2016 CAT Awards

A school teacher and a community theatre company which raised 1.5 million dollars for charity took out the biggest awards at the 22^nd annual CAT awards.

Formerly known as The Canberra Area Theatre Awards (now just CAT) the ceremony took place outside the ACT for the first time (Feb 18).

The annual celebration of community theatre, dance and high school theatre took place at the Dubbo Civic Centre.

Janet Cunningham took out the Gold CAT award for directing, set design, costume design, teaching and inspiring students at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts.

The Molong Players took out the Silver CAT award for raising 1.5 million dollars for charity over many decades.

Musical of the year was Wicked, staged by Free Rain Theatre.

The Canberra Repertory Society had a huge year, taking out seven awards.

Play of the year went to Pigeonhole Productions, Canberra, for their production of Playhouse Creatures.

The night was filled with excellent entertainment. Most notable were spectacular solos by Billy Bourchier (This is the Moment), and Kirrah Amoda (Defying Gravity).

The new patrons of the CAT Awards, Simon Gallaher and Peter Cupples, also paid  a moving tribute the late CAT Awards patron and colleague Jon English.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS.

MARY PORTER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP

Kaitlin Nihill,Canberra

BEST SET DESIGNER FOR A PLAY

Quentin Mitchell

Witness for the Prosecution, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST SET DESIGNER FOR A MUSICAL, VARIETY OR DANCE PRODUCTION

Chris Zuber

Spring Awakening, Phoenix Players, Canberra

AND

Heath Neville

Grease, Marian Catholic College, Griffith

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A PLAY

Anna Senior

She Stoops to Conquer, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW

Jessica Grantham-Lee

The Producers, So Popera Productions, Wollongong

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

The “Legs” teachers

Legs on Broadway, “Legs” Dance, Canberra

BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER

Hamish McConchie

Spring Awakening, Phoenix Players, Canberra

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT (Sponsored by AMB)

David Bunting

Researching, purchasing and developing the flying rig, Mary Poppins, Orange Theatre Company

JOHN THOMSON MAGIC MOMENT OF THEATRE

Disappearance of the witches

Macbeth, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST ORIGINAL WORK

Fiona D’mello, Andy Hua and team

Script and lyrics, Murder She Prescribed, ANU Med Revue, Canberra

BEST ORIGINAL WORK FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

Jeremy Boulton

Music, Ash Girl, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY

The cast

Playhouse Creatures, Pigeonhole Productions, Canberra

BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL (Sponsored by Dubbo Jaguar and Land Rover)

The ensemble cast

Wicked, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

BEST ORCHESTRA FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

The Addams Family

Lyneham High School, Canberra

BEST ORCHESTRA (Sponsored by Sarah Byrne)

Sweeney Todd

ANU Interhall Productions, Canberra

AND

The Producers

So Popera Productions, Wollongong

PATRICIA KELSON ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD

Luca Yi

As Benjamin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Dreamcoat Productions, Merimbula

AND

As Pugsley Addams, The Addams Family, Spectrum Theatre Group, Merimbula

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Ben Burgess

As Teddy Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, Lake Tuggeranong College, Canberra

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Matthew Hearne

As Warner in Legally Blonde, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Brodie Ackroyd

As Pamela in The Thirty-Nine Steps, Chevalier College, Bowral

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Kaitlin Nihill

As Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal, Phoenix Players, Canberra

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Patrick Holman

As Richard Hannay in The Thirty-Nine Steps, Chevalier College, Bowral

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Nicola Wetselaar

As Jennifer Mitchell in The Accused, Narrabundah College, Canberra

BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Jeremy Boulton

As Emmet in Legally Blonde, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Talia Sigsworth

As Elle in Legally Blonde, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE (Sponsored by Jim and Heather Leedman)

‘Gladiator Art Pop’

Senior National Team, Legs on Broadway, “Legs” Dance, Canberra

BEST VARIETY PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE

Cathryn Youings

As Scarlet in Murder She Prescribed, ANU Med Revue, Canberra

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY (Sponsored by Queanbeyan Players)

