It took time for the shock to wear off after the board of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré announced that financial crisis had forced them to lay off all staff. But once they had absorbed the news that the city’s oldest theater was in serious trouble, many friends jumped to Le Petit’s aid.
Former board member-turned-pro bono manager Gary Solomon says a plea for help pulled in about $75,000 in the first month following the board’s action. That figure included direct donations and proceeds from benefits staged in the theater’s behalf. Stage star and TV actor Brian Batt, who is also a Le Petit board member, put on his one-man cabaret show as a fundraiser in April. A few days later another 20 or so actors staged a benefit musical and comedy revue, co-hosted by veterans Becky Allen and Amanda Hebert.
Le Chat Noir proprietor Barbara Motley donated proceeds from a performance of the comedy revue “Short Takes” to Le Petit’s cause. In addition, the Wine Institute New Orleans put on a wine-tasting fundraiser for the theater.
“We had an incredible first month,” Solomon says. But he emphasizes that the light at the end of the tunnel is still a long way off. While Le Petit has made progress is whittling down a $100,000 deficit, it must cover more than $20,000 a month in non-staff operating costs. Solomon says the board is laying out its next steps a few at a time.
Meanwhile, Le Petit is proceeding with its previously set schedule. “The Little Dog Laughed” runs through May 10. Then, FourFront Theatre’s production of “Altar Boyz” will move in, extending its recent run at Southern Rep Theatre.
In line with Le Petit’s efforts to expand and diversify its offerings, the new musical “White Noise” is likely to make its world premiere at the theater in early July in preparation for a fall opening in New York. “White Noise” co-producer and marketing manager Holly Way says plans are in the works for a pre-opening benefit night for Le Petit.
‘Assassins,’ NOLA Project win big on awards night
The theater community honored its own recently with the annual presentation of the Storer Boone Theater Awards. Co-hosted at Le Chat Noir by Le Chat proprietor Barbara Motley and Brian Peterson, the awards paid tribute to work presented during 2008.
The New Orleans Theater Community cast ballots to select the winning achievements from productions presented in Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard parishes during the year. An awards committee (see names below) chose the Lifetime Achievement and Unsung Hero honorees.
OnStage congratulates the winners and all the nominees for the awards, which are named in honor of the late professional dinner theater producer Storer Boone.
The 2008 Awards
Best Musical
Assassins – The NOLA Project and Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
Best Actor – Musical
Jimmy Murphy – Assassins
Best Actress – Musical
Meredith Long – Ruthless!
Best Supporting Actor – Musical
Bob Edes Jr. – Cabaret
Best Supporting Actress – Musical
Lisa Picone – Assassins
Best Director Of A Musical
A.J. Allegra – Assassins
Best Musical Direction
Jefferson Turner – Assassins
Best Choreography
Karen Hebert – Cabaret
Best Performance By A Child
Alex Lemonier – The History Boys
Best Children’s Play
A Kingdom Of Statues – The NOLA Project and Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
Best Set Design
Eli Grove and Kyle Herbert – Assassins
Best Lighting Design
Scott Sauber and Nancy Macko – Rent
Best Costume Design
Cecile Casey Covert – Assassins
Best Sound Design
Cliff Stromeyer – Rent
Best Stage Manager
Laura Jean Hoffpauir
Best Comedy
Speech & Debate – Southern Repertory Theater
Best Actor – Comedy
Sean Glazebrook – Speech & Debate
Best Actress – Comedy
Natalie Boyd – Speech & Debate
Best Supporting Actor – Comedy
Leon Contavesprie – Private Eyes
Best Supporting Actress – Comedy
Cammie West – As You Like It
Best Director Of A Comedy
Aimee Hayes – Speech & Debate
Best Drama
Coyote On A Fence – InSideOut Productions
Best Actor – Drama
Michael Aaron Santos – Coyote On A Fence
Best Actress – Drama
Ashley Ricord – Sideman
Best Supporting Actor – Drama
Jason Kirkpatrick – Coyote On A Fence
Best Supporting Actress – Drama
Angie Joachim – Coyote On A Fence
Best Director Of A Drama
Ashley Ricord – Coyote On A Fence
Theater Of The Year
The NOLA Project
Best Original Play
Sean Patterson and Ricky Graham – Renew Revue
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lyla Hay Owen
Arthur Tong – UnSung Hero
Deborah Bell
The 2008-09 SBA committee consisted of: Michael P. Cahill (chairman), Michael P. Sullivan (vice chairman), Leon A. Contavesprie, Janet Shea, John B. Barrois, Carolyn Casey Barrois, Donald E. Lewis Jr., Susan Barrett Smith and Marc J. Fouchi.
