Awards were presented at the Elora Community Theatre’s annual general meeting on Sept. 23. A special award in memory of Lis Pieper, who was an active member of local theatre for many decades, is presented each year to a person who has given continuous commitment to theatre in Centre Wellington.
Last year’s winner was Deb Stanson from Elora Community Theatre, who has directed many ECT shows over the years including Peter Pan, Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, Shakespeare in the Park Series and who has been president and involved in all aspects of productions.
This year the award was presented to Judy and Paul Faires who have been involved since 1996 with the Not So Grand Players. Paul acted, produced, built sets and made props and Judy stage managed and operated lights and sound, created costumes and acted as treasurer of the group and since 2003 with On The Spot Productions.
Judy has also worked as a volunteer in the box office and helping theatre administrator Eric Goudie.
Together Paul and Judy have painted stage floors and dressing rooms, done general spring cleaning, cleaned and helped place stage lights and assisted in the face-lift of the lobby.
Both Paul and Judy are members of the Fergus Grand Theatre Volunteers, Judy as secretary, Paul as treasurer. The Elizabeth Pieper plaque hangs on the wall in the Fergus Grand Theatre Box Office proudly displaying the names of past and present honourees.
At the AGM, awards, voted on by the ECT membership and hence fondly called the ECTies, honoured people involved in productions over the past year including Twelfth Night (Shakespeare in the Park), Don’t Talk to the Actors, The Drawer Boy and Little Women.
The results were:
– Best Actor (female) – Katy Chapman as Jo in Little Women;
– Best Actor (male) – Gary Bryant as Morgan in The Drawer Boy;
– Best Overall Show/Production for the Season – The Drawer Boy;
– Best Youth – Olivia Rumbell as Beth in Little Women;
– Best Supporting Actor (male) – Acey Kaspar in Little Women;
– Best Supporting Actor (female) – Beth Lanigan in Little Women;
– Best Newcomer – Lily Brosseau as Katy and Rachel Kaspar as Minnie in Little Women;
– Honourable Mention – Barbara Kidd as the fiddler in The Drawer Boy;
– Best Direction – Deb Stanson and David Tanner in Little Women;
– Best Set Design and Build – Robert Banning in The Drawer Boy and Little Women;
– Best Décor – Maggie Parent for The Drawer Boy and Little Women;
– Best Light Design – David Tanner for Please Don’t Talk to the Actors, The Drawer Boy and Little Women;
– Best Sound Design – David Tanner for The Drawer Boy and Little Women;
– Best Costumes, Makeup and Hair – Suzanne Trivers, Sara Marsh, Maggie Parent for Little Women;
– Best Props – Sue Kennedy for The Drawer Boy; and
– Best Stage Manager – Zoe Clemens for Little Women.
Special Directors’ Awards went to:
– Jayne Simpson for Don’t Talk to the Actors;
– Robert Banning, Lawrence Lee and Maggie Parent for The Drawer Boy; and
– Nancy Baker for Little Women.
A special President’s Award went to David Tanner.
The Elora Community Theatre season opens with It’s a Wonderful Life Nov. 4-13. Tickets are available now at Fergus Grand Theatre Box Office 519-787-1981 on online. Special reductions are available for season tickets which includes The Sting in Feb./March and Alice in Wonderland in May.
