The 29th CATs – Combined Area Theatre Awards – whizzed by at The Q on Sunday afternoon in what was reckoned to be the fastest such event ever.
With a sophisticated program of entertainment, directed by musician Leisa Keen, the limelight shone not so much on the winners but on guest artist, Billy Bourchier, who had won a CAT for playing Judas when he was a schoolboy and is now slated to appear in a leading role with Opera Australia.
The first half saw regional NSW musical and dramatic societies to the fore and a more limited number of Canberra companies – you have to join up to be nominated – as many ACT theatre and dance organisations had joined the alternative Ovations network.
Junior Albatross MTC from Nowra carried off seven awards, with Best Costumes for a School or Youth Production and Best Direction of a School or Youth Musical going to its director Julia Armstrong, who spent much of the afternoon getting up on stage.
The announcements were interspersed with amusing scene changes orchestrated by stage manager David Bennett.
We saw a sharp dance number by Legs Dance Academy’s hoofers as kittens, Nothing Short of Wonderful from Dogfight by Taylor Paliaga, Ruth’s song from the Pirates of Penzance by Samantha Nettleton and a tender rendition of Almost Paradise from Footloose by Nowra duo Molly Parrish-Gibbons and Daniel Layson, who showed just why it was that the regional groups had done so well.
A highlight of the celebration was the moment when Bourchier and MC Andrew Bell escorted CATS co-founder Coralie Wood on to the stage for a hearty round of applause.
The second half of the afternoon, which focused on the “Bests” opened with Bourchier singing This is the Moment from Jekyll and Hyde.
Here Canberra Philharmonic Society’s Cats took out three spots, Canberra’s The Training Ground won three dance awards and Dramatic Productions’ Dogfight won three, including Best Production of a Musical.
CAT awards commendations for contributions to the community went to Cowra Music and Dramatic Society, Dramatic Productions, Canberra, Child Players ACT, ANU Med Revue and Revolution Theatre, Albury.
The concluding moments saw the presentation of the Silver Cat to founder of Child Players ACT, BJ Anyos, and the Gold Cat went to Queanbeyan Players’ stalwart musical director Jenna Hinton.
Bell told those present of a generous donation from Blumer’s Lawyers, which would allow the CATS to celebrate their pearl anniversary (30th) next year, before he gave the stage to Bourchier to finish the afternoon with To Dream the Impossible Dream.
The full list of CAT Awards
BEST SET FOR A PLAY
Greg Whitby
Present Laughter, Spectrum Theatre Group, Merimbula
BEST SET FOR A MUSICAL, VARIETY OR DANCE PRODUCTION
Julie Fraser
Frozen Jr, JAM Junior Albatross MTC, Nowra
BEST COSTUMES FOR A PLAY
Robyn Whitby
Present Laughter, Spectrum Theatre Group, Merimbula
BEST COSTUMES FOR A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW
Pip Muller
Cats, Canberra Philharmonic Society
BEST COSTUMES FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION
Julia Armstrong
Frozen Jr, JAM Junior Albatross MTC, Nowra
BEST LIGHTING
John Matkovic
The Wedding Singer, Griffith Regional Theatre
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Brenton Golley
Make-up and wigs, The Little Mermaid, Albury Wodonga Theatre Company
Trent Houssenloge and Chris Curran
Video production, Unhinged, The Training Ground, Canberra
JOHN THOMSON THEATRE MAGIC
Canberra Grammar School, Canberra
Atmosphere created in the foyer for Chicago
Revolution Theatre, Albury
Appearance of the Oompa Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
BEST ORIGINAL WORK
Ted Ayers
Modern adaption, Macbeth, Melting Pot Theatre, Bundanoon
BEST ORIGINAL WORK FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION
Joe Woodward and senior drama students
Script, The Gift of Story: Myths and Stories from Fairy Tale Archetypes, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY
The ensemble cast
Neighbourhood Watch, Wagga Wagga School of Arts Inc SOACT
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION
The ensemble chorus
Catch Me If You Can, Karabar High School, Queanbeyan
BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL, VARIETY OR DANCE PRODUCTION
The cast
Cats, Canberra Philharmonic Society
PATRICIA KELSON ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD
Toby Breach
Dance and ensemble work, Oklahoma!, Queanbeyan Players
BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
Harrison Labouchardiere
As Rumpelstiltskin and others in The Gift of Story: Myths and Stories from Fairy Tale Archetypes, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra
BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Zach Moses
As Barry Mann in Beautiful – the Carole King Musical, Chevalier College, Bowral
Rylee Williams
As Olaf in Frozen Jr, JAM Junior Albatross MTC, Nowra
BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
Mollie Morris
As Pigeon Guy in Zetaclorm, Lake Ginninderra College, Canberra
BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Maya George
As Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Canberra Girls Grammar School
BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Lachlan Elderton
As Frank Abagnale Jr in Catch Me If You Can, Karabar High School, Queanbeyan
BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Gaby Black
As Anna in Frozen Jr, JAM Junior Albatross MTC, Nowra
Kate Greenwood
As Elsa in Frozen Jr, JAM Junior Albatross MTC, Nowra
BEST VARIETY PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE
Lisa Core-Flanagan
in ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’ in Celebration! Diamond Jubilee Concert, Cowra Musical and Dramatic Society
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MONOLOGUE OR ONE-ACT PLAY
Iain Wright
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in ‘The Return of Sherlock Holmes’, Ten x 10 Play Fest – Intrigue and Inspiration, Wagga Wagga School of Arts Inc SOACT
BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE
Jeremy Chan and Silvana Moro
‘Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer’, Cats, Canberra Philharmonic Society
BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
Iain Murray
As George Gardiner in Mr Bennet’s Bride, Canberra Repertory Society
BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL
John Whinfield
As Willard Hewitt in Footloose, Queanbeyan Players
BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY
Sally Rhynveld
As Mrs Graves in Mr Bennet’s Bride, Canberra Repertory Society
BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Sarah Hull
As Vi Moore in Footloose, Queanbeyan Players, Queanbeyan
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
Jim Adamik
As Salieri in Amadeus, Canberra Repertory Society
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Josif Jovanovski
As Reverend Shaw Moore in Footloose, Albatross Musical Theatre Company, Nowra
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
Karina Hudson
As Judy in Home I’m Darling, Canberra Repertory Society
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
Taylor Paliaga
As Rose Fenny in Dogfight, Dramatic Productions, Canberra
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
John Michael Narres and Teagan Huntsdale
Strictly Ballroom, So Popera Productions, Wollongong
Bonnie Neate & Suzy Piani
Unhinged, The Training Ground, Canberra
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION
Emily Berkhout, Eleni Kalaitzis, Jane McIntosh and John Dunstan
Anastasia, Nowra Anglican College
BEST DIRECTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL
Julia Armstrong
Frozen Jr, JAM Junior Albatross MTC, Nowra
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION
Peter Copeland
Strictly Ballroom, So Popera Productions, Wollongong
BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Michael Mitchell
Neighbourhood Watch, Wagga Wagga School of Arts Inc SOACT
BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW
Grant Pegg and Kelly Roberts
Dogfight, Dramatic Productions, Canberra
BEST DANCE PRODUCTION
Unhinged
The Training Ground, Canberra
BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL
Frozen Jr
JAM Junior Albatross MTC, Nowra
BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Neighbourhood Watch
Wagga Wagga School of Arts Inc SOACT
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Dogfight
Dramatic Productions, Canberra
CAT AWARDS COMMENDATION
The CAT Awards commends the following companies and individuals, and acknowledges the special contribution they have made over the last year to theatre and to the community.
Cowra Music and Dramatic Society
For 60 years of bringing community theatre to Cowra and district
Dramatic Productions, Canberra
For ongoing charity donations through the ‘Dramatic Difference Program’
Child Players ACT, Canberra
For Introducing children to topical issues such as elections, climate change, discrimination and diversity in Mayor of Munchkinland, and for inclusivity with casting of The Pirates of Penzance
ANU Med Revue
For continuing support to Companion House ($11,000 this year from the proceeds of Malpractice in Wonderland)
Revolution Theatre, Albury
For donating 50% of proceeds from all shows to Albury Wodonga Community Chest.
SILVER CAT AWARD
B J Anyos
Child Players, Canberra
for her dedication and commitment to nurturing young talent and excellence in all areas of theatrical production through Child Players, Canberra
GOLD CAT AWARD
Jenna Hinton
Queanbeyan Players
for versatility and achievement this year in musical direction, performance, and set design including Queanbeyan Players’ Downtown (MD), Footloose (MD) and Oklahoma! (MD and set) and music performance in Free Rain Theatre Company’s Spamalot
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