Marie-Lou wins beaucoup de Jessies
AWARDS: Theatre la Seizieme production leads list of winners that also includes Jerry Wasserman
Province theatre reviewer, actor and renowned Canadian theatre professor Jerry Wasserman was awarded the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance Career Achievement Award at the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards, held Monday night at the Commodore Ballroom.
The Cincinnati-born academic, who received his doctorate in English literature at Cornell University, is the author of numerous books and presently heads the department of theatre and film at UBC. He also edits and writes for Vancouver Plays.
Among his lengthy acting credits are such key B.C. industry-building TV series as 21 Jump Street, Stargate SG-1 and Battlestar Galactica, as well as A-list Hollywood vehicles such as the Accused and I, Robot.
The Jessies recognize theatre achievements in three categories — large, small and young audiences — as well as numerous special categories.
In the large theatre category, Theatre la Seizieme cleaned up for its production of playwright Michel Tremblay’s A toi, pour toujours, ta Marie-Lou.
It took in a total of six awards, including Craig Holzschuh for outstanding direction, lead performances for actors Joey Lesperance and France Perras, Julie Trepanier (supporting role), Drew Facey (set design) and the overall outstanding production.
In theatre for young audiences, Theatre la Seizieme was also recognized for its production of Selfie. Company members Rachel Peake (outstanding artistic creation) and Trepanier, and Siona Gareau-Brennan and Vincent Leblanc-Beaudoin (outstanding performances) won for the play.
Perennial winner The Arts Club Theatre Company saw its production of George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan win two awards for frequently nominated local talents Dean Paul Gibson (supporting role) and Alessandro Juliani (outstanding sound design).
Crazy for You from Gateway Theatre picked up awards for Julie Tomaino (outstanding choreography) and Carmen Alatorre (outstanding costume design). Pacific Theatre’s The Whipping Man took outstanding lighting design (Lauchlin Johnston).
The Small Theatre Category is a far busier one with 21 presenters nominated, and Ruby Slippers Theatre winning a total of three Jessies.
Scott Bellis and Jennifer Lines (outstanding performances) were honoured for their work in After Me (Apres Moi) and Mara Gottler took outstanding costume design for The Duchess a.k.a. Wallis Simpson.