CAT Awards 2014 Winners

The Canberra Area Theatre Awards celebrated their 20th anniversary at a glittering ceremony in Canberra Saturday night (February 21, 2015 ).

The Gold CAT went to Matt Burgess for his performance as Daddy Warbucks in the Bay Theatre Players production of Annie. The small company on the south coast of New South Wales stunned judges with their production, which was also Musical of the Year. Matt is also the daddy of Dirty Dancing star Kirby Burgess and Strictly Ballroom star Ash Bee. As well as being the leading man he helped build the set.

CAT Award founder Coralie Wood received a special citation for her contribution over the last twenty years, traveling all over rural New South Wales.

 

63 schools and amateur theatre companies take part in the competition.

Entertainment on the night at the Llewellyn Hall ANU included a smorgasbord of local Professional and Community Theatre entertainment.

THE AWARDS

BEST SET DESIGNER FOR A PLAY

Gowrie Varma and Ellie Greenwood

One Flea Spare, NUTS, Canberra

BEST SET DESIGNER FOR A MUSICAL

Mark Bell

Seussical The Musical, Orange Theatre Company

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A PLAY

Helen Drum

Arcadia, Canberra Repertory Society, Canberra

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW

Sam Lloyd

Annie, Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

Lydia McNamara

The Little Mermaid, Shooting Star Talent, Wagga Wagga

BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER

Blake Thomas and Peter Telford

Seussical The Musical, Orange Theatre Company

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Russell Brown

Design and construction of the tortoise and the furniture, Arcadia, Canberra Repertory Society

AND

Maria Stewart

Stage management,Step into the Limelight: Signs, ACT Education and Training Directorate, Canberra

JOHN THOMSON MAGIC MOMENT OF THEATRE

The shrinking witch

The Wizard Of Oz, Brindabella Christian College, Canberra

BEST ORIGINAL WORK

Kirsty Budding

Script for The Fairytale Channel, Budding Theatre, Canberra

BEST ORIGINAL WORK FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

Romko Hordynsky

Script, lyrics and music, Ghost of a Chance, Kinross Wolaroi School Preparatory School, Orange

Ryleho Homes BEST ENSEMBLE IN A PLAY

The cast

Cosi, John XXIII Dramatic Society, Canberra

BEST ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL

The cast and pianist

Rude, Crude and Musical, Newstar Theatrical, Wollongong

AMB BEST ORCHESTRA FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

The Power

Karabar High School, Queanbeyan

Sarah Byrne BEST ORCHESTRA

Legally Blonde

Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

PATRICIA KELSON ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD

Jim Kretschmer

Eden Dance Academy Concert, Eden Dance Academy, Queanbeyan

AND

Nick Anyos

Directing, The Witches, Child Players ACT, Canberra

John Barilaro BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Christopher Brookhouse

As Paul in Moon Over Buffalo, Lake Tuggeranong College, Canberra

John Barilaro BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Pippin Carroll

As Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra

John Barilaro BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Melissa Nuttall

As Ethel in Moon Over Buffalo, Lake Tuggeranong College, Canberra

John Barilaro BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Courtney White

As Wednesday in The Addams Family, St Mary MacKillop College, Canberra

AND

Janae Rosa

As Evilene in The Wiz, Marian Catholic College, Griffith

Ryleho Homes BEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Jack Mahon

As Hubert in It Runs in the Family, Marist College, Canberra

Ryleho Homes BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Belle Nicol

As Charlotte Hay in Moon Over Buffalo, Lake Tuggeranong College, Canberra

Capital Country Holiday ParkBEST YOUTH ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

William Rawson

As Crondike in Ghost of a Chance, Kinross Wolaroi School Preparatory School, Orange

Capital Country Holiday Park BEST YOUTH ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Annalivia Keaveny

As Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

Caphs BEST VARIETY PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE

Karabah High School

‘Earth Song’ in The Power, Karabar High School, Queanbeyan

Heather and Jim Leedman BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR ENSEMBLE

Senior and Advanced Senior Hip-hop team

‘Dangerous’, Movies Musicals and Legends, “Legs” Dance, Canberra

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Michael Turczynski

As Manuel in Fawlty Towers, On 4 Young and Old, Burradoo

BEST ACTOR IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Matthew Sykes

As French Taunter, Herbert’s Father and the Black Knight in Spamalot, ANU Interhall Productions, Canberra

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A PLAY

Andrea Close

As Barbara Fordham in August Osage County, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

BEST ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Eliza Shephard

As Patsy in Spamalot, ANU Interhall Productions, Canberra

AND

Jenna Roberts

As Paulette in Legally Blonde, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

National Capital Motors BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

David Preston

As Jack Worthing in The Importance of Being Earnest, Pigs Fly Productions, Bowral

Peter and Marjory Kobold BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Ben O’Reilly

As Albin/Zaza in La Cage aux Folles, Supa Productions, Canberra

AND

Matt Burgess

As Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay

Vintage Builders BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY

Karen Vickery

As Violet Weston in August Osage County, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

Teatro Vivaldi BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL

Bronwyn Sullivan

As Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, Queanbeyan City Council

Richards Consulting BEST CHOREOGRAPHER FOR A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW

Michelle Heine

Legally Blonde, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

AMB BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR FOR A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PRODUCTION

Ruth Ellevsen

The Pirates of Penzance, Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

Crowne Plaza Hotel BEST DIRECTOR OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PLAY

Emily Tutin

Moon Over Buffalo, Lake Tuggeranong College, Canberra

Crowne Plaza Hotel BEST DIRECTOR OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL

Lucy Smith

The Little Mermaid, Daramalan Theatre Company, Canberra

Sarah Byrne BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Nicholas Griffin

Legally Blonde, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

Stage Whispersand DSP Productions BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY

Cate Clelland

August Osage County, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

Crowe’s Curtains BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL OR VARIETY SHOW

Candy Burgess

Annie, Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay

AND

Derek Walker

Legally Blonde, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

Joan Mary and Michael O’Brien BEST DANCE PRODUCTION

Movies Musicals and Legends

“Legs” Dance, Canberra

Queanbeyan Players BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH MUSICAL

The Pirates of Penzance

Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

Crowne Plaza Hotel BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL OR YOUTH PLAY

Moon Over Buffalo

Lake Tuggeranong College, Canberra

Bags to Go BEST PRODUCTION OF A VARIETY SHOW

Rude, Crude and Musical

Newstar Theatrical, Wollongong

Blumer’s Lawyers BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

August Osage County

Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

NSW Government BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

Annie

Bay Theatre Players, Batemans Bay

Financial Index BEST CONTRIBUTION (ON OR OFF STAGE) BY A SENIOR

Liz Bradley

Steel Magnolias, Canberra Repertory Society

and

August Osage County, Free-Rain Theatre Company, Canberra

AND

Jim and Joyce Brindle

Caught in the Net, Cooma Little Theatre

Ryleho Homes IN THE SPIRIT OF THE COMMUNITY AWARD

The Illawarra Youth Arts Project

High School Musical
For providing a supportive and caring environment for young people in the Illawarra that encourages participation in all areas of the creative arts

ACTEWAGL and NSW Government GOLD CAT AWARD

Matt Burgess

Bay Theatre Players

For outstanding achievement in set design, lighting and performance for the Bay Theatre Players

Images of presentations (from top): Matt Burgess and Ben O’Reilly, joint winners of Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at 2014 CAT Awards. Matt from Batemans Bay, is the father of Dirty Dancing star Kirby Burgess; Coralie Wood honoured for 20 years of the Canberra Area Theatre Awards; Best Play; Best Musical & Gold CAT. Photographer: David Spicer.

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