November 9, 2020
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. The Department of Theatre and Dance, as well as its students, faculty, alumni and staff, were nominated for many awards in a broad range of categories. The winners were announced at the virtual B. Iden Payne Awards Ceremony on November 9, 2020, many of which are Theatre and Dance affiliates.
View the full list of nominees and winners here. Congratulations to all!
2019-2020 B. Iden Payne Award Winners
Musical Theatre
Outstanding Production
Next to Normal (Ground Floor Theatre and Deaf Austin Theatre); choreographer - Kelsey Oliver (B.F.A. 2015); lighting designer - Amber Whatley (M.F.A. candidate)
Theatre for Young Audiences
Outstanding Production
Yana Wana's Legend of the Bluebonnet (Teatro Vivo and Indigenous Cultures Institutes); co-author - Roxanne Shroeder-Arce (faculty); director - Rudy Ramirez (M.A. 2012); featured actors - Erica Saenz (B.A. 1998) and David Allan Barrera (B.A. 2014)
Outstanding Direction
Rudy Ramirez (M.A. 2012); Yana Wana's Legend of the Bluebonnet (Teatro Vivo and Indigenous Cultures Institutes)
Drama
Outstanding Production
The Duchess of Malfi (Hidden Room); choreographer - Kelly Hasandras (B.A. 2005); featured actor - Todd Kassens (B.F.A. 1980)
Outstanding Lead Actor
Kriston Woodreaux (attended); brutal IMAGINATION (Salvage Vangaurd Theater)
Digital
Outstanding Production (edited, 20 minutes or more)
CyberStock (Summer Stock Austin); director and executive producer - Ginger Morris (B.F.A. 2000); music director/creative team member - J. Quinton Johnson (attended); featured actress - Savanna Cole (B.A. 2020)
Outstanding Production (live)
amendment: the making of an american myth, or the slow sipping of a peacock tea (Salvage Vangaurd Theater); director - Si Mon' Emmett (B.F.A. 2018); dramaturg - Tyler English-Beckwith (B.A. 2016); costume and prop designer - Tanya Olalde (staff)
Outstanding Direction (live)
Si Mon' Emmett (B.F.A. 2018); amendment: the making of an american myth, or the slow sipping of a peacock tea (Salvage Vangaurd Theater)
Outstanding Performer
Savanna Cole (B.A. 2020) as "Sally" in CyberStock "Home Again" (Summer Stock Austin)
Design
Outstanding Set Design
Lisa Laratta (M.F.A. 2008); Plano (paper chairs)
Outstanding Media Design
Kriston Woodreaux (attended); brutal IMAGINATION (Salvage Vangaurd Theater)
Outstanding Movement Design
Liz Fisher and the cast; Ghost Quartet (Penfold Theatre); featured actress - Megan Tabaque (M.F.A. 2017)
Outstanding Mask/Headdress Design
Aaron Kubacak (M.F.A. 2019); Más Cara (VORTEX Repertory Company and Teatro Vivo)