Local Thespians Receive Regional Theater Awards
WOONSOCKET - This community’s theater groups scored big in Motif Magazine’s Theater and Music Awards presented earlier this month, with the city’s Theatre Works company receiving three top honors and with several more nominations going to local actors and directors.
Theatre Works’ Connie Anderson won the Best Director in Community Theater honor for her production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Meredyth Waterman, a Burriliville native who now lives in Cranston, was named Best Actress in Community Theater for her performance as Audrey in the same show, and her leading man, Josh Smith of Uxbridge, picked up the Best Actor in Community Theater award for his role as Seymour.
Everyone involved in community theater productions is the same, said Anderson. ”We work all day at regular ‘paying’ jobs and spend our nights doing what we love most,” she said. ”It was like Rhode Island’s own little Academy Awards program,” said Waterman, formerly a Call staff writer. “The coolest part for me (was) my favorite Trinity Rep actress, Rachael Warren, congratulated me and said I was good in ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ last year.”
“I was completely taken by surprise,” said Smith, “and I’m grateful to everyone who voted for us. It’s nice to know that people still enjoy community theater.”
Motif Magazine is a free arts and entertainment tabloid published twice a month. Award winners were chosen via an online readers’ poll at www.motitinagazine.net. -.
Nominations were open to community theater groups throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, and the awards were presented during ceremonies held at the Hi Hat Lounge in Providence, Other local participants included Mark Anderson, nominated for best actor honors for his role as Al Lewis in Theatre Works’ “The Sunshine Boys”; Fred Fortier of Woonsocket, nominated for Best Director for Encore Repertory Company’s “High School Musical”; and Emily Luther of Woonsocket, nomi nated as Best Female Lead fdi’ her performance as Maria in ”The Sound of Music” produced by RISE on Broadway.
Encore Rep is based at the Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre, Monument Square, and RISE, the Rhode Island Stage Ensemble, is based at the Columbus Theater in Providence.
