Seacoast Spotlight Awards

[Brett Mallard]

Congratulations to the winners of this years Seacoast Spotlight Awards

Spotlight Award winners
Scholarship awards: Camden Brown, Oyster River High School, and Lauren Hill, Portsmouth High School


Special Achievement Award: In memory of Tommy Makem, accepted by sons Shane, Conor and Rory


Original Script: "Reluctant Dragon," Elliott Baker, TFD Productions, Players' Ring


Ensemble: "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me" Blair Hundertmark, Peter Motson, Brian Chamberlain, New Hampshire Theater Project, at W.E.S.T.


Director: Billy Butler "Warmth of the Cold" Billy Butler (producer) Players' Ring


Play: "Someone Who'll Watch Over Me," New Hampshire Theater Project, at W.E.S.T.


Musical: "The Sound of Music," Prescott Park Arts Festival


Director of a Musical: David Kaye, "The Sound of Music," Prescott Park Arts Festival


Actress: Carolyn Hause, Dotty, "Noises Off," and "Christmas Story" multiple roles, Seacoast Repertory


Supporting Actress: Eve Marie Mugar, Prudence Parker, "Lexington Green," Opossum Theatre, Players' Ring


Actress, Musical: Tara Conway, Maria, "The Sound of Music," Prescott Park Arts Festival


Supporting Actress, Musical: Christine Dulong, Anita, "West Side Story," Seacoast Repertory Theatre


Actor, Musical: Ed Batchelder, Mr. Applegate, "Damn Yankees," Seacoast Repertory Theatre


Supporting Actor, Musical: Joe Cooper, Brad, "Rocky Horror Show" Seacoast Repertory Theatre


Actor: Camden Brown, Robby, "Warmth of the Cold," Billy Butler Productions, Players' Ring


Supporting actor: Andy Fling, March Hare, Bird, "Alice in Wonderland," Ethereal Pants Production, Players' Ring


http://seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS/804180420
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Brett W. Mallard


I put my heart and my soul into my work,
and have lost my mind in the process .

- - Vincent Van Gogh

[MichaelCNH]

Congratulations, winners.

I was particularly pleased to see WARMTH OF THE COLD garner praise. It was a damn fine show. Well done.
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Michael J. Curtiss: Caught In The Act

[Lowell]

[conssrtfan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuTju2_Plg8

[MichaelCNH]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfQRnIOwx_s
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Michael J. Curtiss: Caught In The Act

[MichaelCNH]

In response to Brett's email making the Seacoast Spotlight Awards this week's focus thread:

I've never been to the Spotlight Awards or been involved in any way with them, but as an outsider, I've always been impressed by the fact that they're sponsored by the media.

In an age where papers routinely sacrifice arts space for advertising, devote whole sections to sports, or worse, just ignore the arts altogether, it's encouraging that the Portsmouth Herald and the other media that make up Seacoast Newspapers are behind this event, and manage to pull it off every year.

Being an outsider, I'm also not aware of the politics or other social dynamics associated with the event being controlled by Seacoast Newspapers, or if they have a particular agenda.

The only negative thing I've heard in connection with the Spotlight Awards is that it's more a popularity contest rather than a true reflection of excellence and accomplishment, that who winds is determined by a combination of votes from the public and a small group within the system who make the call as to who wins in a particular year.

I don't know if that's true or not, hopefully, those who've been involved might like to speak to that.

But on the surface, it seems like the Spotlight Awards celebrate a wide spectrum of what the Seacoast has to offer, both within the arts community and outside of it. Moreover, it fosters a sense of community in the way that it's structured, and it seems to do it with consistency, so perhaps there's some lessons to be learned from the way the Spotlight Awards does their thing!
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Michael J. Curtiss: Caught In The Act

[willis]

I agree with much of what you said Michael.

Actually, I never thought about the media thing. Good point. The local papers do a great job supporting the arts in the seacoast. In Southern Maine as well as NH.

You are right about the "popularity contest" remark you heard. I got a couple of people emailing me (One of whom, I hardly know) asking for me to vote for them. As a two time nominee, I have been told that voting by the public is a PORTION of the final evaluation as to who takes home the award. Notice I do not say who "wins" the award because the fact is to be nominated is the win in this thing. Really, I am proud of my nominations and always include them on my resume. Those who are nominated were chosen because of the quality of their performances.

That is something to feel good about. Also, a friend of mine has been nominated four times and has never won. She is one of the most talented young women I have ever worked with. She has not "won" any awards, but she gets cast a lot.

The ceremony was actually pretty good. It went by quickly!! Billy Butler was VERY funny and charming as MC. And some of the musical performaces were terrific. The best IMO was the outstanding performance by The Makem and Spain brothers at the end.
Just wonderful.

Oh, One complaint. A couple of potty mouthed announcers had to be "cool" or something and use some profanity in their words. Billy clearly stated that the show was being broadcast (don't remember what station). It was crass and disrespectful but fortunately, the only blemish to an overall classy production. Nice slideshow in the beginning too.

Great Job as always Billy! And thank you, my Friend!

Contrats to all nominees!

[billybutler]

thanx willis! i always have fun hosting the spotty's. maybe it's do to the free beer back stage.
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I'll be here all week. Try your waitress and don't forget to tip the veal!

[tiggtoo]

so, i have heard a little bit about the profanity-laced diatribes- anyone want to fill me in on what was said and why? a private message will be fine for that. i am concerned with how people are behaving in the arts community while simultaneously claiming all of us as artists should be somehow treated better than everyone else, given affordable housing and otherwise be given special treatment. if people are going to whine and moan about how poorly artists are treated and then , while supposedly representing the rest of us, pick the wrong fights or fight the right fights with the wrong tactics, that should be addressed. because i don't know the details of all that was said, i can not judge one way or the other.

[willis]

Well tiggtoo, I really don't remember their names, and it was a definate minority. There were a couple of announcers that slipped, with a curse word, but one in particular seemed to enjoy pushing it. I don't remember his name, but he is a "somebody" evidently, because he seems to be an announcer every year. Always involved with band nominees, I think.

Anyway, I have been to a few of these (and once to NHTA) and I don't remember anything like this.

But like I said, overall the ceremony was fun. It moved along very quickly, and even all of the acceptances were brief. Not one of the winners went on and on. I'd say it was about two hours with the intermission. Maybe not even that long. Of course one of the differences between the Spotlights and NHTAs is that NHTA is ALL about theater. The Spotlights pretty much only deal with performances. Other than "Best Production of a Play" "Musical" and Directors for both categories, everthying else is for music and acting performances. No nominations for set design, lighting, sound, costumes, etc. Kind of too bad really, 'cause we all know how critical these elements are to any production.

[willis]

Oooops! I forgot to mention there are categories for sculpting and painting as well.

I am completely one sided and tend to forget anything not theater realated. But it's not just performing arts.

[MR]

[MichaelCNH]

[kenmartin63]

M&D Productions has put on more cutting edge shows, in the fairly "Arts unfriendly" North Country, than any theater company in the state during the last 7 years, check our history under who benefits at www.yourtheatre.com .... and we would be more than happy to produce Lowell's script.

[MichaelCNH]

I'm sure he will be thrilled to hear that.
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Michael J. Curtiss: Caught In The Act