Dallas Voice‘s best of theatre, local news and music

by Staff of Dallas Voice

BEST LOCAL DRAMATIC ACTOR: Kevin Moore

BEST LOCAL DRAMATIC ACTRESS: Diane Box-Worman

BEST LOCAL PRODUCTION MUSICAL: The Who's Tommy, Dallas Theater Center, Aug. 27–Sept. 28, 2008.

When the Dallas Theater Center’s new gay artistic director, Kevin Moriarty, spent a year acquainting himself with the city before directing his first show, the anticipation he created was almost unbearable: How could he ever live up to the hype?

The answer, it turned out, was by producing The Who’s Tommy, a breathless 90-minute funhouse ride that practically reinvented the musical format — or at least, showed the Kalita Humphreys Theater that it could rock.

With a diverse cast led by Cedric Neal and a live band providing the thunderous music, “Tommy” stood as a manifesto for what local theater can and should be. In a time of economic uncertainty, especially for arts institutions, it made a statement that not only does Dallas deserve its new Arts District development, it needs it. — Arnold Wayne Jones

BEST LOCAL TV PERSONALITY / BEST LOCAL TV NEWSPERSON: Gloria Campos, WFAA Channel 8, WFAA.com/GCampos.

She possesses the bone structure and warmth of Paula Abdul — without the glassy look. Gloria Campos projects both dignity and approachability. And in well more than 20 years with WFAA-TV, the Metroplex’s ABC affiliate, there has never been a whiff of scandal about her.

Is it any wonder that Campos’ is gay Dallas’ favorite way to get local news? Whether anchoring two newscasts, doing PSAs or producing her “Wednesday’s Child” reports, Campos is one reason TiVo has a replay button: We can’t get enough of her. — Arnold Wayne Jones

BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY: Jack E. Jett, Airs Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on Rational Radio 1360 AM, RationalRadio.org.

BEST DRAG PERFORMER: Cassie Nova, The Rose Room (at Station 4), Shows: Wed.-Sun. 11 p.m., midnight and 1 a.m. Caven.com.

BEST TV SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: Time Warner Cable, BuyTimeWarnerCable.com.

BEST LOCAL TV STATION: WFAA Channel 8, WFAA.com.

BEST LOCAL RADIO STATION: KERA-FM 90.1, KERA.org.

BEST MOVIE THEATER: The Magnolia

BEST VIDEO RENTAL - MAINSTREAM: TapeLenders Video, 3926 Cedar Springs Rd., 214-528-6344, TapeLenders.com.

BEST VIDEO RENTAL - ADULT: TapeLenders Video, 3926 Cedar Springs Rd., 214-528-6344, TapeLenders.com.

BEST THEATER COMPANY: Uptown Players

2008 season included, Bare: A Pop Opera, Bent, The Facts Of Life: The Lost Episode, Zanna, Don’t! and Legends. KD Studio Theatre.

BEST LOCAL MUSICAL ACTRESS: Denise Lee

Recent performances included Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill, (Contemporary Theater of Dallas, Jan. 25-Feb. 17) and A Christmas Carol (Dallas Theater Center, Nov. 22-Dec. 28, 2008).

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE: Sue Ellen's Vixen Lounge, Caven.com.

BEST LOCAL MUSICAL ACTOR: Gary Floyd

Recent performances included The Big Bang, (Theatre Three, Aug. 14-Sept. 7, 2008) and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (Theatre Three, Jan. 15-Feb 22 2009).

MOST OVEREXPOSED PERSONALITY: Paris Hilton, ParisHilton.com.

BEST LOCAL THEATER DIRECTOR: Cheryl Denson

Shows directed include Fiorello! (Lyric Stage), Hello, Dolly! (Lyric Stage), Bare (Uptown Players), and A Year with Frog and Toad (Dallas Children’s Theater).

BEST CABARET PERFORMER - TIE: Anton Shaw and Denise Lee

BEST LOCAL FILM DIRECTOR: Robert L. Camina, released the short Martini: The Movie in Jan. 2009, CaminaEntertainment.com.

BEST LOCAL PRODUCTION PLAY: Bent, presented by Uptown Players.

BEST TOURING PRODUCTION: Jersey Boys, Music Hall at Fair Park.

BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN/BAND: Anton Shaw and the Bad Habits