A night to shine: Tottie Awards presented
Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard
John Michael Taormina, as Bobby Strong, previews the Tottie Award crowd by performing “Run Freedom Run” from the upcoming production “Urinetown,” to be produced at the Geyer Performing Arts Center Feb. 18-21.
Tyler Handford takes a moment after winning Best Director of a Play for his production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" at the Geyer Performing Arts Center's Tottie Awards on Saturday night.
Courtney Harkins is overwhelmed with emotion after tying with Mandy Onder to win the Best Actress in a Musical Tottie Award for her portrayal of Kala, Tarzan's ape mother, in Tarzan at the Geyer Performing Arts Center.
Kelly D'Amico accepts her Tottie Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her turn as Eponine in Les Miserables at the Geyer Performing Arts Center on Saturday night.
The cast of "Les Miserables" goes in for a group hug after collectively winning the Tottie Award for Best Musical at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale on Saturday night.
It was Geyer’s night to shine, and shine it did when the actors and artists accepted awards for outstanding performances at the Scottdale theater in 2015 during the 9th Annual Tottie Awards held last week.
More than a dozen awards were handed out at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in a variety of categories from costume design to best director to best musical.
Logging one of its most successful years with shows including “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Tarzan the Musical,” “The King and I,” “Bone Chiller,” and “Les Miserables,” the competition was tough for performers from Geyer and Actors and Artists of Fayette County productions. By at the end of the night, the Totties were spread around but the two big winners were shows that revolved around some pretty heavy topics–truth and revolution.
The first Tottie of the night went to “The King and I” for Best Costuming, followed by “Les Miserables” for Best Scenic and Lighting Design.
The often paired together Tyler Handford and Rachel Szabo once again accepted the award for Best Comedic Actor/Troupe for their performance as the Thenardiers in ‘Les Mis.’
“I like to think I’m funny. I’m glad you do too,” Szabo laughed as she accepted her Tottie.
Ben Wren wasn’t shy about accepting his Best Antagonist award for his role as Javert in ‘Les Mis.’
“I like to play the villian,” he proclaimed.
The Tottie for Best Choreography went to ‘Tarzan’ and ‘Les Mis’ picked up the award for Best Music.
Best Performance for Supporting Actor in a play went to Brad Geyer for his portrayal of Gooper in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” And Laurie Watson picked up the Tottie for her role as Big Mama in the same show.
Totties for Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Musical went to “Les Miserables” cast members Brandon Kerr who played Enjolras and Kelly D’Amico for her role as Eponine.
Kerr thanked the small theater community for welcoming him.
“You all have made me feel at home at Geyer and I love being part of this theater. Thank you for this (Tottie), this is a wonderful consolation prize for losing a revolution,” he joked.
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” lead roles picked up the Best Actor and Actress in a Play. Josh Shaffer won for his inaugural Geyer performance as the troubled Brick Pollit and Chelsea Forbes won for her role as Maggie “the Cat.”
“I never thought I could do a part like this but I wanted to do a good job because Josh (Shaffer) deserved the best Maggie I could give,” said Forbes.
For his role as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables,” Josh List won the Tottie for Best Performance by an Leading Actor in a Musical and tying for the Best Leading Actress in a Musical were Mandy Onder as Anna in “The King and I” and Courtney Harkins as Kala in ‘Tarzan.’
Handford won his second Tottie of the night as Best Director for his directorial debut with “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which also won Best Play.
“Ever since I was a kid my friend would say, ‘I want to be a policeman. I want to be a doctor.’ All I ever wanted to be was a director. I thank you for allowing me to do this show.
“This show cam about from my love for Elizabeth Taylor, who introduced me to Tennessee Williams who I loved even more,” he said.
The final Tottie of the night went to the Best Musical — “Les Miserable” and its cast and director Brad Geyer.
“We had 130 people audition for this show and cast 60. I want to thank our music director Brad Henry, the orchestra, and every single cast member who gave everything they could give,” said Geyer.
Performances of the featured musicals were offered at the Tottie Awards including “Run Freedom Run” from the musical “Urinetown,” which will open the 2016 season at the Scottdale theater in February.