The recipients of the 2010 GREGORY AWARDS were announced at the 2010 Gregory Awards Ceremony at ACT on Monday, October 25, 2010.
The second annual Gregory Awards ceremony was an unequivocal success, due in large part to the outstanding artists and organizations that make up the local theatrical community who supported and attended the event. Overwhelming response resulted in tickets unexpectedly selling out several days before the event. Over 400 tickets were sold (twice as many as last year) including many "standing room only" tickets that were added in order to accommodate as many people as possible.
On October 25, festivities began at 6:30 PM with a private VIP reception, and all three floors of ACT's downtown theater were soon flooded with local theater artists, patrons and aficionados dressed in their finest. Guests enjoyed red carpet photos by John Ulman and Peter Dylan O'Connor, interviews on the red carpet with Troy Fischnaller, Ben Harris and 2010 Gregory nominee MJ Sieber, plus interviews and coverage by local television stations, the Vanessa Waller Show, and Seattle Channel's Art Zone, and a catered reception sponsored by Theo Chocolate. In addition, VIP guests were treated to a private reception, access to the VIP Lounge with complimentary wine (sponsored by Willis Hall Winery) and beer (sponsored by Fremont Brewing), and reserved premier seating for the ceremony.
The ceremony began shortly after 7:30, emceed by the local theatrically-based band, the Love Markets. Representatives from local theaters, arts organizations and civic leaders presented the awards. Kurt Beattie, Artistic Director of ACT and friend of the namesake of the awards, the late Gregory Falls, gave a moving speech honoring Mr. Falls and his wife, Jean.
The recipient of this year's Gregory A. Falls Sustained Achievement Award was M. Burke Walker. Mr. Walker was notified in late September and honored at the ceremony with the other recipients. Melissa Hines, Director of Civic Partnerships with the Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, presented M. Burke Walker with his achievement award.
THE 2010 RECIPIENTS ARE:
Outstanding ActorHans Altwies (Members' Voice)
Outstanding Actress
Marya Sea Kaminski (Members' Voice)
Person to Watch
Brandon Ivie (Members' Voice)
Outstanding PlaywrightSteven DietzOutstanding Scenic DesignAndrea Bush (Members' Voice)
Outstanding Music & Sound Design
RJ Tancioco
Outstanding Costume DesignMelanie Burgess
Outstanding Lighting Design
Andrew D. SmithOutstanding DirectorSheila Daniels (Members' Voice)
Outstanding Production
The Cider House Rules, Part 1 (People's Choice)
Theater of the Year
ACT (Members' Voice)
After the event, the party moved to Solo Bar in lower Queen Anne, a primary post-show hangout for local theater artists. Solo Bar is a generous supporter of local arts and donated 20% of the proceeds that evening to TPS.
