And the Tottie goes to…
Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard
The Tottie Award for Best Musical is displayed at the Geyer Theater for a year after it is awarded, before being delivered to the director of the musical after the next year’s Tottie Awards.
Martha Oliver, left, and Colleen Kenney each accept a Tottie Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play. Voting resulted in a tie, so both actresses received statuettes at the Geyer Performing Arts Center on Saturday.
From left, theater managers Tyler Handford and Mandy Onder, and Geyer Board President Brad Geyer, before Saturday night's Eighth Annual Tottie Awards at the Geyer Performing Arts Center.
Becky Brown accepts a Tottie Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Frau Blucher in "Young Frankenstein" at the Geyer Performing Arts Center's Tottie Awards on Saturday.
From left, Martha Oliver, Brad Geyer, and Dottie Davis hold a mock press conference in the opening of the Tottie Awards at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale on Saturday.
The Tottie Award for Best Musical is displayed at the Geyer Theater for a year after it is awarded, before being delivered to the director of the musical after the next year's Tottie Awards.
Move over Oscar. Step off the stage Tony. The Tottie Awards are in the spotlight.
The Eighth Annual Tottie Awards were handed out Saturday to ‘best’ in theater design, direction, choreography, music and performance to the dedicated acting tribes of Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale and Actors and Artists of Fayette County for 2014 shows.
Dottie Davis, mistress of ceremonies, summed up the feelings most actors have.
“I was thinking why I have been doing this for so long, and why I love acting — because I get to be somebody else,” she said.
At 82, Davis has been in countless shows at the theater over the last 30 years and has been tapped each of the last eight years to serve as emcee of the annual awards event.
“I’m honored to do this. This theater has provided me with many happy memories, and I will continue to be the host as long as they will have me,” she said.
“Shrek” was awarded best musical, and its director, Ernie Watson, also earned the Tottie for direction. The lead actor in a musical nod went to Shawn Conway who played Shrek, and Tyler Handford won best featured actor in a musical, for his portrayal of Donkey.
“My grandmother died in 2013, and for all intents and purposes, she was my best friend in life. We loved doing everything together including theater and music. All the experiences I’ve had over the this past year, I know she would be so proud,” said Handford.
The play “You Can’t Take It With You” racked up a good bit of hardware including best feature actor (Chet Joseph), best featured actress (Martha Oliver), best lead actor (William S. White) and lead actress (Marilyn Forbes).
Forbes, who played Penny Sycamore, acknowledged the quirky play brought out the best in the cast.
“There was just something special about this show and this cast. There was just a great chemistry, and it was evident,” she said.
While accepting the award, White, who played Martin Vanderhoff, was humbled.
“Excellent choice in casting Martin,” White said, tongue in cheek. After I got the part I just kept thinking this damn guy is so likeable. I just can’t do likeable,” he joked.
In the best play category, “Family Reunion to Die For” (directed by John Cunnard) got the Tottie, while a novice and a veteran split the best featured actress in a play category — Colleen Kenney in “Up the Down Staircase,” and Martha Oliver in “You Can’t Take It With You,” tied.
“Everyone helped me. Without that help I couldn’t have done it,” said Kenney, a newcomer to the stage who played Bea Schater.
Oliver, a multi-Tottie award-winning actress and director, acknowledged love for her winning role.
“I had a ball. The Grand Duchess Olga Katrina was one of my favorite characters of all time,” said Oliver.
While accepting the Totties for best featured actress in a musical and best lead actress in a musical, Becky Brown and Katie Pretz outlined ‘the show must go on attitude’ of community theater.
“We pulled together like community theater people do, and we did a show, never letting anything stop us,” said Brown who played Frau Bleucher in “Young Frankenstein.”
A tearful Pretz said she was dumbfounded when she was cast as Nellie Forbush in “South Pacific” because she had never tackled a role that big before.
“Everything I have seen happen on this stage truly reflects community. It wasn’t until I became part of this community that I realized every single person who walks through those doors from performers, directors, board members, tech people, volunteers and ushers, we all affect this community,” said Brown.
The Tottie Awards are named after Marilyn “Tottie” Keifer.
“Tottie was one of the founding members of the theater when it reopened in 1988, and her foundation has given us constant support to keep the arts alive in our area,” said Brad Geyer, president of GPAC.
GPAC and AAFC began the black-tie Tottie affair in 2008 to celebrate their 20th season and the best in cast and crew for the ‘little off Broadway’ theater.
Geyer explained the board members from GPAC and AAFC select top shows and performances from the past year for voting and then the voting is opened up to actors, volunteers and even, audience members, to select winners.
Other winners included:
–Best costume design -“Shrek” – Michael Diebert
–Best scenic lighting design – “South Pacific” – Bill Dreucci
— Best comedic actor/troupe – Rachael Szabo and Tyler Handford – Mr. Bumble and Widow Corney in “Oliver”
–Best antagonist – Joey Wolf – Farquaad in “Shrek”
–Best choreography – “Anything Goes” – Meredith Semon
–Best music – “South Pacific” – Music Director: Kevin Milkinen