‘Addams Family’ tops Ostrander Awards
The 32nd annual Ostrander Awards were handed out August 30 with the kooky, spooky, ooky musical “The Addams Family” leading the way in seven categories for the Theatre Memphis production.
The celebration of the best of Memphis theater also saw Playhouse on the Square’s production of Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me, Kate” win in five categories.
It was an especially satisfying night for Cecelia Wingate, who won for her direction of “The Addams Family” and also picked up a win in the supporting actress in a drama category for her role in Voices of the South’s “Distance.”
Last year, “Young Frankenstein” — another zany musical comedy directed by Wingate for Theatre Memphis — won seven Ostranders. One might wonder if there’s a pattern emerging: She helmed the current run of “The Producers” at Theatre Memphis, which is getting good reviews.
“The Addams Family” also won for best musical production, leading actress in a musical (Emily F. Chateau), leading actor in a musical (Rob Hanford) and honors for costumes, lighting and hair/ wigs/makeup.
“Kiss Me, Kate” won supporting actress in a musical (Leah Beth Bolton), supporting actor in a musical (John M. Hemphill and John Maness), music direction (Adam Laird), choreography (Jordan Nichols and Travis Bradley) and featured role/cameo (Marc Gill).
Karin Barile, director of Playhouse on the Square’s Theatre Education & Engagement Program, received the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award. She’s in her 37th season with Playhouse pursuing two passions: theater and education.
Barile began as a performer in the theater for the deaf project Show of Hands and ended up running it. In 1985, she worked on an acting program for kids that later became the current program of after-school classes, touring companies and summer conservatories for young people.
“What I do is giving back,” she said. “It’s because of all the teachers who opened my mind and my heart and gave me the push to use my voice. I ate that up, and now I get to do what I love.”
Other winners announced during the award ceremonies at the Orpheum were for “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” at Playhouse on the Square, which won Ostranders for best production of a drama and for Irene Crist’s direction.
Circuit Playhouse’s “Bad Jews,” a dark comedy about cultural change and stewardship, got two awards, one for small ensemble and another for leading actress in a drama (Laura Stracko Franks).
“Mountain View,” a drama by former Memphian Teri Feigelson, won for best original script as well as a special award for original music and musicians. It was performed as part of the POTS@TheWorks series NewWorks@ TheWorks, which has a competition for original plays.
Also winning two awards was Jerre Dye’s “Distance,” produced by Voices of the South. It won for best production of an original script and Wingate’s performance as supporting actress.
Hattiloo Theatre was recognized for “Once on This Island” in the large ensemble category and for Johnathan Williams as supporting actor in a drama for the powerful August Wilson work “King Hedley II.”
New Moon Theatre Company won for sound design (Gene Elliott for “Woman in Black”) and props (Bill Short for “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean”).
Theatre Memphis’ Jack Yates won for set design in “The Heiress.”
In the Ostranders’ college division, the University of Memphis won 16 awards for three plays: “The Physicists,” “The Wedding Singer” and “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” Rhodes College won six for “The Good Woman of Setzuan” and “Thebes: Contending with Gods & Contemplating Sphinxes.”
The Ostrander Theatre Awards are sponsored by Memphis magazine and ArtsMemphis.