ChamberECT - The 10th Annual Spirit Awards Gala for The Spirit of Broadway Theater

Celebrating Innovation and Achievement

The 10^th Annual Spirit Awards Gala for The Spirit of Broadway Theater

(Norwich, CT) The past couple of years have been hard all over, especially hard hit have been the nonprofit sector with their reliance on donations and grants to keep the lights on and the doors open. That is why The Spirit of Broadway Theater’s Annual Spirit Awards Gala on Saturday, December 4, 2010 is going to be even sweeter than in the past…they are still here and finishing one of their best years ever!

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For 10 years, The Spirit of Broadway Theater has created and hosted the Spirit Awards Black Tie Gala, the first Saturday in December at The Norwich Inn & Spa. This annual gala celebrates the achievements of actors, designers, directors, crew who created the productions for 2010 as well as recognizing special achievements for businesses and volunteers with awards presented by the theater’s Board of Directors.

The centerpiece of the evening features the presentation of The Spirit Awards. The theaters subscribers through a balloting process choose the recipients. The recipients of the awards will be announced at the Spirit Awards Gala on December 4, 2010. (2010 nominees are attached at end)

“As the only theater in the country whose entire season is dedicated to the full production of new works “said Dr, Greg Johnson, SBT Board President, “our subscribers are used to watching shows with a critical eye and used to being very active in the process of interacting with the entire production team. The Spirit Awards Gala is a major opportunity for our subscribers to recognize the very best of the season, as they see it. In addition, the Board of Directors uses this Gala evening as an opportunity to present several awards also, recognizing outstanding achievement in Community Service, Corporate Service and Leadership.”

With all the challenges that the economy has presented over the past couple of years, it is widely believed that a minimum of 10% of all arts organization that were around at the beginning of the recession, will be gone by the time the economy comes back to life. The Spirit of Broadway Theater is using The 2010 Spirit Awards Gala as an opportunity to celebrate what looks to be their second best year for ticket sales, in their 13-year history!

“As the only theater in the country who does what we do, we have a triple whammy to overcome” said SBT Founding Artistic Director / CEO Brett A. Bernardini. “Not only are a nonprofit, not only are we a theater, but we are also the only theater in the country who produces only new works! Yet, while other theaters are going out of business, the 2010

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season has been amazing for us, due entirely to all the people we are going to celebrate with at this year’s Spirit Awards!”

Special Board of Director Awards includes Outstanding Community Service, presented this year to John Marion of Chaplin, Connecticut. As a longtime volunteer at The Spirit of Broadway Theater, Mr. Marion has worked as a professional actor, volunteered to build sets, play in the annual Golf Tournament, worked on hosting special events for the theater and has brought groups of 40 or more people to the theater to see shows throughout the season. Additionally, in 2010, he volunteered to work on light crew, support costume work and has co-chaired the theater 2010 Tag Sale. John Marion is a professional handyman with clients throughout the Northeastern United States.

The Board of Directors Award for Outstanding Corporate Support will be presented to Scott Learned of Learned Design of Norwich, CT. Mr. Learned has been involved with The Spirit of Broadway Theater for the past 10 years in many capacities, from his firm doing engineering work, to renting out apartments for the theater to use for actor housing. He has taken of his time to speak on behalf of the theater at City Council meetings and has been a donor throughout the years. Design Learned, Inc. is a consulting engineering firm, specializing in the design of mechanical, odor control, electrical, plumbing systems and noise control. We design and manage for all types of buildings and specialize in animal care facilities, boarding kennels, shelters and veterinary facilities. They are headquartered in Connecticut, and have clients all over the United States.

The 2010 Spirit Awards Gala will begin at 6pm with a cocktail and hors d’oeurves reception. “This is such a perfect opportunity for everyone to come together and meet!” said SBT Board Member, Janice Hendrickson. “There is always so much excitement about the awards and the evening, that the cocktail reception is the perfect way to not only meet old friends, but a great opportunity to discover new friends!!”

