Paul Wellman

Steven Sharpe

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Ensemble Theatre Company’s The Glass Menagerie and Santa Barbara Theatre’s Our Town were the big winners at the Indy Awards, which took place at the Lobero on Monday, May 24. Ensemble Artistic Director Jonathan Fox was ubiquitous, accepting his own award for directing The Glass Menagerie, and then appearing three more times on behalf of actors Sara Botsford and Erin Pineda and scenic designer Neil Prince.

Our Town, an unprecedented collaboration initiated by Albert Ihde and Ellen Pasternack of Santa Barbara Theatre, drew from multiple sources of talent throughout the community. In addition to a directing award for Westmont and Lit Moon Theatre Company’s John Blondell, Our Town brought home honors for actor Brian Harwell, costume designer Miller James, and lighting designer Theodore Michael Dolas. 

Harwell’s award also acknowledged his work in the Genesis West production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lieutenant of Inishmore. Inishmore claimed another two awards, one for Rebecca Ridenour’s performance as Mairead and the other for the direction of Maurice Lord. 

Photo Gallery

The 2010 Indy Awards

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Multiple winners were the rule rather than the exception, as four shows earned two awards each. David Zippel came all the way from New York to accept his award for directing Rubicon’s world premiere The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman; Lillias White also won for her performance in the show. Faline England’s acting and James O’Neil’s direction of Crimes of the Heart at Rubicon also garnered accolades, as did Mitchell Thomas’s direction and Miller James’s costumes for the Westmont College Theatre Arts’ The Bald Soprano. Ellen Anderson received an award for her original play Bedtime in Detroit, and Sage Parker was recognized for acting in that show, as well. 

Spectacular singletons included Scott Schwartz for his direction of Opera Santa Barbara’s Séance on a Wet Afternoon, which is headed to New York for production by the New York City Opera in the spring of 2011; Andrew Philpot for his performance in PCPA’s The Music Man; and Jessica Kubzansky for her direction of Hamlet at Theater 150 in Ojai. 

Entertainment was provided by Juliette Goglia, who sang “I Don’t Care” from the upcoming musical comedy Hello! My Baby by Cheri Steinkellner. Retiring SBCC professor Rick Mokler, who received a lifetime achievement award, exulted that he feels lucky to have had “the best job in the world,” and there were many present who echoed his feelings.

2010 Indy Award Winners

Jonathan Fox, Director, The Glass Menagerie (Ensemble Theatre Company)

Faline England, Performance, Crimes of the Heart (Rubicon Theatre Company)

Annie Abrams, Performance, The Scene (Ensemble Theatre Company)

David Zippel, Director, The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman (Rubicon Theatre Company)

Ellen Anderson, Playwright, Bedtime in Detroit (Dramatic Women)

Sara Botsford, Performance, The Glass Menagerie (Ensemble Theatre Company)

Rebecca Ridenour, Performance, The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Genesis West)

Theodore Michael Dolas, Lighting Design, Our Town (Santa Barbara Theatre)

Lillias White, Performance, The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman (Rubicon Theatre Company)

James O’Neil, Director, Crimes of the Heart (Rubicon Theatre Company)

Scott Schwartz, Director, Séance on a Wet Afternoon (Opera Santa Barbara)

Megan McGinnis, Performance, Daddy Long Legs (Rubicon Theatre Company)

Maurice Lord, Director, The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Genesis West)

Miller James, Costume Design, Our Town (Santa Barbara Theatre) and The Bald Soprano (Westmont College Theatre Arts)

Sage Parker, Performance, Bedtime in Detroit (Dramatic Women)

Rick Mokler, Lifetime Achievement

Brian Harwell, Performance, Our Town (Santa Barbara Theatre) and Lieutenant of Inishmore (Genesis West)

Neil Prince, Scenic Design, The Glass Menagerie (Ensemble Theatre Company)

Andrew Philpot, Performance, The Music Man (PCPA Theaterfest)

David Couch, Performance Sherlock’s Last Case (Circle Bar B Dinner Theatre)

Joseph Beck, Performance, Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Santa Barbara City College Theatre Group)

Stephanie Zimbalist, Performance, Tea at Five (Ensemble Theatre Company)

Jessica Kubzansky, Director, Hamlet (Theater 150)

Mitchell Thomas, Director, The Bald Soprano (Westmont College Theatre Arts)

Erin Pineda, Performance, The Glass Menagerie (Ensemble Theatre Company)

John Blondell, Director, Our Town (Santa Barbara Theatre)

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