Maltz Jupiter Theatre Earns Eight Carbonell Awards

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre brought home eight awards at the April 2 ceremony for the 36th annual Carbonell Awards, South Florida's equivalent of the Tony Awards®.

With a ceremony held at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, the Theatre garnered the most awards of any of the South Florida nominees, surpassing winning theaters in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. By show, the Theatre earned five awards for Crazy For You (including best musical), one for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and one for The Sound of Music. 

The Theatre also brought home the Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence, established in 2006 and named for the late theater writer and journalist for the Miami News and South Florida Sun Sentinel. The award is given to the theater company that exemplifies excellence for the totality of its programming: productions, educational outreach, developmental programs and audiences served. The award had not been given to a Theatre since 2007. 

"We feel so honored to accept such incredible acknowledgment from the local theater community," said Andrew Kato, the Theatre's producing artistic director. "South Florida has an incredible concentration of amazing theater companies that are producing wonderful work, and we are truly touched to receive this high level of recognition."

One of the Theatre's young stars – Jupiter resident Cristina Caperna, 17, a longtime student at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre Paul and Sandra Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts – was also presented with a Carbonell scholarship during the ceremony, a tradition designed to recognize emerging talent among South Florida high school students who are continuing their education in college with a major in theater.

The evening included performances from each of the nominees for best musical, including three from the Theatre: April Woodall singing "Climb Every Mountain" from The Sound of Music, John Pinto, Jr. performing "Close Every Door" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Matt Loehr performing a medley of "I Can't Be Bothered Now/Nice Work If You Can Get It" from Crazy for You.

"I credit much of our success to the caliber of actors, directors and designers that we attract," Kato said. "We are so grateful to the amazing artists who have chosen to work at our Theatre." 

For Crazy For You, the Theatre's awards included Best Production of a Musical; Best Director of a Musical for Mark Martino; Best Actor in a Musical for Matt Loehr for his portrayal as Bobby; Best Musical Direction for Helen Gregory – who, having been nominated seven times previously, referred to herself as "the Susan Lucci of the Carbonells" – and Best Choreography for Shea Sullivan.

For The Sound of Music, the Best Actress in a Musical award went to Catherine Walker for her portrayal as Maria, while the Theatre's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat earned the Best Costume Design award for costume designer Jose M. Rivera. Four of the five shows produced by the Theatre in 2011 received a total of 25 nominations in nine categories.

A South Florida actress noted for her role in the Theatre's recent production of Cabaret also won a Carbonell for a different role: Angie Radosh earned The Best Supporting Actress in a Play award for her role in Stuff at the Caldwell Theatre Company.

Celebrating the best shows and performances in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, Carbonell nominations encompass the entire length of South Florida, with 13 companies receiving nods and 28 of the 68 eligible shows that opened in 2011 being recognized.

"As we enter our 10^th anniversary season, we promise that our next season of shows will continue to thrill local audiences with the magic of live theatre," Kato said. "These awards reaffirm our place in the South Florida Theater community and the quality of work that we do here at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre."

The Theatre's 2012/13 season will feature Amadeus, The Music Man, Singin' in the Rain, Doubt and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Season subscriptions are currently on sale; visit www.jupitertheatre.org for additional details about the upcoming season.