NH Theatre Awards

The Colonial Theatre Was Among Honorees

Carol Bense, a founding member of the Village Players, received the Francis Grover Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award during the NH Theatre Awards ceremony at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord on January 20. (Tom Caldwell Photo)

CONCORD — Citing the “tremendous impact” that Laconia’s Colonial Theatre has had in the Lakes Region, the New Hampshire Theatre Alliance presented a special award for Significant Contribution to the Performing Arts in New Hampshire during its 19th NH Theatre Awards ceremony on January 20.

Also recognized during the three-and-a-half-hour event at Capitol Center for the Arts was Carol Bense, a founding member of Wolfeboro’s Village Players, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award; and Colleen Strang of Windham Actors Guild, recognized for Special Achievement in Youth Theatre for her work directing the guild’s Summer Youth Program. The Special Award in Recognition of Excellence in Playwriting went to The Stands, by Jack Nearly.

The theatre awards came in several categories: professional, youth, and community, for both plays and musicals. For each category, there were awards for best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, and best director. Other awards went to choreography, music direction, production, costume design, scenic design, sound, and lighting.

Michaela Andruzzi won outstanding actress in a community theatre play as Martha in the Village Players’ production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”.

Outstanding supporting actress in a community musical went to Kate Flower as Lily, and Bryan Halperin was honored for outstanding direction, in the Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative’s production of “The Secret Garden”.

The Laconia-based Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative also won best community musical for “Captains Courageous” and, while not winning other categories, the production garnered several nominations: David MacNeill, outstanding actor in a community musical for his role as Manuel; Alex Hunton and Christine Chiasson for outstanding music direction; and Samantha Tutasi for outstanding scenic design.

Nominated for their roles in “The Secret Garden” were Maci Johnson, outstanding actress in a community musical as Mary Lennox; and Asher Clark, outstanding supporting actor in a community musical as Dickon.