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At 7pm, the celebration moves to the Grand Ballroom where guests will be treated to specially created themed décor, incredible floral designs by LeFrancois Floral and Gifts of Norwich and an epicurean dinner experience, designed exclusively for the gala evening by the Spa’s award-winning Chef, Daniel Chong- Himinez.

At 8pm, Special Guest Master of Ceremonies, Tony-Award winning Producer, Randy Adams (See attached bio) kicks off the evening’s award program, featuring performances from the 2010 season, highlights of musical numbers from the upcoming 2011 season and the presentation of the 2010 Spirit Awards as voted on by the theater’s season subscribers.

“We limited seating to this event to the first 100 people who purchase tickets,” said Bernardini. “Not only does the Ballroom has limited seating, but more importantly for us, is that this event remains special and personal for everyone! This isn’t a Gala evening where you are “someone at the back table”. Whether you know people at this event or not, by the time the evening is all over, we want you to know everyone and leave feeling that you are part of a very special and wonderful community!”

Tickets for this Black-tie Gala are $99pp. (Suits and dresses are acceptable attire also!) There will be a cash bar at throughout dinner and the awards program. Tables of 8 are available.

For more information or to make a reservation, please contact The Spirit of Broadway Theater Box office at 860.886.2378.

RANDY ADAMS

Special Guest Master of Ceremonies

2010 Spirit Awards Gala

Biography

RANDY ADAMS is a Tony-award winning Producer and founding partner (with Sue Frost and Kenny Alhadeff) of Junkyard Dog Productions (JYD), a theatrical producing organization dedicated to the development and production of new musical theatre. JYD is currently producing MEMPHIS (by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan) at the Shubert Theatre. MEMPHIS is the winner of the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical of 2010. Since its inception in 2006 Junkyard Dog has also produced MAKE ME A SONG, THE MUSIC OF WILLIAM FINN off-Broadway at New World Stages (Drama Desk nom., Outer Critics Circle nom.) and in London at the New Players Theatre, VANITIES, A NEW MUSICAL (by Jack Heifner and David Kirshenbaum) at Second Stage Theatre and PARTY COME HERE (by Daniel Goldfarb and David Kirshenbaum) at the New York Music Theatre Festival and subsequent production at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Prior to starting JYD Productions, he served as the Managing Director of TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, California from 1984-2006.

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2010 Spirit Award Nominees

(By category)

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS

Shawn Rucker Mary Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln

Kristin Lattin MaryJane Greenbrier Ghost

Hillary Ekwell Jo / Young Alice Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Hayley Pearl Pickles The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Heather Ruley Delia Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln

Jaime Lauren Morano Babs Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City

OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTOR

Derek Corriveau Norbert The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Zachary Gregus Robert Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln

Zachary Gregus Neil / Thompson Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nick D’Angelo Duke The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Dan Adams Dr. Patterson Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln

John Marion Jacob Greenbrier Ghost

Brett Bernardini Doc Greenbrier Ghost

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR or ACTRESS IN A FEATURED ROLE

Victoria Blake Myra Bradwell Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln

Dakota Dutcher Abraham Lincoln Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln

Dakota Dutcher Attorney Greenbrier Ghost

Brandon Nichols Fritz Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City

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OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

The Great American Trailer Park (January)

The Great American Trailer Park Musical (September)

Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION

The Great American Trailer Park Daniel Brandl

Rooms Daniel Brandl

Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City Daniel Brandl

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN

Rooms Herrick Goldman

Greenbrier Ghost Ric Lucero

Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City Mike Billings

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN

Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln Brett A. Bernardini

Greenbrier Ghost Brett A. Bernardini

Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City Brett A. Bernardini

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN

The Great American Trailer Park (January) Brett A. Bernardini

Greenbrier Ghost Lesley Wehner

Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City Brett A. Bernardini

BEST NEW BOOK

Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln June Bingham

Greenbrier Ghost Susan Murray

Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City Phil Willmott

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BEST NEW LYRICS

Rooms Paul Scott Goodman Asylum: The Strange Case of Mary Lincoln Carmel Owen Greenbrier Ghost Clay Zambo Once Upon A Time in Atlantic City Phil Willmott