VPA award winners

WASILLA — Valley Performing Arts celebrated the end of its 34th season last week with its Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony.

State Sen. Linda Menard served as master of ceremonies. Newly elected board members are Kathy Sage, Julie McCartney and Lucas Parker. Guests enjoyed catering by Jalapeno’s Mexican Restaurant and in honor of VPA’s 34 years of producing quality theater productions, 34 door prizes were handed out.

VPA members (season ticket holders) selected their favorite show, actor and production crewmembers to receive the following VPA Awards:

• BEST ACTOR: Larry Burton as Henry Drummond in “Inherit The Wind.”

• BEST ACTRESS: Kasey Shaw as Mary Lennox in “The Secret Garden.”

• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Ted Carney as John Barrymore in “I Hate Hamlet.”

• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Gena Graham as Inspector Lord in “Spider’s Web.”

• BEST SET DESIGN: Mariana Zopel for “The Secret Garden.”

• BEST PRODUCTION: “I Hate Hamlet.”

• BEST DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Hanson for “Inherit the Wind.”

• BEST LIGHTING DESIGN: J Phillips for “I Hate Hamlet.”

• BEST SOUND DESIGN: Kathy Harris for “Carousel.”

• BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Roxann Benbow for “Babes in Toyland.”

VPA’s board of directors chose the following individuals to receive special awards:

• BOARD APPRECIATION: Elizabeth Hanson.

• ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S AWARD: Kevin Cochran.

• VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD: Joyce Martin.

• BEST NEWCOMER: D.J. Rotach.