Omaha Community Playhouse Honors Volunteers, Actors at Awards Night 2013

The Omaha Community Playhouse honored its top volunteers at the annual Awards Night ceremony held Monday evening. Awards Night is a tribute to the thousands of volunteers who contribute their time and talents to OCP. Awards are given for outstanding service in front-of-house areas; in backstage areas involving costuming and technical assistance; and for excellence in performing.

The evening culminated with the presentation of the Fonda/McGuire Award to the male and female actors judged to have given the best performance of the season. The award is named for Henry Fonda and Dorothy McGuire, OCP's most eminent alumni.

Following is a complete list of award winners:

Fonda/McGuire Award for the most outstanding performance of the season
Female: Susan Baer Collins for her performance as Violet Weston in August: Osage County Male: Brian Zealand for his performance as Ash in Evil Dead: The Musical

Mary Peckham Award for a memorable performance in a feature role
Female Musical: Charlotte Hedican for her performance as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz
Male Musical: Steve Krambeck for his performance as Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde
Female Play: Moira Mangiameli for her performance as Barbara Fordham in August: Osage County
Male Play: Ben Beck for his performance as Jules in boom

Barbara Ford Award for outstanding performance in a supporting role
Female Musical: Sally Neumann Scamfer for her performance as Miss Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz
Male Musical: Noah Diaz for his performance as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz
Female Play: Laura Leininger for her performance as Jackie Saunders in Recommended Reading for Girls
Male Play: Jim McKain for his performance as Bill Fordham in August: Osage County

Elaine Jabenis Cameo Award for a memorable performance in a small role
Female Musical: Jodi Vaccaro for her performance as Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde
Male Musical: Anthony Clark-Kaczmarek for his performance as Coda/, the Narrator in All Night Strut! Female Play: Mika Caplan for her performance as Heidi in Recommended Reading for Girls
Male Play: Bill Hutson for his performance as Beverly Weston in August: Osage County

Bill Bailey Debut Award for outstanding performance in a first appearance on an OCP Stage Female Winner: Olivia Sather for her performance as Jean Fordham in August: Osage County
ale Winner: Jared Dailey for his performance as Padamadan/Carlos in Legally Blonde

Trustees' Award to recognize special distinguished service to the Omaha Community Playhouse Winner: Jim Eisenhardt, OCP Board of Trustees member

President's Award for extraordinary leadership and work for OCP in areas of activities excluding performance or production
Winner: Courtney Vacanti Birnstihl, Act II's 2012-13 president, and Karen Casterline, longtime Box Office volunteer

Edward F. Owen Award for corporations, foundations and individuals whose partnership and contribution have nurtured and sustained ongoing development of OCP
Winner: The Mammel Foundation

Backstage Valuable Service, Out Front Valuable Service and Stage Manager Awards were also presented.