The Abbie goes to ...

August 13, 2006

If it's August, it must be the end of the 2005-06 theater season and time for the Abbie Awards.

The Abbies honor the best performances in locally produced musicals and plays, and the top shows of the local 2005-06 theater season.

With as many plays that take place in this town, this is very difficult. Trying to cut all the fabulous performances down to five actors in each category and then pick a favorite - oy vey!

All nominees must be from mainstage, faculty-directed shows from Abilene Christian, Hardin-Simmons and McMurry universities; and plays performed at least twice at Abilene Community Theater, Paramount Productions, McMurry University Summer Dinner Theater and the Abilene Shakespeare Festival.

- Janet Van Vleet

Best Play

  • ''Wait Until Dark'' directed by Keri Henson, McMurry Summer Dinner Theater. The paper sends me, on its dime, to see and review plays. It's not often that I go back on my own nickel. I had to go see it again.

  • ''Zombie Prom'' directed by Charlie Hukill, McMurry. Filled with potshots of the 1950s nuclear daze and high school movies from that era, plus zings at zombie persecution and racism, it made me laugh and tap my toes.

  • ''Swing!'' directed by Betty Hukill, Paramount. Zippy, fun, zesty and flirtatious, this musical revue had everyone clapping along and swaying in their seats.

  • ''Romeo and Juliet'' directed by Adam Hester, ACU. Hester gave this classic a modern, technical twist and used lighting and superb casting to create a fresh, novel feel.

  • ''Parade'' directed by Barry Smoot and Teri Wilkerson, McMurry Summer Dinner Theater. A difficult show to watch - it deals with prejudice, lynching and hatred. It was harsh and ugly, yet moving and beautiful.

    The winner: This was a tough call, as ''Romeo and Juliet'' felt like a brand new story and ''Parade'' was so incredibly moving.

    But in the end, sheer fear won out. ''Wait Until Dark'' caught me up in its drama - twice.

    Straight Plays

    Lead actress

  • Samantha Underwood, as Meg Owens in ''Broken Up,'' ACT. She gave one of her best performances since coming to Abilene, radiating calmness among a cast of crazies.

  • Megan Kincaid, as Amanda in ''The Glass Menagerie,'' HSU. She took the withered Southern belle and gave her a frailty that was painful to watch.

  • Victoria Spangler, as Lily Garland in ''Twentieth Century,'' ACT. Talk about a diva - she wore sequined gowns, acted like a Barrymore and put every man in his place.

  • Kayla Brooks, as Susy Hendrix in ''Wait Until Dark,'' McMurry Summer Dinner Theater. She was convincing as a blind woman being terrorized in her own home.

  • Amy Simpson, as Juliet in ''Romeo and Juliet,'' Abilene Shakespeare Festival. Sweet and virginal, blooming with young love, she was the perfect actress for this role.

    The winner: Brooks, who made me believe her terror and her lack of sight. Plus, she suffered lots of bumps and bruises with all the falls she had to take.

    Lead actor

  • Jim Jarrett, as Oscar Jaffe, ''Twentieth Century,'' ACT. I don't want to use the phrase type-casting, but he was perfect as the loud, bossy, theatrical Oscar.

  • Bruce Bachmann, as Burt, ''A Bench in the Sun,'' ACT. He stomps around in pajamas and slippers and brings a great blend of grouch, grump and cockiness to his character.

  • Ryan Massie, as George in ''Of Mice & Men,'' ACU. He hurt my heart as I watched him care for, yell at and ultimately give his friend Lenny the final protection he desperately needs.

  • Joseph Clingan, as Romeo in ''Romeo and Juliet,'' Abilene Shakespeare Festival. His fight with Tybalt was like a ballet; he wooed Juliet with a charming style and mourned her with desperation.

  • Charlie Hukill as Harry Roat Jr. in ''Wait Until Dark,'' McMurry Summer Dinner Theater. He literally raised goose bumps and sent shudders down my spine as the creepy killer.

    The winner: Hukill - normally a good-natured, smiling man, he scared the breath out of me.

    Supporting actress

  • Tammy Williamson, as Laura in ''The Glass Menagerie,'' HSU. She gave the crippled sister a fragility and hopefulness that was painful, but wonderful, to watch.

  • Lauren Allred, as Nurse in ''Romeo and Juliet,'' Abilene Shakespeare Festival. As the jolly, loving, steeped-in-intrigue Nurse, she poured herself fully into her character, showing her love for her young charge.

  • Hilary Hockett, as Helsa Wenzel, etc., in ''The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,'' McMurry. She played numerous characters and kept everyone guessing.

  • Cheryl Lehman Collier, as Barbara in ''No Sex Please, We're British,'' ACT. Her Cockney English tart equipped with a rubber cudgel cracked me up the entire time.

  • Kit Rodriguez, as Ida Webb in ''Twentieth Century,'' ACT. She could give most wise-crackers lessons in cracking wise as she played a Girl Friday from the '30s.

