As you may know, the annual LSJ Thespie Awards appeared in the paper today, and are also available online at http://lsj.com. Thanks to Mike Hughes, scribe and referee of the Thespies for 43 years now! He told me, “The first year, I asked (Bob) Wyckoff to do it and the overall winner was BoarsHead's "Sizwe Bansi is Dead," so that would be 1980; the next year, we started having a committee.”
Mark and I are officially OFF the judging committee, but I help with organizational details. Mike deserves a purple heart for arbitrating and forcing votes at the decision meeting — which is always fun but a bit chaotic. Thanks to this season’s judges: Kathy Booth, Sandra Conn, Tim Donal, Cele Friestater, Mark Gmazel, Tom Klunzinger, Julie Linderleaf, Lance Norman and Liane Zimny.
Thespies have long been “just save the newspaper” in terms of tangible awards, but in recent years, Thespie Judge Tom Klunzinger has taken it upon himself to prepare Thespie Certificates, which he has delivered to the various theatre offices, as possible. Hope all winners will be able to pick up their certificates, or that theatre manager/directors will find a way to distribute. Questions? Contact Tom Klunzinger mailto:[email protected]
I have mixed emotions about Thespies and awards in general, since theatre is supposed to be about cooperation, not competition — but there’s a fine line between competition and attention/appreciation — and attention/appreciation for live theatre is a GOOD thing! As always, the winners are great…. but there are other “greats” who did not win and it’s all “apples and oranges.”
Here’s a link to Mike Hughes’s article:
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/life/2023/06/15/thespies-lansing-area-theater-michigan-state-bright-star-riverwalk-williamston/70313761007/
Below is the same list that was in the paper — with a few extra “special mentions” at the end that didn’t make it into the paper — which also added a special nod to our departed arts icon Ken Beachler. (btw - I got Ken's date wrong in the subject of my previous email. His memorial is June 24, not 23, as it said in the body of the email. June 23 is just visitation.)
FOR MUSICALS
-- Best musical: “Bright Star,” Michigan State University.
-- Director: Chad Swan-Badgero, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Actor: Nick Kreider, “Music Man,” Evolve Theatrics.
-- Actress: Rachel Daugherty, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Supporting actor: Jacob Squire, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Supporting actress: Lindsay Campbell, “Music Man,” Evolve.
-- Featured actor: Josh Sowers, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Featured actress: tie, Kat Koehn, “A Year With Frog and Toad,” Riverwalk; Elaina Coscarella, “Kinky Boots,” Riverwalk.
-- Music director: Dave Wendelberger, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Music director (non-professional): Kait Wilson, “Music Man,” Evolve.
-- Choreography: Brian Farnham, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk
-- Ensemble: The four-person cast of “Songs About Stuff,” Over the Ledge Theatre -– Anasti Her, Jeff Kennedy, Storm Kopitsch, Courtlandt Lyons. Coming close were the “angels” of Riverwalk’s “Kinky Boots – Drew Birchmeier, Dayfran Camacho, Drew Doman, Ben English.
FOR PLAYS
-- Best play: “When I Come to Die,” Ixion Ensemble. Coming close was “The Hat Box,” Williamston Theatre.
-- Director: Tony Caselli, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Director (non-professional): Rose Jangmi Cooper, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Actor: Ndegwa McCloud, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Actress: Katherine Banks, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Actress (non-professional): Vanessa Mazhangara, “Fabulation,” Riverwalk.
-- Supporting actor: Doak Bloss, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Supporting actress: Hallie Bee Bard, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Supporting actress (non-professional): Erin Hoffman, “Tartuffe,” Lansing Community College.
-- Featured actor: Joseph Dickson, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Featured actress: Karen Sheridan, “The Hat Box,” Williamston.
-- Featured actress (non-professional): Janell Hall, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion. Coming close was Nakayla Morgan, “White,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Ensemble: “Magnolia Ballet,” Williamston.
-- Ensemble (non-professional): “Everybody,” LCC.
FOR EITHER:
-- Original script: “A Very Williamston Christmas,” credited to the apparent pseudonym Robert Hawlmark, Williamston.
-- Set: Kirk Domer, “Mrs. Harrison,” Williamston.
-- Set (non-professional): Tie: Aja Jenks, “Steel Magnolias,” Riverwalk; and Chad Swan-Badgero, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Costumes: Chelle Peterson, “Tartuffe,” Lansing Community College.
-- Costumes (non-professional): Amanda Macomber, “Bell, Book and Candle,” Riverwalk.
-- Lighting design: Becca Bedell, “The Magnolia Ballet Part 1,” Williamston.
