Thursday, December 27, 2007

Alexandra Bonifield’s Best of DFW theatre in 2007

By Alexandra Bonifield of North Dallas Gazette

You’ll never see me at a DFW “sports event.” And mega shopping malls? Turn ‘em into community gardens and dog parks: feed the hungry, green Mother earth, let Bowser run. As far as I’m concerned, the stage is where it’s at. Sure, movies are great entertainment and educational. But give me a live stage performance any day, EVERY day, come to think of it. Let my spirit soar, the tears flow like rain and laughter burst forth from the deepest recesses of my soul. Make being alive a genuinely better experience.

I resolve in 2008 to see MORE LIVE THEATRE. And review it.

Here’s my BEST of The Stage for 2007, from what I was privileged to review:

The Play About the Baby

The Snow Queen

• Best Drama: String of Pearls, by Michelle Lowe, Echo Theatre
• Best Comedy: Ladies of the Camellias, Echo Theatre
• Best Overall Production, Any Genre: Right Ho, Jeeves, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas (CTD)
• Best Director: Susan Sargeant, The Play About the Baby, WingSpan Theatre
• Best Actor: Randy Pearlman (Adolph) The Last Night of Ballyhoo, CTD
• Best Actress: Sue Loncar (title role) Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander, CTD
• Most Intriguing Male Performance: Fred Curchak, NOH Angels, Demons and Dreamers: Japanese Masterpieces of the Supernatural, Undermain Theatre
• Most Intriguing Female Performance: Rhonda Boutte (Sigrun), The Snow Queen, Undermain Theatre
• Most Promising Artist, Male: James Chandler (CB), Dog Sees God, Inevitable Theatre Company
• Most Promising Artist, Female: Catherine DuBord (title role), Sylvia, CTD
• Best Supporting Performance, Male: Mark Shum, Right Ho, Jeeves, CTD
• Best Supporting Performance, Female: Susan McMath Platt, Right Ho, Jeeves, CTD
• Best Scenic Design: Wade Giampa, The Play About the Baby, WingSpan Theatre
• Best Lighting Design: Russell K. Dyer, The Play About the Baby, WingSpan Theatre
• Best Sound/ Musical Composition: Bruce DuBose and Floyd Kearns-Simmons, The Snow Queen, Undermain Theatre
• Best Costumes: Barbara C. Cox, The Gnadiges Fraulein, WingSpan Theatre
• Most Outstanding Special Effects: The Snow Queen, Undermain Theatre
• Gutsiest Production (Tied): Dog Sees God, Inevitable Theatre Company, Directed by Robert Neblett and Theatre of Death, MBS Productions, Mark-Brian Sonna
• Best Up and Coming Local Playwright: Tom Sime
• Stage Company that Best Fulfills its Stated Mission: Echo Theatre, Pam Myers-Morgan
• Company that Best Advocates for Future of Stage Performance: Shakespeare Dallas, Raphael Parry
• Company that Best Addresses Audience Safety and Comfort: Undermain Theatre, Katherine Owens
• Most Outstanding Small Performance Venue: Bath House Cultural Center
• Best Overall Season of Live Theatre: Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

That’s how I saw it in 2007.

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