| OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY ## Season: Old Dominion University. The Seagull, Venus, Cyrano de Bergerac, What I Have Learned from Birds, Mr. Aesop's Fabulous Fables, Spring Performance Festival: Letters to John Lennon; Tall Tales; Degas, C'est Moi Cyrano de Bergerac (drama) ## Lead Actor: J.R. Heckler as Cyrano ## Another fine performance was J.R. Heckler as Cyrano. I have seen this boy act for a number of years and he never ceases to amaze me. His Cyrano was comedic, controlling, and sad. This actor ran through a gamut of emotions and portrayed the role in a much different way. J.R. seems to have a knack for diction and pace with his voice and actions. Degas, C'est Moi (comedy) ## Director: Denis Malone ## Denis Malone as the best student director for Degas, C'est Moi (best short story for ODU). I found the production interesting with moments of humor. It was well thought out and maintained continuity, with good ideas that were easy to follow the story to conclusion. ## Denis Malone for Best Student Director or Director of a Short Play, for Degas, C'est Moi (ODU Spring Performance Festival) and Degas, C'est Moi as Best Short Play (ODU Spring Performance Festival): Denis's piece was the best show out of the entire Spring Performance Festival. It was best directed, well thought out with a clear vision, showing creative wit and imagination with great use of a low budgeted production. He went way up over and beyond any of the other directors who showcased their pieces in the festival. Letters to John Lennon (comedy) ## New Play: Stacey Isom, Letters to John Lennon ## Lead Actress: Amber Wood as Kay ## Supporting Actress: Nicole Furneisen as Patti/Carnation/Chorus The Seagull (drama) ## Drama: The Seagull ## Director: Christopher Hanna ## Lead Actor: Jonathan Ward as Konstantin Treplev ## Supporting Actress: Amber Elizabeth Sarapata as Arkadina ## Amber did a wonderful job depicting the self-centered and self-absorbed Arkadina, who was in her latter years of recognition and stardom. Arkadina's conceit and arrogant behavior / attitude combined with her gradually failing self esteem as she ages and relives the "glory days" (which was what I thought was the key acting of the role) overshadowed her moments of parental concern for her low-esteem son. ## Ms. Sarapata delivers her best performance in this role. She encompassed the infamous "Arkadina" with her chilling demeanor highlighting this splendid production by ODU. ## Supporting Actor: Denis Malone as Shamarayev ## Denis was excellent in his role, whereas he distinguished his role with a peg leg, maintained the strong and consistent accent as well as a serious balance in his characterization and physicalization in the role of Shamarayev. ## Denis Malone brought amazing depth and rich character to his role. He not only had great physicalization, but also superb vocalization; it was almost like he transformed himself and he really became this character which is so few and far between in actors these days. He was really astonishing to watch. No one deserves it more. ## Costume Design: Angela Winters ## Scenic Design: Elwood Robinson ## Lighting Design: Elwood Robinson ## Ensemble: The Seagull, because the cast actually made Chekhov enjoyable. At every moment on stage whether a certain cast member was speaking or not, they were always involved and engaged and that made for an exciting piece of theatre. Tall Tales (drama) ## New Play: Robert Shenkkan, Tall Tales ## Director: Jeremiah Albers Venus (drama) ## Lead Actress: LaToya T. Morris as Venus ## Supporting Actress: Sarah Bailey as Mother-Showman and others |
| PALOMINO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP Same Time, Next Year (drama) ## Lead Actor: Ed Whitacre as George |