Volunteers contributing to six shows that made it to the stage in an abbreviated 2019-2020 season—including two plays, two musicals, and two Youth Theatre shows—won honors at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s volunteer awards presentation and celebration on Saturday.
With its theme “Dress Up from the Waist Up,” the virtual event was conducted via Zoom, with over 100 people in attendance.
Although the season was shortened, there was no shortage of talent. The annual awards, previously called the Miss Annie Awards, were given for outstanding onstage performances in several categories, as well as for volunteer contributions off stage and behind the scenes that contributed to the success of the season. This year, the adults were joined by volunteers from the Youth Theatre, many of whom were recognized with Sonia Young Honors for Excellence.
August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean” was honored as Outstanding Play of the Year and Audience Favorite Play of the Year, and its cast was chosen as Outstanding Ensemble of the Year. Disney’s “Mary Poppins” was recognized as Outstanding Musical of the Year and Audience Favorite Musical of the Year.
In backstage roles, the four volunteers who collaborated to make Mary and Bert “fly” in “Mary Poppins” were honored as Crew Members of the Year. They include Drew Champion, John Echols, Angie Griffin, and Austin Massey. Marie Dance was recognized as Outstanding Stage Manager for “Gem of the Ocean,” and the “Mary Poppins” crew was recognized as Outstanding Crew of the Year.
Austin Massey of “Mary Poppins” received the Star Turn Award. Charlie Clevenger and Ripken Russell of “Matilda” and Hayley Lewis and Vivian Long of “Mary Poppins” received the Dionysus and Thespis Robes as outstanding youth and adult ensemble members in a musical.
In two shows that didn’t quite make it to the stage this season, Deb Meeks of “The Hollow” and Jeremy Campbell and Erin Skelley Holderman of “Barefoot in the Park” were named Most Valuable Players.
Other top awards went to board members Mitch Collins and Angie Griffin as Dan Jay Volunteers of the Year, retiring Patron Services Director Wayne Schock as winner of the Producer’s Award, and board member Jennifer Nicely as winner of the President’s Award.
Here’s the list of honorees for onstage performances:
Outstanding Leading Actor in a Musical
Taylor Williams, Bert in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical
Joanna Lewis, Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Young Actress in a Musical
Alex Loyd & Christiana Russell, Jane Banks in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Young Actor in a Musical
Charlie Clevenger & Layton Williams, Michael Banks in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Jamie Gienapp, George Banks in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Greer Caldwell, Winifred Banks in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (tie)
John Echols, Bank Chairman in Mary Poppins
Keenan Pasqua, Frederick Smith, the Park Keeper and Valentine in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Jennifer Major, Mrs. Brill in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Debut Actor in a Musical (tie)
Jamie Gienapp , George Banks in Mary Poppins
Layton Williams, Michael Banks in Mary Poppins
Outstanding Debut Actress in a Musical
Anay Philips & Libbie Weaver, Matilda in Matilda
Outstanding Leading Actor in a Play
Donel Solomon, Citizen Barlow in Gem of the Ocean
Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play
Kimberly Reynolds, Aunt Ester Tyler in Gem of the Ocean
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Keath Jackson, Jr., Caeser Wilks in Gem of the Ocean
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Shelia Wofford, Eli in Gem of the Ocean
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Jeremiah Taylor, David in The Amen Corner
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
LaShonda Bryant, Ida Jackson in The Amen Corner
Outstanding Debut Actor in a Play
Jeremiah Taylor, David in The Amen Corner
Outstanding Debut Actress in a Play
LaKeysha Nolan, Odessa in The Amen Corner
Audience Favorite Actor in a Musical
Taylor Williams, Bert in Mary Poppins
Audience Favorite Actress in a Musical
Joanna Lewis, Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins
Audience Favorite Actor in a Play
Donel Solomon, Citizen Barlow in Gem of the Ocean
Audience Favorite Actress in a Play
Kimberly Reynolds, Aunt Ester Tyler in Gem of the Ocean
SONIA YOUNG HONORS FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE YOUTH THEATRE
For contributions to the Youth Theatre, Sonia Young Honors for Excellence went to young people and adults who contributed onstage and off to the success of “The Lion King, Jr.,” “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe,” and the adult/youth co-production of “Mary Poppins.”
“The Lion King, Jr.” was recognized as Outstanding Production of the Year, and the Clive Cast of “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe” was named Ensemble of the Year.
The Stage Manager of the Year Award went to Paul Knotts and Christiana Russell of “The Lion King, Jr.,” and Kailey Buttry and Rebekah Haymes were recognized as Crew Members of the Year for “The Lion King, Jr.”
Also receiving recognition for “The Lion King, Jr.” were:
Director Awards
Darrius Calloway and Cora Grace Williams
Assistant Director Award
Kyla Wheeler
Stage Manager Awards
Drew Champion and Darian Moore
Music Director Award
Noah Hawkins
Choreographer Award
Tessa Kelly
Paul Knotts and Christiana Russell were acknowledged for their service as stage managers, and Claire Brown, Kailey Buttry, Rebekah Haymes, Jaelyn Sanders, and Anna Claire Tittsworth were recognized for their roles as crew members.
Receiving recognition for “Mary Poppins” were:
Director Awards
Wyatt Jones, Hayley Lewis, Bree Brantley, Carter McKissick
Stage Manager Awards
Cora Grace Williams and Annabelle Major
Music Director Awards
Emily James and Lauren Hays
Choreographer Awards
Olivia Kelly and Acadia Phillips
Acknowledged for their service as crew members were MaKenzie Ballard, Drew Champion, Sam Gross, and Taylor Slack.
Receiving recognition for “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe” were:
Director Awards
Trinity Henry and Zella Stockman (Clive Cast)
Zoe Chatman and Genevieve Carlton (Staples Cast)
Assistant Director Awards
Lilly Lewis and Julianne White (Clive Cast)
Landon Greene and Avery Sharpe (Staples Cast)
Acknowledged for their service as stage managers were Tate Mink and Isabella Rios, and recognized for their roles as crew members were James Derrick, Sydney Terfloth, Rachel Young, and Julianna Williams.
Other top Youth Theatre honors went to Hunter Landreth, who received the Meyer Winer Award, and Zoe Chatman, who was awarded the James K. Steakley Scholarship.
Mandy Culpepper was presented the Milly Farris Award for Contributions to the Youth Theatre. Other adults recognized for contributions were Jody Clevenger and Mandy Culpepper for “The Lion King, Jr.,” Jackie Collins, Tammy Knotts, and Christo Milholland for “Mary Poppins,” and Amanda Legge for “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.”
Adult honors also went to Cassandra Gross, Jennie Landreth, Joe Legge, Randy Rogers, Stacy Sharpe, Travis Sharpe, and Hollie Stockman as the adult Pevensies in “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe,” and Chuck Tuttle (photography and front of house), Angie Griffin (general assistance), Jeremy Campbell (prop design), and Gary May (sound) were recognized for their contributions.