11th Annual Spirit Awards Gala to Honor Rodney & Lucille Green

Annual Awards Gala celebrates Excellence onstage and behind the scenes at The Spirit of Broadway Theater. (November 21, 2011) (Norwich, CT) The Spirit of Broadway Theater (a 501c3 nonprofit performing arts corporation) located in Norwich, CT is very proud to announce that the Board of Directors will present their 2011 Inspiration Award to Rodney & Lucille Green for their commitment to the arts in Norwich and all that they do for the community.
The Annual Spirit Awards Gala will be held at The Spa at Norwich Inn on Saturday, December 3, 2011 beginning at 6pm. The annual Black Tie Gala celebrates excellence onstage and behind the scenes of The Spirit of Broadway Theater. Subscribers vote upon awards in 17 categories and the recipients are announced at the gala.

This year’s VIP Master of Ceremonies is Ms. Julie Reyburn. Julie was awarded the 2011 MAC Award for Major Artist by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs. She is a 4 time MAC, 2-time Bistro award winner who has appeared in many of the top clubs in Manhattan. Her ability to connect to a lyric with unique interpretations has established her as one of New York’s celebrated female vocalist. She is the first ever Nightlife Award recipient for Outstanding Female Vocalist (2003) and again in 2005 and 2009 as a finalist. In 2007 Julie was presented with the coveted Julie Wilson Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation “in joyful gratitude for the vocal majesty and lyrical interpretation she continually manifests in her classic presentations of the Great Popular Songbook”. (FULL BIO AT END OF NEWSRELEASE)

A highlight of the 2011 Spirit Awards will be a presentation of the First Annual Inspiration Award, presented by the Board of Director’s to Rodney & Lucille Green. “The “Inspiration Award” was created to honor a person(s) whose commitment to SBT is matched by their commitment to fostering the arts throughout our region as well as their commitment to improve the quality of life in the area as demonstrated by their own conduct and character” said Brett Bernardini, Founding Artistic Director / CEO of The Spirit of Broadway Theater. “Rodney and Lucille Green have been involved with The Spirit of Broadway Theater from its earliest beginnings. While they are known throughout the region with their restaurant Olde Tymes in Norwich, CT. and through their support of the arts community throughout our community and beyond, what is mostly unknown about Rodney and Lucille is the amazing things they do for people that they never talk about. Having met some of the people whose lives have been transformed because of Rodney & Lucille, it became apparent that the best way to celebrate everything these remarkable people do, for so many others, is to present this new award to them at The Spirit Awards Gala.”

Rodney Green has served on The Spirit of Broadway Theater (SBT) Board of Directors for 7 years serving as the Treasurer for many of them. He has co-chaired the SBT Annual Golf Tournament for 8 years. He has served on the Building Committee and with his wife, Lucille, made a major donation to the SBT Capital Campaign when the theater was relocating to its current location. Together, he and his wife have been active supporters of the arts community throughout Norwich. When not actively working at their restaurant, Olde Tymes, Rodney and Lucille enjoy traveling, visiting family and playing with their grandchildren.

The Spirit Awards Gala begins at 6pm with a hors d’oeurves, wine and beer reception. At 7pm, the celebration moves to the Grand Ballroom of the Spa at The Norwich Inn for a special created dinner, prepared by the Spa’s award-winning chef, Daniel Chong – Jimenez. At 8pm, the Grand Ballroom comes to life at The Spirit Awards presentations and entertainment light up the room.

“This is an exceptionally exciting evening for everyone involved” said SBT Board President, Dr. Gregory Johnson. “This Gala evening is our opportunity to come together and celebrate the past year of theater, performances and special events, while looking ahead to the future of SBT. We are always thrilled to see the writers, actors, designers and musicians from all the shows, that come to the awards gala from all over the country! It is a very exciting evening for everyone involved! ”


The subscribers in a two-step ballot process choose nominees for the Spirit Awards with all the tabulation work done by Edward Meunzner Accounting CPA, LLC. Each of the categories is voted down to the top 3 (or more when there are ties). The final ballot chooses the award recipients; the recipients will be announced at The Spirit Awards Gala. (NOTE: 2011 NOMINATIONS ARE ATTACHED AT THE END)

January 2012 will mark the 15th Anniversary Season for The Spirit of Broadway Theater. Having been recognized internationally by theater trade publications for their commitment to the full production of new musicals, the theater is looking forward to a new business model, expanding the Board of Directors and creating a new vision for the organization for the next 15 years.

“Each year that our patrons afford us, I am forever more grateful! In these challenging economic and social times, theater has never been more necessary and yet, so many theaters across the country have collapsed and closed their doors,” said Bernardini. “ I am mindful that SBT exists today because of the enormous generosity of so many different people. The spirit Awards allows us that rare opportunity to take stock of where we have been, where we are today, who brought us here and where can we be tomorrow. Life happens so fast, The Spirit Awards gives us all an opportunity to celebrate how far we have come and how much more we can do together.”

