September 18, 2017
Every year, the B. Iden Payne Council, a volunteer organization sponsored by the Austin Creative Alliance, is tasked with viewing and nominating outstanding production elements in Austin. This year, the Department of Theatre and Dance, its students, faculty, alumni and friends were nominated for several awards across a broad range of categories. Congratulations!
The B. Iden Payne Awards Ceremony will be held Monday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Zach Scott Topfer Theatre (ZACH Theatre). Tickets now available. Attendees of the B. Iden Payne Aawards Ceremony are also eligible to vote.
View the complete list of nominees here.
Theatre for Youth
Outstanding Production
Charlotte's Web (ZACH Theatre), Allen Robertson (M.F.A. 1992): Lead musician, music director, "Mr. Arable/Spectator/Judge," Nat Miller (M.F.A. 2008): Director, Michael Krauss (M.F.A. 2016): Scenic and Properties Designer
A Shoe Story (Summer Stock Austin), Allen Robertson (M.F.A. 1992): Director/Musical Director, playwright (co-written with Damon Brown)
Outstanding Direction
Judy Matetzchk-Campbell (M.F.A. 1991), All Aboard! (Pollyanna Theatre Company)
Nat Miller (M.F.A. 2008), Charlotte's Web (ZACH Theatre)
Allen Robertson (M.F.A. 1992), A Shoe Story (Summer Stock Austin)
Outstanding Actress
Martinique Duchene-Phillips (B.F.A. 1996), Whether the Weather (Pollyanna Theatre Company)
Stephanie Hernandez (B.A. 2004), El Paraíso de los Maniquís (ProyectoTeatro)
Musical Theatre
Outstanding Production
Atlantis (Ethos and VORTEX Repertory Company), Justin LaVergne (B.A. 2016, B.F.A. 2017), Bonnie Cullum (M.F.A. 1987): Artistic Director, Jason Amato (attended): Lighting Design
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (ZACH Theatre), Allen Robertson (M.F.A. 1992): Musical director, Michelle Ney (M.F.A. 1989): Scenic and Costume Designer, Rachel Atkinson (M.F.A. 2013): Lighting Designer
Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe (Doctuh Mistuh Productions and Austin Playhouse), Megan Rabuse (B.A. 2016) as "Sarah Elmira Royster" WINNER
Spamalot (Summer Stock Austin), Lyn Koenning (faculty): Music Director
Outstanding Direction
Bonnie Cullum (M.F.A. 1989), Atlantis (Ethos and VORTEX Repertory Company)
Ginger Morris (B.F.A. 2000), Spamalot (Summer Stock Austin)
Outstanding Lead Actor
Justin LaVergne (B.A. 2016, B.F.A. 2017), Atlantis (Ethos and VORTEX Repertory Company)
Outstanding Featured Actress
Maddrey Blackwood (B.F.A. 2017), Little Women the Broadway Musical (Texas Theatre and Dance)
Comedy
Outstanding Production
Agent Andromeda: The Orion Crusade (Sky Candy), Rude Ramirez (M.A. 2012): Director, Reina Hardy (M.F.A. 2014): Playwright, E.L. Hohn (M.F.A. 2017): Costume Designer
The Revolutionists (Shrewd Productions), Shannon Grounds (B.F.A. 1995), Rudy Ramirez (M.A. 2012): Director WINNER
The Totalitarians (Theatre en Bloc), Barbara Chisolm (faculty) as "Penny," Elizabeth Doss (M.F.A. 2017) as "Francine," Rachel Atkinson (M.F.A. 2013): Lighting Designer, Fallon Christian (B.A. 2016): Stage Manager
Outstanding Direction
Rudy Ramirez (M.A. 2012), Ageny Andromeda: The Orion Crusade (Sky Candy)
Rudy Ramirez (M.A. 2012), The Revolutionists (Shrewd Productions) WINNER
Outstanding Lead Actor
Marc Pouhé (attended), Present Laughter (Austin Shakespeare)
Outstanding Lead Actress
Barbara Chisolm (faculty), The Totalitarians (Theatre en Bloc)
Drama
Outstanding Production
Ballot Eats the Bullet (VORTEX Repertory Company), additional writing by Lisa B. Thompson (faculty), Anne Maria Wynter and Ebony Stewart; Lindsey Ervi (B.F.A. 2006): Stage Manager
The Drowning Girls (Theatre en Bloc), Christin Davis (faculty), Kate Ducey (M.F.A. 2017): Scenic Designer, Ashton Murphy (current student): Stage Manager WINNER
