VPA hands out season awards

Gigi was one of the top plays performed by Valley Performing Arts during the 2001-2002 season. Just ask season ticket holders.

Gigi was awarded the best production award at the 11th annual VPA awards ceremony. The play also garnered three other awards for acting at the season-ending ceremony.

Barrianne Perkins won best actress for her title role performance in the musicalGigi, which was hosted by Tim Gillard. Her costar, Ted Carney, won the best actor award for his role of Gaston Lachailles. The best supporting actress award went to Suzette Walling for her performance as Aunt Alicia in the production.

The other acting award went to Todd Romine, who performed as Bob Acres in The Rivals.

A Midsummer Night's Dream took home three awards. Philip Munger won best sound and music; Mary Putnam won for her costumes; and Grant Olson took home the top direction award.

All of the other technical awards went toBugsy Malone, Jr. Winning for a very creative and extensive light design was Steve Cuthbert. The clever and intricate set, done by Rod Mehrtens, took the top spot for set design.

All of the above mentioned awards were voted on by season ticket holders of VPA.

The board awards are highly coveted as well, because they are voted on by Valley Performing Arts board members only.

The VPA Volunteer of the Year award was shared between Warren Foster and Jasmine Sheldon. Another tie took place for the best newcomer award -- Jacquelyn Rupnik, for her designs and work on costumes for Bugsy Malone, Jr. and John Simon, for sound design on Private Lives, and for his acting inA Midsummer Night's Dream shared the award. Taking home the highly prestigious Board Appreciation award was Tim Gillard. Gillard starred as Honore Lachailles inGigi and then took over the director's seat forBugsy Malone Jr.

The Artistic Director's Award, presented by Olson, was given to Thomas G. Jacobs for his cumulative contribution to VPA theater over the last seven years.

The evening's festivities included entertainment provided by Just Playin' Jazz, Cantora Arctica and Jeremiah Oliver on the piano. Video clips of dance and fight scenes were produced by Jeff Babcock.

The awards ceremony was preceded by Valley Performing Arts' 27th annual meeting. Presiding over the meeting was board president Scott Sterling.

His president's report touched on the many activities offered by VPA over the last year. The upcoming season, with seven plays slotted, promises to be an ambitious season.