15 AWARDS & 43 NOMINATIONS AT THE 2009 TOPPERS

Kelley Theatre once again was amongst the big winners at the 2009 European Tournament of Plays: For the stage productions of "The Mousetrap" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Kelley Theatre was awarded 15 "Toppers", including Best Comedy and Best Director Of A Comedy. Here is a full list of the nominees and the winners.

TECHNICAL AWARDS

Best Make-up for a Play
Deb Stevens, Barb Heidt for A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Hair and Wig Design
Barb Heidt, Deb Stevens, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Costume Design for a Comedy

"Sparks" Moeller, Andrina Rout, Mary Schultz, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Costume Design for a Drama
Sparks Moeller, Jennifer Vollmer, The Mousetrap

Best Lighting Design for a Comedy
Holger Schröder, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Lighting Design for a Drama

Holger Schröder, The Mousetrap

Best Sound for a Comedy

Barb Heidt, Richard Roberts, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Sound for a Drama
Ron Paoletti, The Mousetrap

Best Stage Properties for a Drama
Barb Heidt, Deb Stevens, The Mousetrap

Best Program
Daniel Ruf, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Poster
Erick Martinez, The Mousetrap

Best Scene Painting for a Play
A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Set Design for a Comedy
Barb Heidt, Richard Roberts, Deb Stevens, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Set Design for a Drama
Barb Heidt, Richards Roberts, The Mousetrap

Best Stage Manager of a Comedy
Deb Stevens, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Stage Manager for a Drama
Barb Heidt, The Mousetrap

Best Technical Director for a Comedy
A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Technical Director for a Drama
Alan Buxkemper, Barb Heidt, Deb Stevens, Richard Roberts, The Mousetrap

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

Best Military Performance in a Play
CPT Eric Hanson, Bottom, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Outstanding Female Youth in Community Theatre
Kenidy Springer, Moth, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Outstanding Male Youth in Community Theatre
Evan Stevens, Puck, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Ensemble for a Comedy
A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Ensemble for a Drama
The Mousetrap

Best Actress in a Minor Role in a Comedy
Lise Desjardins Downing, Petra Quince, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ginny Glavinic, Snout/Wall,  A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Actor in a Minor Role in a Comedy  
Mike Quantrell, Snug/Lion, Midsummer Night's Dream
Joshua White, Flute/Thisbe, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Elise Lindenmayer, Helena, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Stuttgart
Rachel Koenig, Hermia, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Tyler Boswell, Demetrius, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Andrew Cass, Lysander, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Actress in a Comedy
Chantal Schurr, Titania, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Actor in a Comedy
Rick Stevens, Oberon, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Actor in a Minor Role in a Drama (TIE)
Wayne Boswell, Major Metcalf, The Mousetrap

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Jennifer Campbell, Miss Casewell, The Mousetrap

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Richard Herman, Christopher Wren, The Mousetrap
Kenny Christian, Paravicini, The Mousetrap

Best Actor in a Drama
Dennis Austin, Det. Sgt. Trotter, The Mousetrap

Best Director of a Comedy
Richard Roberts, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Director for a Drama
Richard Roberts, The Mousetrap

Best Comedy
A Midsummer Night's Dream

Best Drama
The Mousetrap

SPECIAL AWARDS

Outstanding Stage Movement in a Play
Barb Heidt, Lori Parsons, A Midsummer Night's Dream

JAMES T. MARTIN AWARD FOR ALAN BUXKEMPER

At the 2008 European Tournament of Plays, Stuttgart Entertainment Branch director Alan Buxkemper was honoured with one of the highest awards available: the James T. Martin Award for Individual Excellence in Army Entertainment. We all congratulate Alan and thank him for his continuous, wonderful, uplifting and utmost professional support.

Also, long-time Kelley Theatre actor Jim Heffernan was presented with the award for Consistently Outstanding Performances & Devoted Community Entertainment Service. Over many years, this highly talented, and seriously dedicated actor has undertaken dozens of roles, in hundreds of performances, generously donating thousands of hours, and providing the gift of live entertainment to tens of thousands of spectators. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE was his last show for Kelley Theatre - he will move back to the States in summer '08. Jim - we all will miss you! Thanks for having shared your time with us!

