VPA wraps 38th season

Valley Performing Arts volunteers and patrons gathered at the Fred and Sarah Machetanz Theater Wednesday to put a bow on the group’s 38th season.

Master of Ceremonies, Dave Nufer, Principal of Finger Lake Elementary and VPA veteran, kept guests howling with laughter by sharing anecdotes about the season and many of our volunteers as well as providing witty banter with the award recipients and the audience.

VPA season ticket holders elected Phenie Miller, Kathy Sage and John Warner to the VPA Board of Directors and selected the following season winners with the Members’ Choice Awards:

Best Production: The Dixie Swim Club

Best Director: Marcia Beck — The Dixie Swim Club

Best Actress: Jackie Cochran, “Lexie Richards,” The Dixie Swim Club

Best Actor: Todd Broste, “Corporal Clive Winton,” See How They Run

Best Supporting Actress: Cathy Garrick, “Vernadette Simms,” The Dixie Swim Club

Best Supporting Actor: DJ Rotach, “Jeff Douglas,” Brigadoon

Best Costume Design: Cheri Trask, The Marvelous Wonderettes

Best Sound Effects: Larry Bottjen, The Marvelous Wonderettes

Best Lighting Design: Julie McCartney, Brigadoon

Best Set Design: Elizabeth Hanson, The Dixie Swim Club

VPA Board of Directors also honored the following dedicated volunteers:

Volunteer of the Year: Suzanne Hermon

Best Newcomer of the Year: Karly O’Laughlin

Board Appreciation: Julie McCartney

VPA’s Artistic Director, Larry Bottjen, presented the Artistic Director’s Award to Cheri Trask for long years of dedicated service and The Milking Stool Award went to Cynthia Lee for her performance as “Miss Skillon” in See How They Run.

Season 39 runs Sept. 5 through May 31, 2014, and includes Anastasia; The Canterville Ghost; The Story of the Velveteen Rabbit; Let’s Murder Marsha; unnecessary Farce; South Pacific; and The Diary of Anne Frank. Season tickets are available now and individual tickets go on sale in August.