Silver Palm Awards To Honor 26 Recipients In November

The South Florida Silver Palm Theatre Awards, founded twelve years ago to honor theatrical excellence in South Florida, has announced 26 individuals and organizations receiving the honor November 4.

The awards recognize “Outstanding Contributions to the South Florida Theatre Season” of September 1 to August 31, and who have residency in South Florida, said Executive Producer Matt May.  “There are no nominees, no winners or losers, and no limit to the number of citations given in any ‘category,’ though there really are no official categories.”

The awards are determined by recommendations of the South Florida Theatre press corps, and individuals within the theater industry. Their nominations are then tallied, from which a final list of recipients is determined.

Silver Palm Awards have been presented to over 200 individuals and/or groups during the previous eleven theatre seasons.

With the passing of co-founder Iris Acker in September 2018, Tony Finstrom, co-founder and then executive producer, created the first annual “Iris Acker Award for Sustained Excellent Work in South Florida Theatre” last year.

This year, May, Michael McKeever, and Andy Rogow, who serve as the awards’ Administrative Committee, have initiated an annual award in Finstrom’s name who died last fall. South Florida theater companies and venues also were invited to contribute nominations for these two namesake awards.

Cheryl Dunn Bychek and Lynn Korbin are sponsoring the Tony Finstrom Champion of South Theatre Award and the Iris Acker Award for Sustained Excellent Work in South Florida Theatre.

This year’s awards ceremony will be produced by May, who co-produced the past two events. Multi-Silver Palm Award-winning actor/playwright/designer McKeever, will again emcee the ceremony.  South Florida actress Sandi Stock will serve as the “Trophy Assistant.” Past recipient Conor Walton, who co-produced last year’s event, is serving as producer of the post-ceremony reception which he, along with his husband and theater philanthropist Mark Traverso are sponsoring.

“In recent years, one of the fun things Tony most enjoyed about the Silver Palm Awards, was providing ‘swag,’ ” said May. Donna and Frank Horkey, consistent theater and arts patrons and supporters, are sponsoring this year’s ‘take-away gift’.”

May also thanked ArtServe, Amy Pasquantonio/Amatista Photography, Walton and Traverso, and Insight For The Blind for their in-kind contributions to the evening’s festivities.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.  Interested parties should contact May at SilverPalmAwards@aol.com.

Open to the public, the event will be held at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale. Advance reservations are $21, or a $25 cash-only admission charge at the door.  Tickets will go on sale on or around October 1.  For further information, visit: http://www.silverpalmawards.com. The doors will open to a cash bar at 7 p.m., with the ceremony starting at 7:30 p.m. andfa reception a 8:15 p.m.

The 2018-2019 Silver Palm Award recipients, in alphabetical order, are:

David Arisco, for his Outstanding Direction of MEMPHIS and DOUBT at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

BROADWAY FACTOR, for Producing the “Outstanding Interactive Theatrical Experience,” AMPARO

RITA COLE, for her Outstanding Performances in SKELETON CREW at GableStage, A RAISIN IN THE SUN at New City Players, and DOUBT at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

RYAN DIDATO, for his Outstanding Performance in THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at Zoetic Stage

NIKI FRIDH, for her Outstanding Performances in TAR BEACH at Theatre Lab and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at Zoetic Stage

MARY ELIZABETH GUNDLACH, for her Outstanding Direction of A RAISIN IN THE SUN at New City Players

JENI HACKER, for her Outstanding Performance in SWEENEY TODD and Outstanding Movement Direction of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at Zoetic Stage

TERRY HARDCASTLE, for his Outstanding Performances in SWEENEY TODD at Zoetic Stage and DOUBT at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

MICHEL HAUSMANN, Outstanding Producer of Miami New Drama, mounting bold, provocative plays that reflect its community’s identity, anxieties, and issues

RON HUTCHINS, for his Outstanding Choregraphy for MEMPHIS at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

JOVON JACOBS, Outstanding New Talent, for his performances in FENCES at Palm Beach Dramaworks, SKELETON CREW at GableStage, and A RAISIN IN THE SUN at New City Players

MICHAEL McCLAIN, for his Outstanding Set Designs for THE CURIOUS INCDIENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at Zoetic Stage, JEKYLL & HYDE at Slow Burn Theatre Company, and HARLOWE at Theatre Lab

STUART MELTZER, for his Outstanding Direction of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME and SWEENEY TODD at Zoetic Stage

MARGOT MORELAND, for her Outstanding Performance in MAMMA MIA! at Maltz Jupiter Theatre

MALLORY NEWBROUGH, for her Outstanding Performance in BETTE & BARRY at Island City Stage

MARINA PAREJA, for her Outstanding Costume Design for SWEENEY TODD at Zoetic Stage

RICK PENA, for his Outstanding Costume Designs for JEKYLL & HYDE at Slow Burn Theatre Company

ANGIE RADOSH, for her Outstanding Performance in BREADCRUMBS at Primal Forces Productions

GIANCARLO RODAZ, for his Outstanding Direction and Highly Theatrical Vision of SHE KILLS MONSTERS and THE WIZARD OF OZ at Area Stage Company

LOURELENE SNEDEKER, for her Outstanding Solo Performance in BLONDE POISON at Primal Forces Productions

KAREN STEPHENS, for her Outstanding Performances in KINGS at GableStage, HAVIN’ OUR SAY at Primal Forces Productions, and FENCES at Palm Beach Dramaworks

PAUL TINE, for his Outstanding Musical Direction of SWEENEY TODD at Zoetic Stage, and HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH, LEGALLY BLONDE, FREAKY FRIDAY, and JEKYLL & HYDE at Slow Burn Theatre Company

GREGG WEINER, for his Outstanding Solo Performance in EVERY BRILLIANT THING at Zoetic Stage and his varied performances in SUMMER SHORTS

“Iris Acker Award for Sustained Excellent Work in South Florida Theatre,” sponsored by Lynn Kobrin, to JANET ERLICK, for 29 years at Florida Children’s Theatre

“Tony Finstrom Champion of South Florida Theatre,” sponsored by Cheryl Dunn Bychek, to MICHAEL & MARY ELLEN PEYTON

This entry was posted in News and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.