At the Heidelberg awards ceremony, Kelley Theatre was nominated 15 times for the 2008 Topper Award and won 4 of these prestigous awards (winners are printed bold in the following list) 

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

Best Military Performance in a Play
SrA Adrian Viveros, Carney, "Biloxi Blues"

Outstanding Male Youth in a Play or Musical
Zachary Page, Eugene, "Biloxi Blues"

Best Actress in a Minor Role in a Drama
Kristen Glogowski, Daisy, "Biloxi Blues"

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Tyler Boswell, Epstein, "Biloxi Blues"

Best Actor in a Drama
Rick Stevens, Morrie, "Tuesdays with Morrie"

Best Director of a Drama
Judy Rossignuolo-Rice, "Biloxi Blues"

Best Drama
"Biloxi Blues"

TECHNICAL AWARDS

Best Sound for a Drama
Alan Buxkemper, "Tuesdays with Morrie"

Best Lighting Design for a Drama
Holger Schroeder, "Biloxi Blues"
Holger Schroeder, "Tuesdays with Morrie"

Best Stage Properties or Set Dressing for a Drama
"Biloxi Blues"

Best Set Design for a Drama
Brett Harwood, Judy Rossignuolo-Rice, "Biloxi Blues"

Best Program
Daniel Ruf, "Biloxi Blues"

Best Poster
Daniel Ruf, "Biloxi Blues"

Best Technical Director of a Play
Holger Schroeder, "Biloxi Blues"

SPECIAL AWARDS

James T. Martin Award for Individual Excellence in Army Entertainment
Alan Buxkemper

Consistently Outstanding Performances & Devoted Community Entertainment Service
Jim Heffernan

"BEST WORLDWIDE ARMY ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM"

At the 2007 Festival of One-Act-Plays held at Heidelberg's Roadside Theatre, Kelley Theatre was awarded the 2007 Family, Morale, Welfare & Recreation Command Award for Best Worldwide Army Entertainment Program in the category Large Installation. Also, we received the prestigious Irving Berlin Award for Programming Excellence for our 2007 USAG Stuttgart Entertainment Program. 
In the festival's competition, Stuttgart Theatre Center scored big with the musical “LISTEN TO MY HEART”, a thrillingly sung collection of songs by noted tunesmith David Friedman, which grabbed the title of second place Best Show, while its cast was named third place Best Ensemble. The show was directed by Raqi Burnett (musical direction by Alan Buxkemper) and starred Ingrid Harwood, Jeanne Ragonese, Denise Woodmansee, Thomas Harke and Joerg Witzsch.

2007 TWINK LYNCH AWARD FOR KELLEY THEATRE 

The Stuttgart Entertainment Branch received a most prestigious National Theater Award: The"American Association of Community Theaters" 2007 Twink Lynch Award. This award focuses national attention on the advancement of the Stuttgart Theater Center's reputation as a leading force in American Community Theater on a national level.  The award was presented to Alan Buxkmper and Brett Harwood at the Awards Gala during AACTFest '07 in Charlotte, NC.

WHAT THE JURY SAID:

"....This strong foundation, built with the seemingly limitless energy of a highly motivated and dedicated volunteer base, an extremely supportive command group, and the support of the entire military community, allowed STC to take giant steps forward during the past year.
The theatre’s accomplishments in the 2006 US Army Installation Management Agency Europe Region’s Topper (Tournament of Plays) Awards were stellar! STC’s production of Urinetown - The Musical achieved something no other show in the history of Information Management Command-Europe ever has by winning 12 Topper awards. With cutting edge theatre presented in a beautifully modernized facility, these are exciting times for STC. The past, present, and future vision demonstrates a commitment to maintaining standards of the highest order..." 

