Article also published on Apt613.ca
On Sunday evening a cavalcade of theatre luminaries gathered in Bates Hall, Sandy Hill to honour the brightest amongst their ranks.
The Prix Rideau Awards founded in 2006 celebrates locally produced professional theatre and artists in both French and English. It is inspiring to see categories, including best male and female performers, best director, emerging artists, etc single out standout achievements in both official languages at one event. This year’s nominations included 40 English theatre productions and 14 French language plays making for a packed hall of nominees, supporters, advocates and fans of local theatre and arts.
Annie Lefebvre keeps her head pre-show
This year’s awards hosted by Tania Levy & Hugues Beaudoin-Dumouchel saw former host Annie Lefebvre literally beheaded in the show opener. Her corpse-less-head then overseeing proceedings from a table top.
The night was beautifully animated and the delivery, especially for a performing arts award show – these folks love the stage – was succinct and moved at a enjoyable pace with an engaged and bellicose audience.
Alain Chauvin & Elise Gauthier
Tina Goralski who won the 2013 “Derriere le Rideau/Behind the Curtain” French-language award for “A tu et A moi” delivered a particularly moving speech on the power of bilingual theatre – this from an Albertan Anglophone no less. Brad Long taking “Outstanding Performance, Male” for “We Glow” had the crowd tittering with “the actor’s cliché” of no prepared speech.
Gabrielle Lalonde and Guest
The host’ were at one point stage-rushed for an impromptu “selfie” by a couple in the crowd. A bouquet toss was held for the “best dress” in the audience and Emily Pearlman made us well-up when, accepting “Best Director” for “Hroses”, she dedicated her win for a “play about love to the person that I’m so in love with”.
Exec Dir Matt Miwa
Executive Director Matt Miwa deserves a big hand for producing such a polished evening alongside the entire Prix Rideau Awards organising team and arts community for standing up for this much deserved recognition.
And the Winners Are…. PRix Rideau Award Winners 2013
Emerging Artist Award Eng: Melanie Karin
Prix d’Artiste en Emergence: Lissa Leger
Derriere le Rideau Award: David Whiteley ‘Billy Bishop’, ‘Absurd Person Singular’ & ‘ Private Lives’
Derriere le Rideau Award: Tina Goralski ‘A tu et A Moi’ Compagnie L’Atelier
Outstanding Performance, Female: Katie Swift ‘Hroses’ Evolution Theatre
Interpretation Feminine de L’Annee: Magali Lemele ‘Je n’y suis plus’ en co-production avec Le Theatre Francaise du CNA
Outstanding Design : Al Connors (Sound) ‘Hroses’ & Brian Smith (Set) ‘God of Carnage’ Third Wall Theatre
Conception de L’Annee: Gabriel Tsampalieros (Scenographie) ‘Je N’y Suis Plus’ Magali Lemele en co-production ave Le Theatre Francaise du CNA& Melanie McNeil (Scenographie) ‘le fa le do’ Theatre Catapulte
Interpretation Masculine de L’Annee : Yves Turbide ‘Fool for Love’ Theatre des Cybeles
Outstanding Performance Male : Brad Long ‘We Glow’ Theatre 4.669
Outstanding New Creation: Emily Pearlman & Brad Long ‘We Glow’ Theatre 4.669
Nouvelle Creation de L’Annee: ‘Ik Onkar’ Theatre la Catapulte
Outstanding Direction: Emily Pearlman ‘ Hroses’ Evolution Theatre
Mise en Scene de L’Annee: Caroline Yergeau ‘Porc-Epic’ Theatre Belvedere
Production de L’Annee: ‘Ik Onkar’ Theatre la Catapulte
Production of the Year : ‘The Vibrator Play’ Same Day Theatre
Sandy Hill Seen 