Tuesday, August 12, 2008

YACTA returns for fifth year

By Sarah Poulton

YOUNGSTOWN — Saturday evening, local theaters will be engaged in a little friendly competition during the 5th Annual Marquee Awards.

Jack Ballantyne Jr., chairman of the Youngstown Area Community Theater Awards, said the event has grown immensely since its inception in 2003. It was initially designed to be an alternative to The Youngstown Playhouse’s Arthur Awards, which fell by the wayside during a transitional period. Since then, it has grown to include 12 area theaters in 27 categories.

“It’s really grown tremendously,” Ballantyne said. “It’s brought theaters together much more than they were before, and the quality of the theaters has gone up.”

Ballantyne said the contenders were decided by a 30-member nomination committee, who saw all of the local plays from July 2007 to July 2008. The voting was done by members of the Alliance, the group that runs the YACTA, a group of member community theaters and play reviewers from The Vindicator and Valley24.com.

He said the organization usually gives out special awards each year. The 2007-08 Excellence in Theater Award goes to the New Castle Playhouse as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, and the Lifetime Achievement Award goes to NCP’s George Orr.

Ballantyne said Orr has been with the NCP since the beginning and has done everything from serving on the board to playing an occasional role. Orr’s specialty is set design, and he recently completed his 100th set, Ballantyne said.

“[Orr] also does a lot of community work in New Castle,” Ballantyne said. “We just thought it was appropriate to honor him after all the work he’s done.”

Scott Schneider of WFMJ TV-21 will be hosting the event along with a number of local radio and television personalities.

The 5th Annual Marquee Awards will be held Saturday at the Saxon Club on Meridian Road. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and the award presentation will begin at 8 p.m.

Award categories are:

• Best Properties Design

­• Best Lightboard Operator

• Best Stage Manager

• Best Sound Design

• Best Musical Director

• Best Scenic Design

• Best Lighting Design

• Best Costume Design

• Best Direction of a Play

• Best Direction of a Musical

• Best Swing Performance in a Musical or Play

• Best Character Performance in a Play

• Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

• Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play

• Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

• Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play

• Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical

• Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play

• Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical

­• Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play

• Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical

• Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Play

• Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical

• Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play

• Best Revival of a Play or Musical

• Best Play 2007/ 2008 Season

• Best Musical 2007/ 2008 Season