-- Lighting design (non-professional): Lilian Meyers, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Sound design: John Lepard, “Wild Horses,” Williamston.
-- Sound design (non-professional): Miranda Sue Hartman, “The Realistic Joneses,” Over the Ledge.
-- Hair and Makeup design: Lori Bailey-Smith, “Steel Magnolias,” Riverwalk.
-- Fight choreography Brian Farnham, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Set dressing: Mara McGill, “Bell, Book and Candle,” Riverwalk
-- Props: Michelle Raymond, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Props (non-professional): Ray Louise Sunshine, “Charlotte’s Web,” MSU..
-- Scenography: Elisha Smith, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Projections: Alison Dobbins, “A Very Williamston Christmas.”
-- Projections (non-professional): Nicklas Casella and Thalia Pearce, “Charlotte’s Web,” MSU.
SPECIAL AWARDS
The Robert Busby Award goes to Sam and Mary Austin, who have helped local theater immensely in both ways – as enthusiastic members of the audience and as financial contributors.
The Austins grew up on Depression-time farms in Wisconsin. Sam, a physicist, led the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. Since their retirement, they’ve been especially active in support. They gave the lead gift in the Williamston Theatre’s drive to remodel its theater and remove pillars and were lead donors in the campaign for a permanent home for MSU’s Summer Circle Theatre, first visiting every outdoor plaza in the area.
They also have helped theater at Riverwalk, Peppermint Creek, Lansing Community College and the Renegade Theatre Fetival, plus music programs with the Lansing Symphony and MSU. And as the pandemic receded, they were among the first to return to shows, encouraging others to do the same.
In addition, a special mention goes to Riverwalk Theatre, for its continued help for other theater groups. At various points, Riverwalk provided the home for two shows by Over the Ledge and one by Lansing Community College, plus a concert by the Sistrum chorus.. That was alongside its usual help with costumes and sets.
Other special mentions are for:
-- “Kinky Boots” at Riverwalk, for providing a fresh surge of local interest. The audience was larger, younger, more diverse and in a good mood.
-- The program for Lansing Community College’s “Queering History.” Not only was the design (by Ashleigh Taylor) beautiful, but it included a handy, two-page guide to people and places mentioned.
-- And, of course, Pepper in Riverwalk’s “Bell, Book and Candle.” Pepper is a cat (quite appropriate for the role of Pyewacket) and, among other things, showed an admirable ability to hiss on cue.
Mark and I are officially OFF the judging committee, but I help with organizational details. Mike deserves a purple heart for arbitrating and forcing votes at the decision meeting — which is always fun but a bit chaotic. Thanks to this season’s judges: Kathy Booth, Sandra Conn, Tim Donal, Cele Friestater, Mark Gmazel, Tom Klunzinger, Julie Linderleaf, Lance Norman and Liane Zimny.
Thespies have long been “just save the newspaper” in terms of tangible awards, but in recent years, Thespie Judge Tom Klunzinger has taken it upon himself to prepare Thespie Certificates, which he has delivered to the various theatre offices, as possible. Hope all winners will be able to pick up their certificates, or that theatre manager/directors will find a way to distribute. Questions? Contact Tom Klunzinger mailto:[email protected]
I have mixed emotions about Thespies and awards in general, since theatre is supposed to be about cooperation, not competition — but there’s a fine line between competition and attention/appreciation — and attention/appreciation for live theatre is a GOOD thing! As always, the winners are great…. but there are other “greats” who did not win and it’s all “apples and oranges.”
Here’s a link to Mike Hughes’s article:
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/life/2023/06/15/thespies-lansing-area-theater-michigan-state-bright-star-riverwalk-williamston/70313761007/
Below is the same list that was in the paper — with a few extra “special mentions” at the end that didn’t make it into the paper — which also added a special nod to our departed arts icon Ken Beachler. (btw - I got Ken's date wrong in the subject of my previous email. His memorial is June 24, not 23, as it said in the body of the email. June 23 is just visitation.)
FOR MUSICALS
-- Best musical: “Bright Star,” Michigan State University.
-- Director: Chad Swan-Badgero, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Actor: Nick Kreider, “Music Man,” Evolve Theatrics.
-- Actress: Rachel Daugherty, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Supporting actor: Jacob Squire, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Supporting actress: Lindsay Campbell, “Music Man,” Evolve.
-- Featured actor: Josh Sowers, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Featured actress: tie, Kat Koehn, “A Year With Frog and Toad,” Riverwalk; Elaina Coscarella, “Kinky Boots,” Riverwalk.
-- Music director: Dave Wendelberger, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Music director (non-professional): Kait Wilson, “Music Man,” Evolve.
