‘Ragtime,’ Playhouse lead awards

Youngstown Playhouse garnered the most awards.

the vindicator

AUSTINTOWN — Weathervane Community Playhouse’s production of “Ragtime — The Musical” dominated the 2007-09 Marquee Awards, which were handed out Saturday night in the annual ceremony at the Saxon Club.

The powerful musical about turn-of-the century New York, “Ragtime — The Musical,” pulled down almost every major award in the musical categories. Among those honors were awards for sound design (Dan Jankura), musical director (John Ebner), director (Terry Burgler), swing performer (Henry C. Bishop), supporting actor (Greg Emannuelson), lead actor (Tom C. Barnes) and best musical.

The seven Marquees “Ragtime” won represented the only awards won by Akron’s Weathervane.

Youngstown Playhouse led the pack with a total of eight Marquees scattered over four shows.

Playhouse wins were for stage manager (Joey Monda) for “Disney ºs Beauty the Beast”; scenic design (Jim Lybarger) for “Enchanted April”; lighting design (Ellen Licitra) for “Titanic — The Musical”; featured actress/musical (Brandy Johanntges) for “Disney ºs Beauty the Beast”; featured actor/musical (Shawn Lockaton) for “Titanic —The Musical”; featured actor/play (Terry Shears) for “A Few Good Men”; supporting actor/play (David El ºHatton) for “A Few Good Men”; and Supporting Actress/Musical (Johanntges) for “Titanic — The Musical.”

Another big winner was the New Castle Playhouse, which claimed five awards for the 2007-08 season, plus the special excellence in theater award, in honor of its 50th anniversary season which is currently running.

Other winners were Victorian Players (two awards), Top Hat Productions (three awards), Move Over Broadway Productions (one award) and the Oakland Center for the Arts (one award).

George Orr of the New Castle Playhouse received the 2008 lifetime achievement award in recognition of his service to local theater and the community.

J.E.Ballantyne Jr., chairman of the awards program, called the evening a success, and noted that the audience was one of the largest in the five-year existence of the Marquee Awards.

Local media personalities made appearances during the evening as guest presenters. They included Scott Schneider of WFMJ-TV 21, the program’s host; Whitney Ward and Rich Morgan of WKBN-TV 27; Glenn Stevens of WFMJ; Susan DeLeo, formerly of WFMJ; Carol King of WBBG-FM 106; and Len Rome, Stan Boney and Niki Weirich of WYTV-TV 33.