Two area theatre companies are celebrating recognition after a gala event at the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) handed them honours.
The Guelph Little Theatre (GLT) production of Picasso at the Lapine Agile played to audiences during the WODL festival’s entry night on March 16.
WODL adjudicator Ron Cameron-Lewis praised their creative engineering in their sets, lights and other areas of the production, as well as their directorial choices in presentation.
The following evening, WODL held their gala awards, considered the Academy Awards for community theatre.
With more than two dozen theatre groups nominated, only five plays proceeded to the Sarnia WODL Festival. Both Guelph Little Theatre and Elora Community Theatre (ECT) were nominated.
ECT’s Norm Foster play Self Help won four awards and 10 other nominations.
Bronwyn Allen Hill won best supporting actress; Michelle DiTomasso won best actress; Trevor Smith-Diggins won best actor and Jude Winterbottom won for best direction.
GLT’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile earned 12 nominations, winning six awards and one special adjudicator’s award.
Rob Gray won best supporting actor; Sally Nelson won the adjudicator’s award for making the most in a cameo role.
The ensemble cast won a series of awards: The Reuben Cardinell Memorial for best coordinated production; The Spanik Award for best visual production; The Matthewson Memorial for the best ensemble work; The D. Park Jamieson Award for the best production and the WODL regional trophy as festival winner.
The GLT will proceed to the Theatre Ontario Festival held in Sault Ste. Marie in May where they will perform their play on May 18, in hopes of winning more theatre honours.
GLT’s next production, The Glass Menagerie opens April 13, with three weekend shows until April 28.
For tickets visit www.guelphlittletheatre.com or phone 519-821-0270.
