Tag: Andy Saunders

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Intermission Impossible Theater

Ostrander Awards are Back

Stephen Hancock (Credit: Michael Gravois)

The 2022 Ostrander Awards are back.

The celebration of live theater in Memphis was put off for two years (thanks, pandemic) but returned to the stage Sunday night with awards in dozens of categories and much conviviality at the Halloran Centre. 

The 38th Memphis theater awards recognized excellence in collegiate, community, and professional theater. 

Winning 11 awards was the musical Urinetown staged at Theatre Memphis. And it was a very good evening overall for Theatre Memphis, which took 28 of the 32 awards in the Community and Professional category.

There were 14 college division awards, all going to the University of Memphis. In past years, Rhodes College was a frequent winner, but in 2021 the school decided to phase out its theater major, effectively taking it out of Ostrander consideration.

The Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Stephen Hancock, a playwright, Ostrander-winning director, and longtime professor at the University of Memphis.

Because last year’s event was postponed, winners from 2021 were also honored.  

Last year’s Eugart Yerian Award went to Andy Saunders. Others include the 2021 Janie McCrary Putting it Together Award, Michael Compton; the 2021 Otis Smith Legacy Dance Award, Whitney Branan; the Behind the Scenes Award, Lena Wallace Black; and the Larry Riley Rising Star Award, Donald Sutton and Abby Teel.

Andy Saunders (Credit: Alan Howell).

Ann Marie Hall, winner of the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, won an Ostrander Sunday evening for direction of a musical (Urinetown). She was as delighted as anyone to be back with a cheery crowd of theater people. “It’s been remarked many times that this is a community,” she said. “It’s wonderful how they share going to different shows in different places.”

Here’s the list:

Community and Professional Division

Excellence in Scenic Design for a Play: Jack Netzel-Yates, The Secret Garden, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Excellence in Scenic Design for a Musical: Jack Netzel-Yates, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Costume Design for a Play: Ashley Selberg, The Secret Garden, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Costume Design for a Musical: Amie Eoff, Ragtime, Theatre Memphis

Hair/Wig/Makeup Design for a Play: Ashley Selberg, The Secret Garden, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Hair/Wig/Makeup Design for a Musical: Amie Eoff, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Props Design for a Play: Jack Netzel-Yates, You Can’t Take It With You, Theatre Memphis

Props Design for a Musical: Jack Netzel-Yates, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Special Award: Aliza Moran & Julia Hinson, Puppetry, Shockheaded Peter, New Moon Theatre

Lighting Design for a Play: Mandy Kay Heath, American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Lighting Design for a Musical: Mandy Kay Heath, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Sound Design for a Play: David Newsome, Cicada, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Sound Design for a Musical: Jason Eschhofen, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Music Direction for a Musical: Jeff Brewer, Ragtime, Theatre Memphis

Choreography for a Musical: Daniel Stuart Nelson, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Playhouse on the Square

Featured Performer in a Play: Susan Brindley, You Can’t Take It With You, Theatre Memphis

Featured Performer in a Musical: Atam Woodruff, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Supporting Actor in a Play: Marcus Cox, American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Supporting Actor in a Musical: JD Willis, Ragtime, Theatre Memphis

Supporting Actress in a Play: Cecelia Wingate, Cicada, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Supporting Actress in a Musical: Cassie Thompson, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Ensemble in a Play: American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Ensemble in a Musical: Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Leading Actor in a Play: Kevar Maffitt, Torch Song, Circuit Playhouse

Leading Actor in a Musical: Bruce Huffman, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Leading Actress in a Play: Jessica “Jai” Johnson, American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Leading Actress in a Musical: Lauren Duckworth, Ragtime, Theatre Memphis

Best Original Script: Tumbling Down, Hattiloo

Direction of a Play: Jared Thomas Johnson, American Son,  Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Direction of a Musical: Ann Marie Hall, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

Best Production of a Play: American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Best Production of a Musical: Urinetown, Theatre Memphis

College Division

Excellence in Scenic Design for College: Brian Ruggaber, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis

Costume Design for College: Ali Filipovich, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis

Lighting Design for College: Corinne Fann, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis

