THIRD ANNUAL GOLDEN PALM GOLD COAST AREA THEATRE AWARDS

489 nominations from 55 productions ranging from Redlands in the north to Ballina in the south were narrowed down to 95 finalists in the 3^rdannual Gold Coast Area Theatre Awards, presented on December 6, 2011 under the guidance of M.C. Ian Stenlake; star of Stage, Screen and Television.

The capacity audience enjoyed Ian’s opening song and dance routine and then eagerly awaited the judge’s decision in the 27 catagories on offer this year. The atmosphere was exciting and tense.

Once again schools and youth theatre productions were well represented and highlights from some of the shows under consideration were presented.

Two of the winners; Tim Crisp, (A.B. Paterson College) Best Leading Actor in a School / Youth Musical and Paul Belsham, (Ballina Players) Best Musical Director took out the same award for a second year running.

The outstanding Production of the year was Avenue Q (Spotlight Theatre), which also won an award the brilliant puppets created for the show.

The Gold Palm Award for the production with the most nominations was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (also Spotlight), which received 23 nominations!

The Platinum Palm Award for outstanding contribution to Theatre went to Musical Director and Accompanist, Marie Nicholson (also from Spotlight).

All in all, it was a fabulous night!

Roger McKenzie 

Images: from top - Avenue Q at Spotlight Theatre, the winner for Outstanding Production; Two showgirls (Hayley Green and Rhomany Fitz) with Remi Broadway at Awards: Kim Reynolds and cast of 13 - The Musical at GC Area Theatre Awards, & Simon Gallaher presenting Jamie Watt, winner Best Lead Actor in a Musical with his plaque (Picture: Grant Ebeling).

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

SET DESIGN - HELEN MADEN - A Streetcar Named Desire (JAVEENBAH)

COSTUMES - TONY ALCOCK - Beauty and the Beast (SPOTLIGHT)

LIGHTING DESIGN - CHRIS KING - Eurobeat (GOLD COAST LITTLE THEATRE)

SOUND DESIGN - JACKIE REIDY - Dusty (BALLINA PLAYERS)

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT OR EFFECT - JARROD BOUTCHER – PUPPETS  - Avenue Q (SPOTLIGHT)

THE JOCK AND BEVERLY McILWAIN SPECIAL ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD - SCOTT WARE - Beauty and the Beast (AQUINAS COLLEGE)

MAGIC MOMENT OF THEATRE – IN MEMORY OF LUCKY GRILLS - GARETH KENT -  Mother Goose (MATES REDLANDS)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE SCHOOL / YOUTH MUSICAL - GABRIEL LANGLAIS LEFTWICH - Annie Get Your Gun (MERRIEMAC HIGH)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE SCHOOL / YOUTH MUSICAL - STEPHANIE LONG - Return to the Forbidden Planet (BENOWA STATE HIGH)

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE SCHOOL / YOUTH MUSICAL - TIM CRISP - Thoroughly Modern Millie (A.B. PATERSON COLLEGE)

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE SCHOOL / YOUTH MUSICAL - ISABELLA LAIRD - Annie Get Your Gun (MERRIMAC HIGH)

BEST PRODUCTION OF A SCHOOL / YOUTH MUSICAL - KIM REYNOLDS-  13 – THE MUSICAL (JAVEENBAH)

CHOREOGRAPHER -  MADONNA HALL - All Shook Up (PHOENIX)

MUSICAL DIRECTOR - PAUL BELSHAM - Dusty (BALLINA PLAYERS)

DIRECTOR COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY - TONY ALCOCK -The 39 Steps (SPOTLIGHT)

DIRECTOR COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL / MUSICAL REVUE - ANN McMAHON - All Shook Up (PHOENIX)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY - DAVID EDWARDS - The 39 Steps (SPOTLIGHT)            

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY - KATE McNAIR - The Boys (GOLD COAST LITTLE THEATRE)

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL - MATTHEW HADGRAFT - Eurobeat (GOLD COAST LITTLE THEATRE)

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL -  VANESSA MOORE - Dusty (SPOTLIGHT)

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY - JIMMY ODENBREIT - A Streetcar Named Desire (JAVEENBAH)

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN COMMUNITY THEATRE PLAY - EMILY JOY -  Much Ado About Nothing (PH0ENIX)

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL - JAMIE WATT - All Shook Up (PHOENIX)

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN COMMUNITY THEATRE MUSICAL - MELISSA SCHEELE - All Shook Up (PHOENIX)

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION - AVENUE Q (SPOTLIGHT)

GOLD PALM AWARD - 23 NOMINATIONS - DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (SPOTLIGHT) 

PLATINUM PALM AWARD - OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THEATRE - MARIE NICHOLSON (SPOTLIGHT)

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