YOUNGSTOWN PLAYHOUSE 40th Arthur Awards honor top performers

The award ceremony had a new award for production worker of the year.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Playhouse held its 40th annual Arthur Awards ceremony Saturday, giving recognition to outstanding performers, crew members and others for the 2005-06 season.
Any season ticket holder, actor or crew member involved with the Playhouse during the year was eligible to vote -- a total between 450 and 500 votes. The accounting firm of Wolfe and Evans of Boardman tallied the votes.
The evening began with a reception, which included hors d'oeuvres and Jim Dudash on piano. Glenn Stevens of WFMJ-TV 21 hosted.
"I think what was most impressive this year was the influx of new talent," said Playhouse Managing Director John Holt. "I found that encouraging. We also had a nice mix of productions. I think we have reopened the door, not only to new talent, but drawing back old talent that maybe hasn't been here in a while."
Something new
Holt said that, since this was the 40th anniversary of the ceremony, they wanted to create some new awards, and focus a little more on non-acting areas. The Paul H. Kimpel Production Worker of the Year was one of the new awards, named in honor of the years of service he has given the Playhouse.
The Applause Award is another rather new one, which Holt actually began last year. "This award is an opportunity for the managing director to recognize one person who has been an outstanding volunteer," Holt said. "It was given this year to Tera Guerrero, based on her length of service. She is here for every show." Holt also pointed out that the McGrail siblings, Rachel and Mike, who are in their teens, were recognized for often taking on adult responsibilities.
"Jekyll and Hyde" was the big winner of the season, bringing in 10 awards, including best leading actor and actress in a musical and best show of the year. "Move Over, Mrs. Markham" brought in six awards.
Even though legend has it the awards were named after actress Bea Arthur, the year she was nominated for an Oscar, they were actually named by Bentley Lenhoff, managing director at the Playhouse from 1965-85, in honor of his predecessor, Arthur Circum.