Sound Design for College: Micki McCormick, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis

Music Direction for College: Tracy Thomas, Ordinary Days, University of Memphis

Choreography for College: Michael Medcalf, The Wolves, University of Memphis

Featured Performer in a College Production: Zy Palmer, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis

Supporting Actor in a College Production: Jasper Lane Pippin, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis

Supporting Actress in a College Production: Aly Milan, The Wolves, The University of Memphis

Ensemble in a College Production: Ordinary Days, The University of Memphis

Leading Actor in a College Production: Will Draper, R & J & Z, The University of Memphis

Leading Actress in a College Production: Raina Williams, A Bright Room Called Day, The University of Memphis

Direction of a College Production: Holly Derr, The Wolves, University of Memphis

Best College Production: The Wolves, University of Memphis

Categories
Intermission Impossible Theater

The Show Will be Delayed: Ostranders on Hold

It was a tough call in a time when so many are making tough calls.

But the Ostranders — that annual celebration of Memphis theater — has been postponed. It had been scheduled for this coming Sunday but, thanks to a resurgent Covid pandemic, could be set back to October.

“We really, really debated going ahead with it, but we weren’t sure if anybody would want to come,” said Elizabeth Perkins, the event’s program coordinator. “And the whole point this year, since we had not judged any shows last year, was really to see each other and reconnect, and then honor Andy Saunders as our lifetime achievement. And if we couldn’t do that, then what was the point of doing it right now?”

Perkins is hoping to do it in October, but that all depends on availability of a venue and if the pandemic numbers have improved. The Ostranders have long been at the Orpheum, but depending on the situation, they may go for an outdoor location or a smaller celebration.

Whenever and wherever it happens, Saunders, as was announced last month, will be given the 2021 Eugart Yerian Award for Lifetime Achievement, an annual honor for a notable contributor to local theater.

In a typical year, awards are given in numerous categories along with special awards. Since there were far fewer productions in the last year, Perkins said there wouldn’t be the usual voting by judges for best actors or best screenplays or best sound or best design or any of the usual competitive categories.

“The idea was going to be it was a party with no judgment,” Perkins said. “So we had no judgment last year. And if you wanted to wear a ball gown, there would be no judgment. If you wanted to wear your pajamas, no judgment.”

She said that Jason Eschhofen, the resident sound designer at Playhouse on the Square, is putting together production numbers. And the special awards will be given. But Perkins is really hoping to be able to say, “We’re kicking off this next season of theater and Memphis and life is normal and won’t it be so great to go back to the theater!” But, as she ruefully admits, “Of course we can’t say that.”

The Ostranders ceremonies are sponsored by Memphis magazine, ArtsMemphis, and the Orpheum.

Categories
Theater Theater Feature

Andy Saunders to Receive Theater Award

Andy Saunders (photo by Alan Howell).

Andy Saunders has given much of his life to the local theater community and people are taking notice.

The performer, designer, director, and teacher has been part of the scene since coming to the then-Memphis State University as a graduate student in the 1960s. That half-century-plus of devotion will be recognized at the upcoming Memphis Ostrander Awards when he will be given the 2021 Eugart Yerian Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The Ostranders primarily recognize a year’s worth of excellence in local theater productions and this year’s winners will be announced on Sunday, August 29th, at the Halloran Centre. The exception to next month’s big reveal is the lifetime achievement honor named for the director of the Memphis Little Theatre (now Theatre Memphis) from 1929 to 1961.

The announcement from the Ostranders organization said Saunders has been “an indispensable presence in the Memphis theater community. … Onstage, Saunders is celebrated not only for his nuanced and charismatic acting style but also for his beautiful, operatic singing voice.”

Saunders has directed shows around town and was at Memphis University School where he taught science, speech, religion, astronomy, photography, mechanical writing, and theater production. He also produced more than 135 shows at the school during his 38-year career before retiring in 2010.

Since his retirement, he’s designed and built dozens of shows at Germantown Community Theatre. GCT executive director Brian Everson says Saunders is the “ultimate volunteer, professional, artist, and friend. GCT, in so many ways, would not be possible without Andy.”

Tickets for the Ostranders are on sale here.