THE TWINK LYNCH AWARD

This award recognizes AACT member theaters for successfully completing major steps in new directions, expanding services to their community, or moving to the next level of organizational development.  The American Association of Community Theater (AACT) is the national voice of community theater, representing the interests of its members and over 7,000 theaters across the U.S., and with the armed forces overseas. In her article "Let There Be Art", Twink Lynch defines the mission of the American Association of Community Theater as dedicated as "to foster and encourage the development of, and commitment to, the highest standards by community theaters though the U.S., including standards of excellence for production, management, governance, community relations and service. Through newsletters, workshops, professional conferences, and its acclaimed Festival of the American Community Theater - and now through electronic networking and communication- AACT has had a profound influence on community theater-as-art for more than thirty years."   

2007 European Tournament of Plays:

5 AWARDS & SPECIAL AWARD FOR COL JUERGENS

5 awards, 15 nominations and a special award for Outstanding Command Support for COL Kenneth G. Juergens - the 2007 European Tournament of Plays was very successful for the KELLEY THEATRE production of "THE GRADUATE".

Awards:

Best Actor in a Drama: Antonio Brunetti (Benjamin Braddock)
Best Costume Design for a Drama: Jennifer Vollmer
Best Sound for a Drama: Alan Buxkemper
Best Lighting Design for a Drama: Holger Schroeder
Best Stage Manager for a Drama: Raqi Barnett, Deb Stevens

Nominations:

Best Drama
Best Director for a Drama: Judy Rossignuolo-Rice
Best Actress in a Drama: Chantal Schurr (Mrs. Robinson)
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Kip Caban (Elaine) & Karen Ekman-Baur (Mrs. Braddock)
Best Actress in a Minor Role in a Drama: Raquel "Raqi" Barnett (Stripper)
Best Actor in a Minor Role in a Drama: James Merkle, (Desk Clerk)
Best Stage Properties or Set Dressing for a Drama: Deb Stevens
Best Program: Daniel Ruf
Best Set Design for a Drama: Brett Harwood

Special award:

Outstanding Command Support: COL Kenneth G. Juergens, CDR USAG Stuttgart

RECORD-BREAKING URINETOWN: 12 TOPPERS

URINETOWN - THE MUSICAL has set up a new record in the history of the European Tournament of Plays: it received 31 nominations and won 12 Topper Awards at the 2006 Tournament of Plays. Never before has a theatre won that many awards for a single production! We thank everybody involved in the show and our incredible audience, that has made that success possible. You can read more and view pictures and a short video-trailer on our URINETOWN-PAGES.

Awards:

Best Musical
Best Director: Brett Harwood
Best Ensemble
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Sanders-King
Best Supporting Actor: Tony King
Best Actress in a Minor Role: Isabell Olsen-Clancy
Best Actor in a Minor Role: Antonio Brunetti
Best Technical Director: Holger Schroeder
Best Orchestra
Best Musical Director: Alan Buxkemper
Best Lighting: Holger Schroeder
Best Choreographie: Brett Harwood

Nominations:

Best Make-Up
Best Costumes: Jennifer Vollmer
Best Choreography: Brett Harwood
Best Lighting: Holger Schoeder
Best Props: Brett Harwood, Antonio Brunetti, Toni Walton
Best Program: Dani Ruf
Best Poster: Dani Ruf
Best Set: Brett Harwood
Best Instrumentalist: Kevin Sullivan (Reed)
Best Keyboard Player: Alan Buxkemper
Best Orchestra
Best Musical Director: Alan Buxkemper
Best Stage Manager: Toni Walton
Best Technical Director: Holger Schroeder
Best Male Youth Performance: Felix Loewy (Drums), Mark Luetzner (Bass)
Best Chorus Member: Jason Bolley (Tiny Tom), Vivanne Vogé (Becky Two-Shoes)
Best Ensemble
Best Actress, Minor Role: Isabell Olsen-Clancy
Best Actor, Minor Role: Antonio Brunetti (Officer Barrel), Christopher Keller (Mister McQueen), Joerg Witzsch (Hot Blades Harry)
Best Supporting Actress: Jeanne Ragonese (Penelope Pennywise), Jennifer Sanders-King (Little Sally)
Best Supporting Actor: Tony King (Officer Lockstock)
Best Actress: Denise Woodmansee (Hope Cladwell)
Best Actor: John Forsyth (Caldwell B. Cladwell), Thomas Harke (Bobby Strong)
Best Director: Brett Harwood
Best Musical

ASSASSINS WINS BIG AT ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL

Our presentation of the controversial Broadway phenomenon by Stephen Sondheim & John Weidman, ASSASSINS, won four awards, including BEST ENSEMBLE. The Stuttgart Entertainment Branch production of Stephen Sondheim's controversial Broadway Musical phenomenon ASSASSINS was the winner of 4 major awards at the International Tournament of One Act Plays (American Association of Community Theaters).

