MyPulseNews.com Mena Arkansas News covering Polk County and the surrounding area
Judy Kropp was presented OLT’s highest honor last Saturday at the biannual Benson Award Ceremony. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades of work with the theatre. She directed music for over 20 shows, served as president for a number of years, and directed shows like the one she is directing now, “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”
Over 40 additional awards were presented. “Annie Get Your Gun” was voted best musical and “Murder in the Magnolias” was the top vote getter in the non-musical category. Woven throughout the evening were fun skits presented by the Old Lyric Players readers group. On top of all that LaDonna VanWolf, Benson Chair Person, also arranged for refreshments. LaDonna pointed out that her husband, Joe provided extensive help without which non of the program would have been possible.
Shows up for awards were, Annie Get Your Gun, Willy Wonka, Murder in the Magnolias, Dial M for Murder, Glass Menagerie, Bell Book and Candle, and Little Women. The winners and clips from the shows are available at oltmena.com. Listed bellow are the Benson awards presented Saturday:
THE BEST MUSICAL PLAY
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
THE BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL PLAY
RUDI TIMMERMAN
BEST MUSICAL SCORE
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
JENNIFER MCPHERSON
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
JEROD MCPHERSON
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
BRANDY BENNER
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
SCOTTY JENKINS
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A MUSICAL
VIVAN AND GABRIELLA BARTOW
BEST STAGE MANAGER IN A MUSICAL
ZEKE MCPHERSON
BEST SET IN A MUSICAL
RUDI TIMMERMAN
BEST COSTUMES IN A MUSICAL
LINDA SCHELL
BEST LIGHTING AND SOUND IN A MUSICAL
ROBBY BURT AND CASEY KELLEY
BEST NON- MUSICAL PLAY
MURDER IN THE MAGNOLIAS
BEST DIRECTOR OF A NON-MUSICAL
TIM HESSE
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
KATELIN HAINES (TIED FOR BOTH THE GLASS MENAGERIE AND LITTLE WOMEN)
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA
JEFFERSON SMITH
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
ANN GLENN
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
WAYNE JOHNSON
BEST STAGE MANAGER IN A DRAMA
FAITH AMIDEI
BEST SET IN A DRAMA
TIM HESSE AND SCOTTY JENKINS
BEST COSTUMES IN A DRAMA
TIM HESSE AND MARILYN BROWN
BEST LIGHTNING AND SOUND IN A DRAMA
CYNTHIA RICHMOND AND CHERYL ZEIDER
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
AMANDA STIPES
BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY
TIM HESSE
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
LADONNA VAN WOLF
BEST SUPPORTING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY
SCOTTY JENKINS
BEST STAGE MANAGER IN A COMEDY
FAITH AMIDEI
BEST SET IN A COMEDY
TIM HESSE AND SUZANNE SNOW
BEST COSTUMES IN A COMEDY
TIM HESSE
BEST LIGHTNING AND SOUND IN A COMEDY
MARVIN GLENN AND SUZANNE SNOW
THE DIRECTORS CHOICE FOR THE BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCES:
KAITLIND BRYANT
APRIL BURT
KAILAS HARN
AUSTIN KAIN
ISAIAH KELLEY
JEREMIAH KELLEY
KATIE O’REAR
ROXIE WALLACE
KAYLEE WILLIAMS
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
KATIE O’REAR
OLT GUARDIAN ANGELS AWARD
LOU AND SANDY BROOKS