Cameron Thomas

As Macduff in Macbeth, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Fraser Findlay

As Dr Dillamond in Wicked, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

AND

Nelson Bowler

As Carmen Ghia in The Producers, So Popera Productions, Wollongong

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Alice Ferguson

As Janet Mackenzie in Witness for the Prosecution, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL (Sponsored by Findex)

Louiza Blomfield

As Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY (Sponsored by National Capital Motors)

Arran McKenna

As Frederick Fellowes/Philip Brent in Noises Off, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL (Sponsored by Coralea Cameron)

Daniel Downing

As Leo Bloom in The Producers, So Popera Productions, Wollongong

AND

Spencer Cliff

As Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd, ANU Interhall Productions, Canberra

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY (Sponsored by Mr and Mrs Bob Winnel)

Alex Rapp

As Rita in Educating Rita, On 4 Young and Old, Burradoo

AND

Jenna Roberts

As Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Canberra Repertory Society

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL (Sponsored by Teatro Vivaldi)

Kirrah Amosa

As Elphaba in Wicked, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

BEST CHOREOGRAPHER (Sponsored by Richards Consulting)

Michelle Heine

Wicked, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

Ruth Ellevsen

Legally Blonde, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

BEST DIRECTOR OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PLAY

Joe Woodward

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra

BEST DIRECTOR OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL

Janet Cunningham

Legally Blonde, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR (Sponsored by Marjory and Peter Kobold)

Katrina Tang

Sweeney Todd, ANU Interhall Productions, Canberra

BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY (Sponsored by DSP and Stage Whispers)

Jordan Best

Playhouse Creatures, Pigeonhole Productions, Canberra

BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW (Sponsored by Mr and Mrs Keith Crowe)

Amy Copeland

The Producers, So Popera Productions, Wollongong

BEST DANCE PRODUCTION (Sponsored by Joan Mary and Michael O'Brien)

Legs on Broadway

“Legs” Dance, Canberra

BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL

Legally Blonde

Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PLAY

The Thirty-Nine Steps

Chevalier College, Bowral

BEST PRODUCTION OF A VARIETY SHOW (Sponsored by Oatley Wines)

Murder She Prescribed

ANU Med Revue, Canberra

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY (Sponsored by Free-Rain Theatre Company)

Playhouse Creatures

Pigeonhole Productions, Canberra

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL (Sponsored by the NSW Government)

Wicked

Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

SILVER CAT AWARD (Sponsored by ActewAGL)

Molong Players

For bringing original theatre to the Molong community for the last 40 years, and for raising more than 1.5 million dollars for local charities

GOLD CAT AWARD (Sponsored by Icon Water)

Janet Cunningham

Directing, set design, costume design, teaching and inspiring students at Wollongong High School of the Performing Art

CAT AWARDS COMMENDATION

NOTE: This is a non-award category.

The CAT Awards commends the following companies and acknowledges the special contribution they have made over the last year to theatre and to the community.

Carillon Junior Theatrical Society, Bathurst

The Little Mermaid

For creating opportunities in the performing arts for children in the Bathurst region

Dreamcoat Productions, Merimbula

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

For donating all profits to the Sapphire Coast Advocates for Social Justice to assist them in their work

Trinity Anglican College Albury

The Lion King Jr

For involving every child in the school in years 3 to 6

Queanbeyan School Education Area Arts Festival

Discovery

For providing opportunities for students in the Queanbeyan area to participate in theatre

ACT Education and Training Directorate

Step Into the Limelight

For providing opportunities for students in the ACT to participate in theatre

Phoenix Players, Canberra

Next to Normal and Spring Awakening

For adventurous programming and for raising awareness of mental health and youth issues

Young Theatre Company

Calendar Girls

For raising money for Can Assist

Pigs Fly Productions, Bowral

Calendar Girls

For raising money for Can Assist

Images (from top): Canberra Repertory Theatre with multiple awards; Emma Wood - Best Play; Free Rain Theatre - Best Musical - Wicked and Molong Players Silver Cat Award.

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