[/media-credit]Benjamin Bonenfant, winner of Henry Award for outstanding supporting actor in a play for "Red."
The Colorado Theatre Guild and its brigade of 35 Henry Award jurors were clearly seeing red Monday night. Or rather “Red.”
When the 7th installment of the annual ceremony drew to a close, Curious Theatre Company’s spring production of John Logan’s Tony-winning drama, which imagines a verbally volatile and philosophically engaged back-and-forth between the painter Mark Rothko and his fresh-from-the-sticks assistant — had won seven Henrys, including outstanding production of a play, outstanding direction of a play for Christy Montour-Larson, as well as recognition for scenic design, lighting design and sound design.
“Red” also received the award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a play, although there was just a cast of two: Lawrence Hecht and Benjamin Bonenfant, who won for outstanding supporting actor in a play. Another Curious winner was newcomer Sean Scrutchins for best actor in a play for his searing turn as a Iraq vet in “9 Circles.”
Other Big Winners:
Megan Van De Hey and Tally Sessions won for their leading roles in Arvada Center musicals “Ragtime’ and “Chess.” Toward the end of the evening, Arvada’s artistic director, Rod Lansberry, got some exercise, heading up the stairs to the microphone to accept the award for outstanding musical (“Ragtime”), and outstanding season for a theater company.
Town Hall’s production of “The Who’s Tommy” won Nick Sugar two Henry’s. for outstanding direction and outstanding choreography. Donna Debreceni won for her musical direction. In addition to receiving arguably the loudest ovation, she led the evening’s ace band.
The ingenious Buntport Theatre Company had three shots at winning Outstanding New Play and did so with the the puppet wonder “Tommy Lee Jones Goes to Opera Alone.” Hannah Duggan (“Tommy Lee Jones”) and Erin Rollman (“The Roast Beef Situation” and also the Ceremony’s co-host with Brian Colonna) shared the outstanding supporting actress award.
More, More, Moore
Quite possibly the evening’s loudest burst of cheers in a night full of raucous approval came not for an actor or a director but when theater champion and former Denver Post theater critic John Moore received the inaugural Journalistic Excellence in the Arts honor. If critics are seen as nemesis (and that’s debatable), the relationship of Moore to the Colorado theater community present Monday would have to characterized as “Enemies, A Love Story.” Or just plain ol’ “Love Story.”
The full list of 2011-2012 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards winners:
NICK SUGAR
“The Who’s Tommy” – Town Hall Arts Center
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
DONNA DEBRECENI
“The Who’s Tommy” – Town Hall Arts Center
Outstanding Musical Direction
CHRISTY MONTOUR-LARSON
“Red” – Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Direction of a Play
TALLY SESSIONS
“Chess” – Arvada Center
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
MEGAN VAN DE HEY
“Ragtime” – Arvada Center
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
SEAN SCRUTCHINS
“9 Circles” – Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
LISE BRUNEAU
“Heartbreak House” – Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
SETH CAIKOWSKI
“The Drowsy Chaperone” – Boulder’s Dinner Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
ARLENE RAPAL
“Avenue Q” – Vintage Theatre Productions
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
BENJAMIN BONENFANT
“Red” – Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
ERIN ROLLMAN
“The Roast Beef Situation” – Buntport Theater
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
and
HANNAH DUGGAN
“Tommy Lee Jones Goes To Opera Alone” – Buntport Theater
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
NICK SUGAR
“The Who’s Tommy” – Town Hall Arts Center
Outstanding Choreography
CHRISTINA WRIGHT
“American Night” – Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Costume Design
SHANNON MCKINNEY
“Red” – Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Lighting Design
SUSAN CRABTREE
“Red” – Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Scenic Design
WILL BURNS
“Red” – Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Sound Design
“TOMMY LEE JONES GOES TO OPERA ALONE”
Written by Buntport Theater Ensemble
Buntport Theater Company
Outstanding New Play
“RED”
Curious Theatre Company
Christy Montour-Larson, Director
Outstanding Production of a Play
“RAGTIME”
Arvada Center
Rod Lansberry, Director; David Nehls, Musical Direction
Outstanding Production of a Musical
“RED”
Curious Theatre Company
Christy Montour-Larson, Director
Outstanding Ensemble Performance
ARVADA CENTER
Outstanding Season for a Theatre Company
2011-2012 CTG HENRY AWARD
JOHN MOORE
Journalistic Excellence in the Arts
2011-2012 CTG HENRY AWARD
TOM MCNALLY
Lifetime Achievement in Theatre
2011-2012 CTG HENRY AWARD
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION
1913 – 2013
Celebrating 100 Years
2011-2012 CTG HENRY AWARD
NATIONAL THEATRE CONSERVATORY
1984 – 2012
2011-2012 CTG HENRY AWARD
THUNDER RIVER THEATRE COMPANY
CARBONDALE, COLORADO
Outstanding Regional Theatre
2011-2012 CTG HENRY AWARD
CHARLIE MILLER
Outstanding Multi-Media Presentation
