‘Picnic’ revival tops Playhouse awards list

Tom Titus

“Picnic,” William Inge’s splendidly crafted drama of emotional

turmoil in the rural Midwest, won the Pulitzer Prize when it first

hit the stage in the 1950s -- and when the Huntington Beach Playhouse

handed out its annual Bobbi awards recently, there was “Picnic” at

the top of the list.

Director Terri Miller Schmidt’s production of the Inge drama was

proclaimed best show of the 2003 season by the theater’s panel of

judges, sharing top honors with another golden oldie, “Mister

Roberts,” directed by Gigi Fusco Meese, chosen as the favorite show

of the playhouse’s patrons.

Topping the individual performance field were Fred Griffith, voted

best actor in a drama or mystery, for “Mister Roberts”; David Farkas,

best actor in a musical or comedy, for “Heaven Can Wait”; Christy

Sweeney, best actress in a drama or mystery, for “Ten Little

Indians”; and Louise Marie Cornillez, best actress in a musical or

comedy, for “West Side Story.”

Taking home Bobbi awards in the supporting performance ranks were

Ryan Abraham, musical or comedy, for “Don’t Dress for Dinner”; Shaun

McNamara, drama or mystery, for “Mister Roberts”; Jessica Jewett,”

drama or mystery, for “Picnic”; and Jasmine Curry, musical or comedy,

for “Quilters.”

Other actors cited at the awards celebration were Tori Vollmer of

“Quilters” for best juvenile role, Sheb Alahmari of “Mister Roberts”

for best first-time performance and Richard Little of “Ten Little

Indians” for best cameo role.

James W. Gruessing Jr., director of the playhouse’s current

production of “Proposals,” was a double winner. He was honored as

best director of the year for “Don’t Dress for Dinner” and also for

best set design on “Ten Little Indians.”

Bill Wolfe captured the best musical director trophy for “West

Side Story,” while Michael Lopez took home the best choreographer

award for his work on “Quilters.”

Other technical awards went to the Enchanted Attic / Fern & Paula

for best costumes (“As You Like It”), Melissa Clouse, best lighting

design and effects (“Picnic”), Ron Wyand, best sound design and

effects (“Ten Little Indians”) and Catherine Stip and Jonna

Hutchison, best set decoration and properties (“Picnic”). Hutchison

also was named best stage manager for her work on both “Picnic” and

“Heaven Can Wait.”

Two president’s awards for outstanding service in the 2003

campaign were presented -- to Lloyd Skaggs for facilities and B.J.

O’Rourke-Smith for fundraising. The playhouse’s special Roberta

Lehman Award went to longtime volunteer Ed McGee, with Jennie McGee

receiving a special “thank you” award for her support.

Concluding the awards list were three service awards voted on by

the playhouse’s board of directors. They went to Dawn Conant, B.J.

O’Rourke-Smith and Ana Fluck.

The Bobbi Awards are presented annually in honor of Bobbi Murphy,

a pioneer volunteer with the Huntington Beach Playhouse from its

inception in 1963 through the 1970s.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.