They gave it their all on stage, during both their usual season and Theatre BC performance, and it paid off.

Vernon乌鸦传媒檚 Powerhouse Theatre went up to bat with Calendar Girls in Theatre BC Okanagan Zone Festival (Ozone) competition action and claimed Best Production at the awards banquet May 26.

The festival saw theatre companies from across the region ignite the Powerhouse Theatre stage nightly and compete for a myriad of noteworthy awards. For their efforts, Calendar Girls, under the direction of Tanya Laing Gahr, will move on to provincials in the form of Theatre BC乌鸦传媒檚 Mainstage Festival, which returns to Vernon June 29 to July 7 for the second consecutive year.

乌鸦传媒淚t is always a fantastic overload of terrific theatre made by terrific theatre makers. The festival is an exciting collaboration between many diverse groups held together by one love 乌鸦传媒� the theatre 乌鸦传媒� and one goal: the pursuit of excellence. It never fails to move me, excite me and, as an educator, challenge me,乌鸦传媒� said festival adjudicator Andrew McIlroy who offered feedback in the form of post-show talks and coffee critiques.

乌鸦传媒淚 stand outside the theatre at the conclusion of every show and watch the audience head home. They have been challenged, moved to laughter and tears and are ultimately richer for the experience.乌鸦传媒�

That consistent output of terrific theatre is derived from a community theatre company乌鸦传媒檚 love of the craft, said administrator Richard Kerton.

乌鸦传媒淭he Okanagan has strong theatre companies. There乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of community theatre in this zone and it builds stronger support,乌鸦传媒� said Kerton. 乌鸦传媒淭his is one way of bringing everyone together to get that advice, and it builds collaborative efforts. I乌鸦传媒檝e been doing this a long time so I乌鸦传媒檓 passionate about it.乌鸦传媒�

McIlroy, a professional dramaturge, agreed.

乌鸦传媒淭he event is live,乌鸦传媒� McIlroy said. 乌鸦传媒淭he work is live, and there is no place I乌鸦传媒檇 rather be.乌鸦传媒�

Ozone Awards

• Best Production Allum Cup. Sponsored by Theatre BC Okanagan Zone: Powerhouse Theatre Society (Vernon) 乌鸦传媒� Calendar Girls
• Best Runner-up Production. Sponsored by Joan Karstensen: Fred Skeleton Theatre Company (Kelowna) 乌鸦传媒� The Drowning Girls
• Best Director. Sponsored by Asparagus Community Theatre: Chantal Ethier (Kelowna) 乌鸦传媒� The Drowning Girls
• Best Actor. Sponsored by Shuswap Theatre Society: Frank Kohlberger (Kamloops) 乌鸦传媒� Whisper Into My Good Ear
• Best Actress. Sponsored by Fred Skeleton Theatre Company: Jenn MacNeil (Oliver) 乌鸦传媒� Outside Mullingar
• Best Supporting Actor. Sponsored by South Okanagan Amateur Players: Graham K Daley (Kelowna) 乌鸦传媒� The Fighting Season
• Best Supporting Actress - Sarah McLean Award. Sponsored by Joyce Elderton: Kristine Larsen (Vernon) 乌鸦传媒� Calendar Girls
• Best Set Design. Sponsored by Theatre Kelowna Society: Oliver Welton, Rob Mason-Brown, Bill Haidei (Kelowna) 乌鸦传媒� The Drowning Girls
• Best Sound Design. Sponsored by Barbara Keith: Brian Hesje (Oliver) 乌鸦传媒� Outside Mullingar
• Best Costume Design. Sponsored by Penticton Chamber Theatre: Jenn Mills (Kelowna) 乌鸦传媒� The Drowning Girls
• Best Lighting & Video Design. Sponsored by Maureen Ruscheinsky: Rusty Gahr (Vernon) 乌鸦传媒� Calendar Girls
• Best Props & Set Decor. Sponsored by Theatre Kelowna Society & Powerhouse Theatrical Society:
• Laura Wright and Sheryl Bossons (Vernon) 乌鸦传媒� Calendar Girls
• Best Ensemble. Sponsored by Norah Ferguson: Fred Skeleton Theatre Company (Kelowna) 乌鸦传媒� Drowning Girls (Michelle Hussey, Allyce Kranabetter, Andrea Sorestad)
• Best Newcomer. Wilson Riley Award - Sponsored by Dick Clements: Tom Szalay (Oliver) 乌鸦传媒� Outside Mullingar
• Best Backstage Co-operation. Sponsored by Summerland Singers and Players: Shuswap Theatre Society (Salmon Arm) 乌鸦传媒� Perfect Pie

parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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