Valley Performing Arts names 35th season award winners

WASILLA — “King Island Christmas” was honored as Best Production at Valley Performing Arts’ Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony June 15.

In addition to picking VPA’s top actors and crewmembers, season ticket holders also voted to retain Richard Payne, Paul Beers and Steve Brown on the board of directors.

VPA Artistic Director Larry Bottjen presented the Artistic Director’s Award to Jennifer Dalby for her creativity and foresight in directing “King Island Christmas.”

Bottjen also created a new category this year, the Milking Stool Award, and the winner was DJ Rotach for his over-the-top performances in “Pride & Prejudice” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

Others honored include:

• Best Director: Rachel Underwood, “Bad Boys Gone Gray.”

• Best Lighting Design: Judy Granquist, “King Island Christmas.”

• Best Sound Effects: Larry Bottjen, “Bad Boys Gone Gray.”

• Best Costume Design: Stephanie Rousculp, “King Island Christmas.”

• Best Actor: Ted Carney as Randle Patrick McMurphy, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.”

• Best Actress: Aubrey Byrne as Sister Robert Anne, “Nunsense II.”

• Best Supporting Actor: Todd Broste as Don, aka Brillo, “Bad Boys Gone Gray.”

• Best Supporting Actress: Heather Whittington as Sister Mary Paul, “Nunsense II.”

• Best Set-design: Frank Lombardo, “King Island Christmas.”

• Volunteer of the Year: “Jack Foster.”

• Best Newcomer: “Stephanie Berta.”

• Board Appreciation: “Annemarie Acord.”

VPA’s 36th season, which runs Sept. 9, through May 27, 2012, includes performances of “It Runs In The Family,” “The Woman In Black,” “A Christmas Carol,” “God’s Favorite,” “Twelve Angry Jurors,” “The Wizard Of Oz” and “The Trip To Bountiful.”

For more information, or season tickets, call 373-0195.