Ambies pay tribute to excellence
Ambush Magazine presented its annual Ambie Awards in February, honoring top achievements in theater arts. Hosted by Brian Sands and Patrick Shannon at Le Chat Noir, the event also was a fundraiser for NOCCA|Riverfront.
Here’s a list of the top award winners in various categories:
Special Effects
Splatter House
Sound Design
Christopher Wright, Gem of the Ocean
Food/Dining Experience
Ginger Luke, Minacapelli’s/Brisket & Broadway Dinner Playhouse-
Hair/Wigs/Make-Up Design
Tori Bernard, Heather Autin, Back to the 80s
Set Design
Shannon R. Miller, Return to the Forbidden Planet
Lighting Design
James Clotfelter, The Seafarer
Costume Design
Roy Haylock, Cabaret
Choreographv
Blake Coheley, Tommy
Music Director
Donna Clavijo/Alan Payne, Fiddler on the Roof
Children’s Show
Once Upon a Mattress, JPAS Summer Youth Theatre
Outstanding Dance Solo
Tyson Randolph, Jamal’s Special Christmas
Featured Actor in a Play
Dui Jarrod, A Soldier’s Play
Featured Actor in a Musical
Richard Alexander Pomes, Assassins
Featured Actress in a Play
Peggy Walton-Walker, The Clean House
Featured Actress in a Musical
Leslie Limberg, Rent
Outstanding One Act Play
Lost by Mary Louise Wilson, Le Chat Noir’s New Plays Festival
Ensemble
Speech & Debate (Natalie Boyd, Sean Glazebrook, Sean Knapp, and
Liann Pattison)
Actor in a Play
Jason Kirkpatrick, Coyote on a Fence
Actor in a Musical
Joey Taranto, Rent
Actress in a Play
Ashley Ricord, Side Man
Actress in a Musical (tie)
Idella Johnson, Rent and
Jessie Terrebonne, Cabaret
Post-show discussion/talk back/experience
Former Inspector General Robert Cerasoli, The Inspector General
Unique Theatrical Experience
Spaces in Between, Kathy Randels/Artspot Productions and Art in Action
Director of a Play
René J. F. Piazza, Rabbit Hole
Director of a Musical
Roland “Butch” Caire, Miss Saigon
Original Work
Crimes Against Nature, Otter/Backyard Ballroom
Production of a Drama
Metamorphoses, UNO Department of Film, Theatre, and Communication Arts
Production of a Comedy
Die! Mommy! Die!, Running With Scissors
Production of a Musical
Tommy, NOCCA
Special Awards
Jefferson Turner for NOCCA’s The Sweetest Sounds: The Music of Richard Rogers, and DramaRama
Glammie Awards for:
Most people on stage
(89) Cinderella
Cultcha in da Parish ain’t no Oxymoron
The Altos, Shine Productions
Avenue Q Puppeteering
Richard Alexander Pomes & James Yeargain, A Kingdom of Statues
“President Who’” or “How Quickly We Forget” (tie)
William Howard Taft, Annie and
James Garfield and William McKinley, Assassins
Outstanding Work by an Animal
Crimes Against Nature
Most Exotic Costumes
The Arabian Nights, Christopher Arthur, costume coordinator
Never too Young to Start Doing Drag
Kyle Adam and Daniel Rigamer, The Sweetest Sounds: The Music of
Richard Rogers
You Can Go Home Again (even if it’s about to be sold)
Kathy Randels, Spaces in Between
Outstanding Performance by an Understudy
Sean Knapp, Speech and Debate
Someone to Watch Out For Special Awards
Samuel Repshas and Colby Lemaster
Helicopter
Duh, Miss Saigon
Where did they get all those 1980s props from’
Back to the 80s
Kick Your Heels in the Air
Bob Edes Jr.