Julie was awarded the 2011 MAC Award for Major Artist by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs. She is a 4 time MAC, 2 time Bistro award winner who has appeared in many of the top clubs in Manhattan. Her ability to connect to a lyric with unique interpretations has established her as one of New York’s celebrated female vocalist. She is the first ever Nightlife Award recipient for Outstanding Female Vocalist (2003) and again in 2005 and 2009 as a finalist. In 2007 Julie waspresented with the coveted Julie Wilson Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation “in joyful gratitude for the vocal majesty and lyricalinter pretation she continually manifests in her classic presentations of theGreat Popular Songbook”.

On the theatre stage, Julie has been featured in the Broadway by the Year series at the famed New York Town Hall. Highlighted in both the “Broadway Musicals of 1940 and 1965″, Julie costarred with some of Broadway’s best. She has been featured in numerous Cabaret Conventions sponsored by The Mabel Mercer Foundation. Most recently at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theatre as well as in Chicago’s famed Park West. As a member of Actor’s Equity, Julie has performed Off-Broadway in new musicals, I Prefer to Dream at the Triad, Character Breakdown at Abington Theatre, War Brides at The York Theatre, The AtrainPlays at Neighborhood Playhouse, Falsettos for Storefront Theatre Company and in the award winning musical Africa & Plumbridge at the NY International Fringe Festival.

Recordings include: The Broadway Musicals of 1940 (Bayview Records), Heaven Knows - Cast Recording, War Brides – Cast Recording and her debut solo CD, Fate is Kind and Bistro Award winning recording, Live at Feinstein’s(No Cover Records). Please visit: www.nocoverrecords.com She is also a member of the MAC award winning vocal group Marquee Five: www.marqueefive.com

“Julie Reyburn persuasively establishes herself as one of the finest artists on the current cabaret scene. Not only is this her best show to date, it ranks with some of the most acclaimed work presented at our most prestigious venues. Yes, it’s that good”. Roy Sander, Bistroaward.com “Whatever she sings, Reyburn has an easygoing, infectious personality. She invites us into her world with bits of information and a quip here and there as well as with her expressive music and lyrics. Reyburn sparkles with professionalism, and yet she never drops the intimacy and rapport she achieves with her audience. She’s a first rate cabaret star.” William Wolf/Wolf Entertainment “Julie Reyburn’s creamy soprano voice seduces her listeners” Robert Daniels, Variety “Her deeper understanding of what a song can offer is demonstrated by her dynamic ability to interpret the lyric. Reyburn proves she’s not a comet at all but a blazing new star.” Barbara & Scott Siegel, Siegel Entertainment Syndicate.

 

 

2011 SPIRIT AWARD FINALISTS

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS
Rori Nogee, Watho, Day Boy and Night Girl
Talisa Friedman, Georgia, Snow
Emily Rice, Dorothy, Sumer of '42

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Hjordy's Matos, Night Girl, Day Boy and Night Girl
Dana Dellamonica, Sally, Snow
Shawn Rucker, Jet, Snow

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR
Nick Anastacia, Kyle, Snow
Brody Karn, Hermie, Summer of '42
Daniel Patrick Smith, Orson Wells, Panic

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR
Brandon Nichols, Fargu, Day Boy and Night Girl
Stephen Scott Wormley, Milton, Snow
Paul Lang, Raven, Snow
Eric Jonathon Schuller, Benji, Summer of '42
Nicholas Kochanov, Houseman, Panic

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
The Day Boy and The Night Girl Snow Summer of '42 Panic

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
The Day Boy and The Night Girl,
Daniel Brandl Snow,
John DiNicola Panic, Daniel Brandl

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
The Day Boy and The Night Girl, Christine Snitken-Bouley
Snow, Christine Snitken-­‐Bouley
Summer of '42, Christine Snitken-­‐Bouley

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
The Day Boy and The Night Girl, Herrick Goldman & Susan Nicholson
River's End, Herrick Goldman & Susan Nicholson
Snow, Mike Billings
Panic, Greg Solomon

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
The Day Boy and The Night Girl, Brett Bernardini
Summer of '42, Ruth Tefft
Panic, Ruth Tefft

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
River's End, Brett Bernardini
Snow, Mike Billings
Summer of '42, Mike Billings
Panic, Mike Billings

BEST NEW BOOK
The Day Boy and The Night Girl,
Katherine Baldwin Eng Snow,
Sean Hartley Panic, Stephen Dolginoff

BEST NEW LYRICS
The Day Boy and The Night Girl,
Katherine Baldwin Eng River's End,
Cheryl Coons Snow,
Sean Hartley Panic, Stephen Dolginoff

BEST NEW SCORE
The Day Boy and The Night Girl, James Rubio
Snow, Sean Hartley
Panic, Stephen Dolginoff

BEST NEW WORK
River's End, Cheryl Coons& Chuck Larkin
Snow, Sean Hartley
Panic, Stephen Dolginoff

BEST DIRECTION
Snow, Brett Bernardini
Summer of '42, Brett Bernardini
Panic, Brett Bernardini

BEST PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
Snow Summer of '42 Panic