PIECE OF MY HEART, WOLF SIDE STORY, et al. Win 2011 Elly Awards!

Sacramento regional community theater's actors, producers, directors, designers, dancers, choreographers, and playwrights were honored last night at the 29th Annual Elly Awards at the Crest Theatre. Named for Eleanor McClatchy, a devoted patron of the arts and former publisher of the Sacramento Bee, the Elly Awards celebrates excellence in Sacramento regional community theater. A grand total of 81 Elly Awards were given to individuals and theaters from across a 10-county region. Sponsored by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance (SARTA), this semi-formal event was attended by over 800 active community theatre members and their families and friends.

The theatre receiving the most awards was El Dorado Musical Theatre with 8 Elly Awards. Other top award winning theatres included Runaway Stage Productions and The Acting Company (Yuba City) with 7 Ellys each; Big Idea Theatre with 6 Elly Awards and Woodland Opera House with 5 Ellys.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Ron Cisneros and Boots Martin by the SARTA Board of Directors. Ron has been a choreographer and dance teacher/instructor for many years at numerous facilities including his own studio, Cisneros Studio of Dance. Additionally, Ron has been a key member of the international performing group, Galena Street East, and more recently resident choreographer at River City Theatre Company. Mr. Cisneros has taught at local high school, VAPAC and is now at Natomas Charter School. Ron has choreographed countless musicals for local and regional companies and has won three Elly awards.

Ms. Boots Martin has been acting since the age of three. She has appeared in countless plays and musical all over Sacramento including the Stage Door Comedy Playhouse, American River College, Actor's Theatre of Sacramento, and Chautauqua Playhouse. Ms. Martin has also been a director and instructor in between her stage performances. At the age of 80, she was featured in Sacramento Magazine as she was preparing for her role in Maternal Instincts. Ms. Martin has won three Elly awards. Congratulations to both of them!

The ceremony opened with Mama, I ‘m a Big Girl Now from Hairspray performed by Runaway Stage Productions. It was followed by Epilogue/I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change from the show of the same name performed by the four member cast from The Acting Company. Closing the Youth Awards section was Seasons of Love from Rent featuring the cast members from Runaway Stage Productions.

The Youth Awards encompass more than half of the total awards given out - 48. The Youth Productions receiving the most Elly Awards were A Christmas Carol - El Dorado Musical Theatre; A Piece of My Heart - St. Francis High School; Into the Woods - Placer High
School; Les Miserables- Woodland Opera House and Wolf Side Story - The Acting Company. They each received four (4) Elly Awards!

Elly Awards for Overall Production in individual categories in the Youth Division went to:
Education - Musical - Chicago - El Dorado High School
Education - Play -- Piece of My Heart - St. Francis High School
Young People's - Musical - A Christmas Carol -El Dorado Musical Theatre
Young People's - Play - (tie) Wolf Side Story - Acting Company and The Elves and the Schumachers - Roseville Theatre Arts Academy and BG Productions

Unbelievably, three members of the Trent Family of Yuba City - John, Laurie and Kevin - all won Elly Awards this year for their work at The Acting Company! John Trent received an Elly Award for Original Work: Adapted Script for The Secret of Sleepy Hollow; Kevin Trent received an Elly Award for Supporting Actor: Child for Robin Hood: The Return of the King and, last but not least, Laurie Trent received an Elly Award for Costume Design for Wolf Side Story.

The Adult Awards opened with a delightful rendition of Toledo Surprise from The Drowsy Chaperone performed by Civic Theatre West. I Know Him So Well from Chess, courtesy of Davis Musical Theatre Company, was a lovely segue into the In Memoriam section of the show, remembering actors and friends, Guy Beck and Micail Buse, who passed away last year. The musical finale was It's a Privilege to Pee from Urinetown performed by Runaway Stage Productions. Musical numbers performed throughout the evening were nominated for Overall Production in the Musical category.

The Adult Productions receiving the most Elly Awards were Compleat Female Stage Beauty - Big Idea Theatre (4); Shirley Valentine - Bob and Ro Productions (3); The Drowsy Chaperone - Civic Theatre West (3) and Urinetown - Runaway Stage Productions (3).

Elly Awards for Overall Production in individual categories in the Adult Division went to:
Comedy- Lend Me a Tenor - Sierra Stages
Drama - Compleat Female Stage Beauty - Big Idea Theatre
Musical - The Drowsy Chaperone - Civic Theatre West
Original Script: Original Works - Thirds - Jacob M. Appel - Thistle Dew Theatre
Adapted Script:Original Works -The Secret of Sleepy Hollow - John Trent -The Acting Company

The 411 Elly nominations represented 128 productions from 57 different theatres. The final 81 Elly Awards recognized 47 productions and 31 theatres. There were four ties tonight- including a tie for Overall Production in a Young People's Play - Wolf Side Story - The Acting Company shared the stage with The Elves and the Schumachers - Roseville Theatre Arts Academy and BG Productions. Two individuals, received two Elly Awards this evening, Debbie Wilson of El Dorado Musical Theatre and David Patrick of Imagination Theatre.

The Elly Awards program serves theatres within a 70-mile radius from downtown Sacramento. This year more than 80 theatres and production companies participated, submitting over 260 productions for Elly judging. Thirty-five judges volunteered over 3,000 hours attending every show submitted in the category they are judging. The categories are Comedy, Drama, Musical, Original Works, Education and Young People's. Education and Young People's categories are further divided into Musical and Plays. Awards within each category are given for: Leading Actor and Actress; Supporting Actor and Actress; Direction; Costume Design; Lighting Design; Set Design; Musical Direction, if applicable; Choreography, if applicable; Original Script for Original Work and Overall Production.

SARTA's mission is to promote high quality community theatre in the Sacramento area and neighboring regions. When combined with the opportunity to provide quality entertainment and formal recognition of those in the performing arts, SARTA and the Sacramento community benefit.

In addition to the Elly Awards program, SARTA provides its members with a weekly email update for auditions, casting calls, workshops, events and jobs plus a monthly electronic TheatreLetter featuring current and on-going theatre production listings and upcoming SARTA events. SARTA members also receive discounted ticket prices at participating SARTA member theatres and the annual Elly Award ceremony. Members also receive a complimentary headshot and resume listing on SARTA's Talent Database! For more information about SARTA and how you can support this programming, please visit the website at www.sarta.com. SARTA is a non-profit 501© 3 organization.