The North Island Zone Drama Festival ended with Courtenay Little Theatre winning the key award of Best Production.
Kirstin Humpherys, who directed Waiting for the Parade by John Murrell, was recognized as Best Director. Robinson Wilson's beautiful lighting plot was awarded a Certificate of Merit and the five-member cast received the Best Ensemble Acting award.
The CLT production will go to Kamloops to take part in the TheatreBC Mainstage Festival on July 4.
To cap off a wonderful evening of awards, good food and laughter, CLT member Terry Penney was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Donna Lamb Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Theatre.
Adjudicator Kathryn Shaw, artistic director of Studio 58 at Langara College, emphasized how very impressed she was with the high standard of the productions. She spoke of the joy and commitment found in community theatre. Shaw said she had thoroughly enjoyed spending her week in the Comox Valley.
The full overview of the awards is as follows:
Best Production: Waiting for the Parade – Courtenay Little Theatre;
Best Director: Kirstin Humpherys – Courtenay Little Theatre [Waiting for the Parade];
Best Male Lead Actor: Elliot Drew – Portal Players [Many roles in Greater Tuna];
Best Female Lead Actor: Jan Leslie – Nanaimo Theatre Group [Barbara in Pack of Lies];
Best Male Supporting Actor: Alistair McVey – Echo Players [Father Jack in Dancing at Lugnasa];
Best Male Supporting Actor, Certificate of Merit: Gordon Ray – Nanaimo Theatre Group [Inspector Stewart in Pack of Lies];
Best Female Supporting Actor: Maureen Cusack – Nanaimo Theatre Group [Helen Kroger in Pack of Lies];
Best Female Supporting Actor, Certificate of Merit: Vicki Barta – Echo Players [Kate in Dancing at Lugnasa];
Best Set Design: Ian Taylor – Echo Players [Dancing at Lugnasa];
Best Set Design, Certificate of Merit: John Godfrey – Rivercity Players [The Long Weekend];
Best Set Design, Certificate of Merit: Ron McAfee – Nanaimo Theatre Group [Pack of Lies];
Best Costume Design: Cast and Crew - Portal Players [Greater Tuna];
Best Lighting Design: Eric Tulley – Dramarama [The Last Five Years];
Best Lighting Design, Certificate of Merit: Robinson Wilson – Courtenay Little Theatre [Waiting for the Parade];
Best Sound Design: Patrick Courtin – Dramarama [The Last Five Years, pianist];
Best Acting Ensemble: Courtenay Little Theatre [Waiting for the Parade];
Best Acting Ensemble, Certificate of Merit: Echo Players [Dancing at Lugnasa];
Best Backstage Co-ordination: Portal Players [Greater Tuna];
Best Prop Certificate of Merit: Portal Players [Microphone in Greater Tuna];
The Donna Lamb Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Theatre in the North Island Zone was awarded to Terry Penney of Courtenay Little Theatre.
— Courtenay Little Theatre