-- Choreography: Brian Farnham, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk
-- Ensemble: The four-person cast of “Songs About Stuff,” Over the Ledge Theatre -– Anasti Her, Jeff Kennedy, Storm Kopitsch, Courtlandt Lyons. Coming close were the “angels” of Riverwalk’s “Kinky Boots – Drew Birchmeier, Dayfran Camacho, Drew Doman, Ben English.
FOR PLAYS
-- Best play: “When I Come to Die,” Ixion Ensemble. Coming close was “The Hat Box,” Williamston Theatre.
-- Director: Tony Caselli, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Director (non-professional): Rose Jangmi Cooper, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Actor: Ndegwa McCloud, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Actress: Katherine Banks, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Actress (non-professional): Vanessa Mazhangara, “Fabulation,” Riverwalk.
-- Supporting actor: Doak Bloss, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion.
-- Supporting actress: Hallie Bee Bard, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Supporting actress (non-professional): Erin Hoffman, “Tartuffe,” Lansing Community College.
-- Featured actor: Joseph Dickson, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Featured actress: Karen Sheridan, “The Hat Box,” Williamston.
-- Featured actress (non-professional): Janell Hall, “When I Come to Die,” Ixion. Coming close was Nakayla Morgan, “White,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Ensemble: “Magnolia Ballet,” Williamston.
-- Ensemble (non-professional): “Everybody,” LCC.
FOR EITHER:
-- Original script: “A Very Williamston Christmas,” credited to the apparent pseudonym Robert Hawlmark, Williamston.
-- Set: Kirk Domer, “Mrs. Harrison,” Williamston.
-- Set (non-professional): Tie: Aja Jenks, “Steel Magnolias,” Riverwalk; and Chad Swan-Badgero, “Daddy Long Legs,” Peppermint Creek.
-- Costumes: Chelle Peterson, “Tartuffe,” Lansing Community College.
-- Costumes (non-professional): Amanda Macomber, “Bell, Book and Candle,” Riverwalk.
-- Lighting design: Becca Bedell, “The Magnolia Ballet Part 1,” Williamston.
-- Lighting design (non-professional): Lilian Meyers, “Bright Star,” MSU.
-- Sound design: John Lepard, “Wild Horses,” Williamston.
-- Sound design (non-professional): Miranda Sue Hartman, “The Realistic Joneses,” Over the Ledge.
-- Hair and Makeup design: Lori Bailey-Smith, “Steel Magnolias,” Riverwalk.
-- Fight choreography Brian Farnham, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Set dressing: Mara McGill, “Bell, Book and Candle,” Riverwalk
-- Props: Michelle Raymond, “Alabaster,” Williamston.
-- Props (non-professional): Ray Louise Sunshine, “Charlotte’s Web,” MSU..
-- Scenography: Elisha Smith, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Riverwalk.
-- Projections: Alison Dobbins, “A Very Williamston Christmas.”
-- Projections (non-professional): Nicklas Casella and Thalia Pearce, “Charlotte’s Web,” MSU.
SPECIAL AWARDS
The Robert Busby Award goes to Sam and Mary Austin, who have helped local theater immensely in both ways – as enthusiastic members of the audience and as financial contributors.
The Austins grew up on Depression-time farms in Wisconsin. Sam, a physicist, led the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University. Since their retirement, they’ve been especially active in support. They gave the lead gift in the Williamston Theatre’s drive to remodel its theater and remove pillars and were lead donors in the campaign for a permanent home for MSU’s Summer Circle Theatre, first visiting every outdoor plaza in the area.
They also have helped theater at Riverwalk, Peppermint Creek, Lansing Community College and the Renegade Theatre Fetival, plus music programs with the Lansing Symphony and MSU. And as the pandemic receded, they were among the first to return to shows, encouraging others to do the same.
In addition, a special mention goes to Riverwalk Theatre, for its continued help for other theater groups. At various points, Riverwalk provided the home for two shows by Over the Ledge and one by Lansing Community College, plus a concert by the Sistrum chorus.. That was alongside its usual help with costumes and sets.
Other special mentions are for:
-- “Kinky Boots” at Riverwalk, for providing a fresh surge of local interest. The audience was larger, younger, more diverse and in a good mood.
-- The program for Lansing Community College’s “Queering History.” Not only was the design (by Ashleigh Taylor) beautiful, but it included a handy, two-page guide to people and places mentioned.
-- And, of course, Pepper in Riverwalk’s “Bell, Book and Candle.” Pepper is a cat (quite appropriate for the role of Pyewacket) and, among other things, showed an admirable ability to hiss on cue.
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