The 60th Quonta Theatre Festival came to an exciting conclusion at a Sunday morning awards brunch at the Cedar Meadows Resort that saw Lucy, a play staged by the Sault Theatre Workshop garner many of the top awards including Outstanding Production.
By virtue of its winning Outstanding Production, the Sault Theatre Workshop’s Lucy now advances to Theatre Ontario’s best play competition at festival that will be held in Ottawa May 17-2.
Lucy was produced by Sault Theatre Workshop after the play’s director, Randi Mraud’s parents came across the script at last year’s Theatre Ontario Festival.
“My parents, who also are involved with theatre, read the script for Lucy and thought I would love it and they brought it home for me,” Mraud said in explaining why they chose to produce the play.
The play written by Canadian Damien Atkinson, is about a respected anthropologist, Vivian and her 13-year-old autistic daughter, Lucy.
Lucy was auditioned in December and rehearsed in January. It had a week’s run in the Soo during the end of February, before travelling to Timmins for the Quonta Festival.
It will be performed in the Soo one more time before heading out to the Theatre Ontario Festival in Ottawa.
Timmins’ Take Two Theatre, which hosted the 2017 Quonta Theatre Festival, did not come out empty-handed, as they won for best Outstanding Actress in a Support Role with Michelle Goulet winning for role as Loretta in their production of The Melville Boys.
Also, Paul Charente, received honourable recognition for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal as Lee Melville.
Lucy won top honours for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Director (Randi Mraud), Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role (Calista Jones), Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role (Mark Daniher); and Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role (Michael Hagerman).
Wendy-Lynn Levoskin received honourable mention for her role as Julia in Lucy in the Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role.
Lucy also received two technical Adjudicator’s Awards for Set Design and Execution, and for Sound Design.
Boiler Room Suite, staged by Gore Bay Theatre from Manitoulin Island, and the third play entered in the 2017 Quonta Festival, received honourable mention for Outstanding Production and also for Outstanding Director (Andrea Emmerton and Walter Markell).
John Robertson, received honourable mention, as Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Boiler Room Suite.
“It’s great to have hosted the Quonta Festival and have neighbouring theatre companies come and show Timmins their theatre productions,” said Michelle Goulet the executive director of Timmins’ Take-Two Theatre.
In 2018, Elliot Lake will be hosting the 61st edition of the Quonta Festival.
For Timmins theatre fans, take heart, in the fall, Take Two Theatre will return with a production of It’s a Wonderful Life with auditions being held in June or July.
List of Award Winners (honourable mentions are in italics):
Outstanding Production
Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop
Boiler Room Suite, Gore Bay Theatre
Outstanding Director
Randi Mraud, Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop
Andrea Emmerton, Walter Markell, Boiler Room Suite, Gore Bay Theatre
Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role
Calista Jones, as Lucy, Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop
Catharine Warren, as Vivian, Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop
Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role
Mark Daniher, as Gavin, Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop
Paul Charente, as Lee, The Melville Boys, Take 2 Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress
Michelle Goulet, as Loretta, The Melville Boys, Take 2 Theatre
Wendy-Lynn Levoskin, Julia, Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Michael Hagerman, as Morris, Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop
John Robertson, as Pete, Boiler Room Suite, Gore Bay Theatre\
Adjudicator’s Award
Set Design and Execution
Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop – Phil Jones, Fred M Key and Rick Mooney
Boiler Room Suite, Gore Bay Theatre – John Hawke, Bill Biertehausen and Deborah Hawke
Sound Design
Lucy, Sault Theatre Workshop – Michael Cuthbertson