The Pepper Mashay “Let’s Get Soaking Wet”
Cast of Metamorphoses
Outstanding Scissors Toss
Brian Peterson, Dorian Rush, Die! Mommy! Die!
Worst Pun Citation (tie)
“I just met a girl named Medea,” The Frogs
“Two beeps or not two beeps’ That is the question,” Return to the Forbidden Planet
X-Rated Title for a G-Rated Song
Pizza Boys Deliver, Sleepover
Xanadu for special achievement in roller skate choreography
Crimes Against Nature
Bravest Company for doing Most Obscure Play by a Major Playwright
Cripple Creek Theatre Company for Strindberg’s Erik the 14th
Most Elegant Plague Victim
Mishikea Braithwaite, One Flea Spare
Keeping the Tradition Alive even if it ain’t PC
Serving wop salad, Rocky & Carlos, The Altos
All that was Missing was a Vacuum Cleaner
The 3 Hoovers of Lil’! Abner, Herbert, J. Edgar & David
Impression of Road Kill
Meredith Long, The Great American Trailer Park Musical
The “Who us’” Self-Referential
The NOLA Project referring to The Lieutenant of Inishmore in
What, Has This Thing Appeared Again Tonight’
Scene-stealing-est costume of the year
Angela Arden’s attire for her husband’s funeral, Kate Jensen, Die! Mommy! Die!
Oy, such a Jewish Accent
Morla Gorrondona, Fiddler on the Roof
Lesbian Couple of the Year
Leslie Limberg and Paris Robertson, Rent
Outstanding Ballet Sequence
Matthew Neff, choreographer; Eleanor Carney, Ian Carney, Lee Farrar Bailey, Oklahoma!
Sexiest Man with a Speech Impediment
T. Joe Seibert, A Flea In Her Ear
Scream
Lisa Davis, Brewed
Not so Dumb Blonde
Eleanor Bernstein’s Daisy Mae, Li’lAbner
Most Dead People on Stage at the End of a Musical
Ruthless! The Musical
Funniest Finale
Rickie Luke as Dolly Levi/Carol Channing, Broadway on Demand
Performance by a Drag Queen not in a Bar or Club
Stephfon Guidry, Unplugged
Wackiest Ballet
Love‘s Maze, Frannie Rosenberg choreographer
Broadway Star on a Local Stage
B.J. Crosby, Raisin
Most Technologically Advanced Set
Return to the Forbidden Planet, Shannon R. Miller designer
Most Bodily Fluids Seen on a Stage
Splatter House
An Enemy of the Audience
The rock-throwing rabble, An Enemy of the People
Most Drunken Irishmen on One Stage
The Seafarer
Way, if Slightly Illegal, to Hold Onto Your Boyfriend/Kill somebody
Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb story
Chorus
Annie
Beef Cake
Li’l Abner
Supersize Me
Veronyka Belleto, Crimes Against Nature
Most Diverse Cast
Miss Saigon
Scariest Props
All the guns, Assassins
Incestuous Kiss
Dorian Rush and Bob Edes, Jr., Die! Mommy! Die!
Mess
The Clean House
Chest
Derrick Deal, Metamorphoses
Prop of the Year
Oversized flashing suppository, Die! Mommy! Die!
Video
Irreplaceable, Varla Jean Merrnan Loves a Foreign Tongue
It’s Not the Size That Counts Special Award
Susan Domangue as Fruma Sarah in JPAS’ Fiddler on the Roof
Going Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
Jackie Clarkson, President of the City Council of New Orleans
