Gene Kato, artistic director of Denver’s Next Stage Theatre Company, won the playwriting award at the 56th Rocky Mountain Theatre Association Festivention convention for his play, “18 Holes.”
The $500 award has been sponsored for nine years by playwright Steven Dietz, a Colorado native and currently professor at the University of Texas. Festivention was held Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at Western State College in Gunnison.
The keynote speaker was Lee Blessing, whose play, “A Walk in the Woods,” was one of the showcase productions of Festivention 2007.
“Lee Blessing was truly inspiring,” said festival coordinator Pamela Mencher of Red Rocks Community College. “A special treat was his reading of his play, ‘Chesapeake.’ What a play, and what a great reader.”
Blessing and Dietz are both under commission to produce new plays for Denver Center Theatre Company artistic director Kent Thompson.
The RMTA is a collective of theater professionals that was formed as a forum for students and theater artists to expand their knowledge and experience through interaction. Festivention is an annual convention featuring workshops, lectures, demonstrations, performances, competitions, scholarships, employment opportunities and informal gatherings.
The award winners:
Gene Kato: Playwriting award, “18 Holes” ($500). Finalists: John Kuebler, “El Blanco,” and Constance Gelvin, “Sharper Than a Serpent’s Tooth.”
Benjamin Butler, Adams State College: College/university acting award ($500)
Sarah Tolbet, Fort Collins: Community theatre acting award ($500)
Mia Gillespie, Red Rocks Community College, and Alicia Silvers, Metro State: RMTA design award ($250 each)
Nancy S. Evans, Metro State: Musical theater acting award ($500)
Cheyenne Little Theatre Players: Outstanding technician award ($100)
Elizabeth Tantanella, Adams State: College/universityactingpartner award ($100)
Christopher Weber, Centennial Little Theatre: Community theatreacting partner award ($100)
Jake Williamson, Metro State, won the Musical theatre acting partner award ($100)
Jeffrey Hargrove, Crested Butte High School: Youth acting award ($250)
Ben McLain, Crested Butte High School: Youth acting partner award ($50)
The RMTA showcase productions were:
“Rigamarole Review” produced by Centennial Little Theatre of Centennial, Wyo.
“A Walk in the Woods” produced by Cheyenne Little Theatre Players.
“Robber Bridegroom”: produced by Metropolitan State College of Denver
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-820-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
