Circle Players Celebrates 61st Season with Awards Presentation

Celebrating their company's 61^st season - which makes them the oldest community theater in Middle Tennessee - Nashville's Circle Players recognized outstanding achievement during the 2010-2011 season with the presentation of the Circle Awards on Sunday, June 19.

Circle Players' artist members feted five shows and cast and crew members competed for top honors: The Grapes of Wrath, Jekyll & Hyde, A Raisin in the Sun, The Wedding Singer, and 13 the Musical. According to a Circle spokesperson, a jury of anonymous volunteers active in professional and non-professional theater made the selections.

Named as Best Show was 13 the musical, which also claimed awards for Noah Rice as best supporting actor, Jamie London for best choreographer, Jackson Grabois as best featured actor and Marc Sloan as best cameo performance. LaTonya Turner Riley was recognized as best producer for her work on 13 the musical, as well.  

Clay Hillwig claimed the award as best director for his work on A Raisin in the Sun, for which Darah Taliba was named best actress for her work in the role of Lena Younger. Mitchell Blankman was recognized for best cameo performance in the show, sharing the honor with 13's Sloan.

The Wedding Singer garnered four awards, including best actor for Tyson Laemmel's turn as Robbie Hart, best supporting actress went to Heather Trabucco who played Holly, and Layne Sasser won the best featured actress honor as Rosie. Best music director was Thom Garrison for The Wedding Singer.

The Grapes of Wrath, also directed by Hillwig, was recognized with three awards, including best set designer (Jim Manning), best costume designer (Natalie Stone) and best props (Pat Bridges).

The Tim Larson-directed production of Jekyll & Hyde claimed three trophies, including best sound designer (Bryan LeVay), best lighting designer (Cathy Matthews) and best crew member of distinction (shared by Bryan LeVay and Laura Martin).

Circle Players kicks of its 62^nd season with the regional premiere of Fame Forever, playing at the Tucker Theatre at Murfreesboro's Middle Tennessee State University, July 21-24.

For further details, visit the company website at www.circleplayers.net.

Pictured (at top): Tim Larson, president of Circle Players board of directors, holds up a Circle Award trophy during presentations on Sunday, June 19. 

Middle photo (top row left to right): Christian Redden, Eddie Charlton, Jamie London, Maya Riley,  Audrey Belle, LaTonya Turner: (bottom row left to right)  Elizabeth Cameron, Stella London, Holland Lane Curtis, Zoe Garner, Delaney Amatrudo.

Bottom photo (pictured left to right): Max Desir, Shelena Walden, Clay Hillwig,  LaToya Gardner and Michael Diallo McClendon. 

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