables by Nicole Mancini from Chapparal High School.
9:00: Rick Bernstein presents a Lifetime Achievement Award to Jim Hunt. Entrance draws standing ovation from the crowd. “I plan to think hard about what this role means to me and post about it on my wall.”
8:55: Abby Apple Boes and John Ashton present Henry Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical. Nominees: “A Knight to Remember,” “Ed, Downloaded,” “Elijah: An Adventure,” “Newark Violenta,” “Sweet Tooth.”
The Buntport Theatre’s production of “Sweet Tooth” wins.
8:52: Megan van De Hey and Robert Michael Sanders present Henry Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical. Nominees: Casey Andree, Joshua Blanchard, John Scott Clough, Matt LaFOntaine, William Michals.
Joshua Blanchard wins for Lake Dillon Theater Company’s production of “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
8:50: Jada Roberts and Scott Bellot present Henry Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical. Nominees: Brianna Firestone, Selah Grace, Norrell Moore, SuCh, Megan Van De Hey, Kathi Wood.
SuCh wins for her performance in the Aurora Fox production of “The Color Purple.”
8:45: Performance from the Arvada Center production of “Man of La Mancha.”
8:42: Maggie Stillman and Brandon Palmer present Henry Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Nominees: Sam Gregory, Kevin Hart, Chris Kendall, Bob Moore, Warren Sherrill.
Bob Moore wins for role in “The Sunshine Boys” at the Lake Dillon Theatre Company.
8:38: Brock Benson and Steef Sealy present Henry Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play. Nominees: Kathleen M. Brady, Rachel D. Graham, Deon James, C. Kelly Leo, Jeanne Paulsen.
Jeanne Paulsen wins for role in “Romeo and Juliet” at the Denver Center Theatre Company.
8:40: David Nehls gives special presentation regarding the future of the Historic Elitch Gardens theater. The theater closed in 1991, and work to restore the historic facility started in the early 2000s. According to Nehls, reconstruction work on the interior of the theater kicked off this week. “The structural improvements will once again open the doors,” he said, adding that much work still remains to fully restore the facility. “It is our hope that one day in the not too distant future we will be hosting these awards in the very place that Denver theater was born.”
8:30: Mary K. Dailey presents special Henry Award for Advocate for Theatre Arts Education Award to Colorado State Thespians.
8:25: The cast of “Steel Magnolias” presents Henry Award for Outstanding Ensemble. Nominees: “Ghost Writer,” “Hair,” “How the World Began,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Time Stands Still.”
The Town Hall Arts Center’s production of “Hair” wins.
8:20: Performance – “What About Love?” from the Aurora Fox theater production of “The Color Purple.” Performance draws standing ovation.
8:15: Michelle Hurtubise and Ryan Wuestewald present Henry Award for Outstanding Choreography. Nominees: Ronni Gallup, Kitty Skillman Hilsabeck, Nick Sugar, Tracey Warren.
Kitty Skillman Hilsabeck wins for “Man of La Mancha” at the Arvada Center.
8:10: Zach Andrews and Brian Landis Folkins present Henry Award for Outstanding Scenic Design, Tiers 1 and 2. Nominees: Brian Mallgrave, Charles Packard, Vicki Smith, Abster Productions, Amy Campion, Kathryn Kawecki, David LaFont and Terry Dodd.
Brian Mallgrave wins Tier 1 award for “Man of La Mancha” at the Arvada Center; Abster Productions wins for “August: Osage County.”
8:00: Anthony Bianco and Gabriel Morales present Henry Award for Outstanding Costume Design, Tiers 1 and 2. Nominees: Chris Campbell, Claire Henkel, Christina Poddubiuk, Kevin Brainerd, Linda Morken, Roxanne Storlie and Rebecca Spafford.
Chris Campbell wins Tier 1 Award for “Man of La Mancha” at the Arvada Center; Linda Morken wins Tier 2 for “The Wizard of Oz” at Boulder’s Dinner Theater.
7:55: Special Award for Outstanding Theatre Volunteer presented by Drew Martorella to Randy Dipner from TheatreWorks.
7:50: A performance of “42nd Street” from the Boulder’s Dinner Theatre production of “42nd Street.”
7:48: Laura Norman and Warren Sherril present Henry Awards for Outstanding Lighting Design, Tiers 1 and 2.
Nominees: Shannon McKinney, Jane Spencer, Seth Alison, Kerry Cripe, Jon Scott-McKean, Jacob M. Welch.
Shannon McKinney wins Tier 1 Award for “Man of La Mancha” at the Arvada Center. Jacob M. Welch wins Tier 2 Award for “Kiss of the Spider Woman” at the Lake Dillon Theater Company.
7:45: Sylvia and Sam Gregory present Henry Awards for Outstanding Sound Design, Tiers 1 and 2.
Nominees: Jason Ducat, Brian Freeland, Tyler Nelson, Rodolfo Ortega and Craig Breitenbach; Wayne Kennedy, Andrew Metzroth, Adam Stone, Luke Aleen Terry.
Brian Freeland wins award for Tier 1 for “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity” at the Curious Theatre; Adam Stone wins Tier 2 award for “Wake” at the Buntport Theatre.
7:40 – Arlene Rapal presents Henry Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical. Nominees: Ben Dicke, Ed Dixon, Tyrell D. Rae, Thomas Rainey, Burke Walton.
Thomas Rainey wins for role in “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” Lake Dillon Theater Company.
7:35 — Seth Caikowski presents Henry Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical. Nominees: Jennifer DeDominici, Ruth Gottschall, Ashlie-Amber Harris, Madison Kitchen.
Ruth Gottschall wins for role in “Sense & Sensibility: The Musical” at the Denver Center Theatre Company
- 7:15 p.m. — Hosts Steven Burge and GerRee Hinshaw emerge for opening monologue. “The way to go is to be productive and efficient … This year, our mark is going to be left on the Henrys by being on time.” Colorado Theatre Guild General Manager, InFocus host Eden Lane, theater critic John Moore and EBlock host Kirk Montgomery give a welcome, insist on opening number. Jim Poulous from “Curtains” running at the Arvada Center appears with Megan Van DeHey; “Being a part of the Colorado theater community has got to be the most fulfilling thing a person can do,” sing “Show People” with “Curtains” cast.
The post Live from the Eighth Annual Henry Awards appeared first on Aurora Sentinel.