Awards

Sharie Mihalopoulous - Stage Management (3rd)
Susie Hare - Best Supporting Actress (3rd)
Raymond Desmond - Best Actor
and WINNER of BEST ENSEMBLE of the entire tournament.

We were extremely pleased with the audience's reaction on our presentation. L. Michael Johns writes in the KELLEY THEATRE guestbook:

Your entry of "Assasins" in the One Act Play Festival ROCKED! It has been years in USAREUR since I have seen such a fine ensemble of actors. Individually and collectively, it was an outstanding performance! All of you have the chops! Congratulations on this very brave choice for the tournament.

We would like to thank both the audience and the hosts of the One Act Play Festival for their support during the festival.

THE SECRET GARDEN WINS 5 Topper-Awards

At the 2002 USAREUR Tournament of Plays, our production received 23 nominations and got awarded five of the prestigious "Toppers".
After a successful run with sold out houses and a stunned audience, the show closed  March 22nd 2002. Remember this show on our SECRET GARDEN PAGES.

Awards:

Dani Scharpf ("Mary Lennox")
Shannon Wallace ("Mrs. Winthrop")
Alan Buxkemper, our musical director
Robert Chung, our technical director
Tim Hainsworth, our dialect coach

Nominations:

Best Make-up: Claudia Bittner
Best Lighting Design: Robert Chung
Best Sound Design: Alan Buxkemper
Best Costumes 
Best Choreography: Brett Harwood & Jennifer King
Best Orchestra
Best Keyboard Accompanist: Alan Buxkemper
Best Instrumentalist: Judy Sammel, Flute
Best Chorus or Ensemble 
Best Actress in a Minor Role: Jennifer King (Rose)
Best Actor in a Minor Role: Marc Gremm (CPT Albert Lennox)
Best Supporting Actress: Jeanne Ragonese (Martha)
Best Supporting Actor: Joerg Witzsch (Dr. Neville Craven)
Best Youth Performance: Jeffrey Reilly (Colin)
Best Actress: Ingrid Harwood (Lily)
Best Actor: Anthony King (Archibald Craven)
Best Director: Brett Harwood
Best Musical

TRIUMPH OF LOVE WINS 6 TOPPERS

We are very proud, that our production of "Triumph of Love" has won "Best Musical" in the USAREUR European Tournament of Plays. It also received this prestigious award for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actress in a Minor Role and Best Poster and has been nominated in 9 more categories.

Awards

Best Musical
Best Director (Musical): Brett Harwood
Best Actress in Musical: Jennifer King (Leonide)
Best Supporting Actress (Musical): Ingrid Harwood (Hesione)
Best Actress in a Minor Role (Musical): Kara Scaggs (Corine)
Best Design of a Poster: Daniel Ruf

Nominations

Best Actor (Musical): Toni King (Agis)
Best supporting Actor (Musical): Joerg Witzsch (Hermocrates)
Best Actor in a Minor Role (Musical): Thomas Harke (Harlequin)
Best Actor in a Minor Role (Musical): Ed Martinez (Dimas)
Best Musical Director (Musical): Alan Buxkemper
Best Orchestra
Best Set (Musical): Robert K. Chung
Best Costumes (Musical): Jennifer Vollmer
Best Makeup (Musical)
Best Program

Award for Kelley Website:

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

Netobjects.de, the german partner of US- based webdesigners & software-company Website Pros, has chosen kelleytheatre.de "website of the month". "We only select attractive and innovative websites" german juror Werner Lehl told our webmaster Joerg Witzsch, the winner of this prestigious award.