Lungs (Hyde Park Theatre), Directed by Lily Wolff (B.A. 2011), Michael Joplin (B.A. 2004)
Ocean (VORTEX Repertory Company), Sonja Parks (attended): Director, Lindsey Ervi (B.F.A. 2006): Stage Manager
A Perfect Robot (VORTEX Repertory Company) by Sarah Saltwick (M.F.A. 2013), Rudy Ramirez (M.A. 2012): Director, Pam Fletcher Friday (B.F.A. 1979): Costume Designer, Sandie Donzica (attended via CNDC Exchange): Choreographer
Outstanding Direction
Lily Wolff (B.A. 2011), Lungs (Hyde Park Theatre)
Outstanding Lead Actor
Michael Joplin (B.A. 2004), Lungs (Hyde Park Theatre)
Outstanding Featured Actor
Keith Machekanyanga (attended), In the Red and Brown Water (Texas Theatre and Dance)
Outstanding Featured Actress
Janelle Buchanan (M.F.A. 1976), The Herd (Jarrott Productions)
Rama Tchuente (current student), In the Red and Brown Water (Texas Theatre and Dance)
Allison Wojtowecz (B.A. 2017), Dust (Heartland Theatre Collective)
Improvisational Theatre
Outstanding Production
How I Saved the World Over Summer Vacation (Hideout Theatre), directed by Jordan T. Maxwell (B.A. 2005) and J.R. Zambrano
Latinauts: La Frontera Finál (ColdTowne Theatre), directed by Ben Bazán (B.A. 2012) and Mical Trejo, Yamina Khouane (B.A. 2011) WINNER
Outstanding Direction
Jordan T. Maxwell (B.A. 2005) and J.R. Zambrano, How I Saved the World Over Summer Vacation (Hideout Theatre)
Ben G. Bazán (B.A. 2012) and Mical Trejo, Latinauts (ColdTowne Theatre) WINNER
Rudy Kloptik Award for Outstanding Improvisational Troupe
Everything All the Time, featuring Michael Joplin (B.A. 2004)
Loverboy Comedy, featuring Chelsea Bunn (B.A. 2010)
Ethel Hinkley Award for Outstanding New Improvisational Troupe
Migas, featuring Michael Joplin (B.A. 2004)
Design
Outstanding Lighting Design
Jason Amato (attended), Atlantis (Ethos and VORTEX Repertory Company)
Rachel Atkinson (M.F.A. 2013), An Iliad (Penfold Theatre Company and Austin Scottish Rite Theater)
Kate Ducey (M.F.A. 2017), The Drowning Girls (Theatre en Bloc) WINNER
Outstanding Sound Design
Charles O. Anderson (faculty) and Benjamin Galvan (current student), In the Red and Brown Water (Texas Theatre and Dance)
Outstanding Costume Design
E.L. Hohn (M.F.A. 2017), In the Red and Brown Water (Texas Theatre and Dance)
Outstanding Media Design
Lacey Erb (M.F.A. 2017), In the Red and Brown Water (Texas Theatre and Dance)
Outstanding Properties Design
Michael Krauss (M.F.A. 2016), jj's arcade (ZACH Theatre and Teatro Vivo) WINNER
General Categories
Outstanding Music Direction
Lyn Koenning (faculty), Spamalot (Summer Stock Austin)
Outstanding Dance Choreography
Charles O. Anderson (faculty), In the Red and Brown Water (Texas Theatre and Dance)
Outstanding Original Script
Ballot Eats the Bullet by Zell Miller, III with Kera Blay, M'Kenzie Flakes, Sadé M. Jones, Breaion Shanique King, Chelsea Manasseri, Valoneecia Tolbert, Ebony Stewart, Anne Marie Wynter and Lisa B. Thompson (faculty) (VORTEX Repertory Company)
A Perfect Robot by Sarah Saltwick (M.F.A. 2013)
Outstanding Cast Performance in a Scripted Play
Charlottes Web (ZACH Theatre), Jerome Schoolar (attended) as "Homer/Gander/Reporter/Uncle/President of the Fair
The Drowning Girls (Theatre en Bloc), Christin Davis (faculty) WINNER
Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe (Doctuh Mistuh Productions and Austin Playhouse), Megan Rabuse (B.A. 2016) as "Sarah Elmira Royster"
Outstanding Puppetry
Atlantis (Ethos and VORTEX Repertory Company), Justin LaVergne (B.A. 2016, B.F.A. 2017), Jason Amato (attended): Lighting Design
Don Quixote de la Redo (Glass Half Full Theatre), Rudy Ramirez (M.A. 2012), Rachel Atkinson (M.F.A. 2013)
Moby Dick (Trouble Puppet Theater Company), Michelle Dahlenburg (M.F.A. 2011) as "Stubb," Rachel Atkinson (M.F.A. 2013): Lighting Designer WINNER