‘Beauty' Takes Awards

Frontiersman

The Valley Performing Arts presented their annual award's ceremony last Wednesday at the Machetanz Theater in Wasilla with &#8220Beauty and the Beast” sweeping every category for season 31.

Jennifer Deters, general manager at VPA, said &#8220Beauty” was the chosen favorite after an unexpected successful run of the Disney musical last winter.

&#8220They did such a wonderful job on that show,” said Deters.

VPA aimed high with this show, hoping for sold-out shows that would simultaneously pay off debts, and nurture a whole new group of theater goers.

The risk was underscored by a list of the group's &#8220largest” firsts: Largest cast ever, largest crew ever, largest budget ever, largest royalty payment ever, largest stage ever, largest number of costumes ever, largest number of shows ever, and largest attendance ever; and a new first for VPA - quickest sellout ever.

Award ballots were sent to VPA's season ticket holders with nominees from all of VPA's productions, with categories such as best production, best director, best actor and best newcomer, to name a few, which were then tallied by board members to produce the winners.

Three of the four Board of Directors awards went to &#8220Beauty and the Beast” as well, with the fourth going to Betty Boyd-Beu, who served on VPA's board for over ten years and just turned 90. The lobby of the VPA's Machetanz Theater was named after Beu to commemorate her service to the fine arts.

VPA is revving up for season 32, opening &#8220Nunsense: The Musical” in September.

They will also be continuing with their summer arts camp with the second session starting July 20.

&#8220Students from six to 17 years of age learn aspects of musical theater in singing, dancing and stage production for the summer,” said Deters. &#8220They have a blast!”

For information on the VPA's Summer Theater camp, call 373-0195 or go online to: www.valleyperformingarts.org to sign up.

VPA's SEASON 31 AWARD WINNERS:

BEST PRODUCTION: Beauty and the Beast; BEST DIRECTOR: Larry Bottjen, Beauty and the Beast; BEST ACTOR: Garry Forrester, (Gaston); BEST ACTRESS: Laura Arnold, (Belle) ; BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Dave Nufer, (Cogsworth) Beauty and the Beast; BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Sarah Hendricks, (Mrs. Potts) Beauty and the Beast; BEST SET DESIGN: Connie Lutz, Beauty and the Beast; BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Kelly Larson, Beauty and the Beast; BEST LIGHTING DESIGN: Julie McCartney, Beauty and the Beast; BEST SOUND DESIGN: Cory Rausa, Beauty and the Beast

BEST NEWCOMER: Garry Forrester; VOLUNTEER(S) OF THE YEAR: Jennifer and Cory Rausa; TOR'S AWARD: Ted Carney.