As expected, the Colorado Theatre Guild’s first Henry Awards were largely a coronation of Kent Thompson’s first season as Denver Center Theatre Company artistic director. The DCTC won eight of the 20 awards announced Monday at a gala held at the New Denver Civic Theatre, including the major award of the night, best season by a theater company.
The DCTC also pulled supporting acting awards for Charles Weldon and Kim Staunton, both for “Gem of the Ocean,” direction for Bruce K. Sevy (“All My Sons”) and, in one of the biggest upsets of the night, for “After Ashley” as best play. “After Ashley” received mixed reviews and had been nominated for only one other award. The favorite in the category was its own “All My Sons.” The DCTC also won Henrys for costumes, scenic design and lighting.
The Curious Theatre Company also had a strong night, winning five Henry Awards. Rhonda Brown (“Bug”) and William Hahn (“Frozen”) bested strong fields in winning the evening’s major acting awards, for outstanding lead actress and actor in a play. “The War Anthology,” Curious’ massive, year-long creation piece that included three Pulitzer Prize-winning writers but received mixed notices, won for best new play and outstanding acting ensemble.
The biggest surprise of the night was Next Stage winning for best musical (“Assassins”), and also garnered a best supporting win for Todd Coulter.
In all, seven companies won at least one award. Boulder’s Dinner Theatre won for best actress in a musical (Shelly Cox-Robie for “The King and I”) and choreography (Alicia Dunfee for “The Music Man”). Nick Sugar took home best actor in a musical honors for his racy turn as Frank-N-Furter in The Avenue’s “The Rocky Horror Show.
The most emotional nod went to outgoing CTG president Steve Wilson, who won for best director of a musical for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” by the handicapped company PHAMALy.
The most disappointed company had to be the Arvada Center, which garnered a strong 12 nominations but won only one Henry, longshot Julie Reiber for best supporting actress in a musical (“Aida”). The Center is set this week to re-launch “The Full Monty” which pulled eight nominations but was shockingly shut out of a single award.
The Henrys are named for longtime producer Henry Lowenstein, who was feted by Robert Wells, owner of the Avenue Theater. Special honors were given to the Lake Dillon Theatre Company and Creede Repertory Theatre for outstanding achievement by non-metro area companies.
The five invited judges were Lisa Bornstein of the Rocky Mountain News, Mark Collins of the Boulder Daily Camera, David Marlowe of Out Front, John Moore of The Denver Post and Juliet Wittman of Westword.
Henry Award Winners
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Play)
William Hahn, “Frozen,” Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Play)
Rhonda Lee Brown, “Bug,” Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Musical)
Nick Sugar, “Rocky Horror Show,” the Avenue
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Musical)
Shelly Cox-Robie, “The King and I,” Boulder’s Dinner Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Play)
Charles Weldon, “Gem of the Ocean,” Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Play)
Kim Staunton, “Gem of the Ocean,” Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Musical)
Todd Coulter, “Assassins,” Next Stage
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Musical)
Julie Reiber, “Aida,” Arvada Center
Outstanding Lighting Design
Jane Cox, “The Clean House,” Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Scenic Design
Alexander Dodge, “The Clean House,” Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Sound Design
Brian Freeland, “Bug,” Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Costume Design
Kevin Copenhaver, “Crowns,” Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Choreography
Alicia Dunfee, “The Music Man,” Boulder’s Dinner Theatre
Outstanding Direction of Play
Bruce Sevy, “All My Sons,” Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Direction of Musical
Steve Wilson, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” PHAMALy
Outstanding New Play
“The War Anthology,” Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Play
“After Ashley,” Denver Center Theatre Company
Outstanding Musical
“Assassins,” Next Stage
Outstanding Ensemble
“The War Anthology,” Curious Theatre Company
Outstanding Season by a Theatre Company
Denver Center Theatre Company