    The winner: Allred, who became her character completely, as she does with any role she plays.

    Supporting actor

  • Jason Frey, as Woodstock, ''A Charlie Brown Christmas,'' HSU. He squeaks and chirps, making everyone forget there's a guy inside that yellow fluff.

  • Pierce LoPachin, as Roger Hopewell, ''The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,'' McMurry. He pranced and displayed a limp-wristed sense of fun and creativity as the frightened dandy.

  • Tony Redman, as Brian Runnicles in ''No Sex Please, We're British,'' ACT. He always gives a fantastic performance, but this part might have been written for him.

  • David Ainsworth, as Matthew Clark in ''Twentieth Century,'' ACT. He had everyone howling with laughter as the Bible-thumping, sticker-mad asylum escapee.

  • James Beauchamp, as Roger in ''Broken Up,'' ACT. His non-stop blather of Act I paled beside his mumbling, stumbling drunk later on.

    The winner: Redman, for a great comedic turn, especially when he hides by hanging himself and his coat on the coat rack.

    The Abbie goes to ... musicals

    Lead actress

  • Lara Seibert, as Gertrude McFuzz in ''Seussical,'' ACU. She not only got to show she can sing, but that she can do comedy.

  • Amber Hale, as Elizabeth in ''All-American,'' HSU. Making the transition from uptight, anti-football dean to a woman in love offered a challenge she easily handled.

  • Lori Sims, as Toffee in ''Zombie Prom,'' McMurry. She was the perfect '50s teen in a poodle skirt, dealing with high school and growing up, all while loving her zombie boyfriend.

  • Juliette Miller, as Jane Eyre in ''Jane Eyre,'' ACU. She shows the growth of her character from shy and uncertain to having steely determination, while lending her lovely voice to the songs.

  • Lindsey Gallegos, as Lucille Frank in ''Parade,'' McMurry Summer Dinner Theater. She stood by her man, then fought for his life, continuing to believe in him.

    The winner: Miller has the ability to be delicate, strong or funny, and proved that as Jane.

    Lead actor

  • Will Clapp, as Professor Fodorski in ''All-American,'' HSU. He sings and speaks with a German accent through the entire show and fit the Mel Brooks-written character like a hand in glove.

  • Heath Billups, as Edwin Bricker in ''All-American,'' HSU. He went from nerdy student to football stud and made it seem effortless.

  • Adam Poynor, as Matt in ''The Fantasticks,'' ACT. He lets us watch him fall in love with the girl next door, making us feel as if we're in on a big secret.

  • Ben Jeffrey, as Edward Fairfax Rochester in ''Jane Eyre,'' ACU. He plays the character as strong and confident, but allows us to see the vulnerability hidden inside.

  • Tyler Lawrence, as Leo Frank in ''Parade,'' McMurry Summer Dinner Theater. His performance as the innocent, yet doomed, man showed power and pathos, right to his Hebrew prayer to God at the end.

    The winner: Jeffrey made Rochester human, caring and real, taking him beyond the staid Victorian.

    Supporting actress

  • Lara Siebert, in ''A Grand Night for Singing,'' ACU. Flirtatious, funny and wondering on her various songs, she gave real feeling, whatever the number.

  • Heather Ketchersid, in ''A Grand Night for Singing,'' ACU. She sang ''Something Wonderful'' - which describes her to a T, whether she goes for laughs or tenderness.

  • Jenavene Hester, as Helen and Adele in ''Jane Eyre,'' ACU. She showed her breadth as an actress as she plays a fragile Helen and the boisterous, vivacious Adele.

  • Annika Johansson, as Mayzie LaBird in ''Seussical,'' ACU. Clad in fulsome feathers, she gave the flighty, irresponsible Mayzie a heck of a voice and an attitude to boot.

  • Martha King, in ''Swing!,'' Paramount. It's hard to believe she just graduated from high school. She was confident, she projected and she danced like nobody's business.

    The winner: Hester, who must remember what it's like to be an 8-year-old girl.

    Supporting actor

  • Ben Jeffrey, in ''A Grand Night for Singing,'' ACU. Whether he was dancing comically in ''Honey Bun'' or pouring out his heart in ''This Nearly was Mine,'' he hit every note right on target.

  • Bill Overton, as Henry, the Actor in ''The Fantasticks,'' ACT. He becomes every Actor as he strides around the set and emotes from the stage.

  • Ryan Fonville, as JoJo in ''Seussical,'' ACU. He convinced me that he was the young dreamer with plenty of ''Thinks You Can Think.''

  • Caleb Straus, as Eddie Flagrante in ''Zombie Prom,'' McMurry. As soon as he opened his mouth as the strident journalist, he stole the show, chewing the scenery as he went.

  • Walter Cunningham, in ''Swing!,'' Paramount. He is the best triple threat Abilene's got. The man belts out songs, dances like Gene Kelly and acts with the best of them.

    The winner: Straus took ''Zombie Prom'' to a higher level.

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