Alan Sutterfield, "The Elephant Man," ASATADOtherwise, the adjudicators appeared more appreciative of familiar Broadway and off-Broadway fare and more responsive to familiar talent than to the sometimes stellar work of newcomers. Perennial powerhouses Diamond Head Theatre and Manoa Valley Theatre dominated as usual, although quirky ASATAD did relatively well.
John Rampage handled repeat trips to the podium with aplomb in receiving three awards for DHT's "Cabaret." Yvonne Filius deftly condensed her comments when accepting two leading-female (musical) awards for DHT's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and MVT's "Song of Singapore."
A prime pre-show topic was the need to add some form of peer-group voting to the adjudication system currently used. The six adjudicators who pick the nominees then choose the winners from HSTC-member theaters on Oahu only. Innovative Kumu Kahua refuses to be adjudicated. Some Kennedy Theatre/Ernst Lab Theatre productions are considered but no one from the University of Hawaii at Manoa was there to accept.
Larry Paxton was the final Po'okela Award recipient last night but not the least. Earlier deemed unworthy of an award for directing DHT's hit, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," he took the stage when the show was named one of three recipients in the overall-production (musical) category.
Paxton recalled how platoons of children and teens in the cast matured as they handled the responsibilities of doing a major show. "Some people don't like it when the Po'okelas get political, but tell your (elected) representatives that education and the arts are not what's supposed to (be cut to) balance the budget!" he said.
Special adjudicators awards honored HTY for its ensemble performances, ASATAD for its work with deaf actors, and the absent Lisa Matsumoto for "outstanding contribution to Oahu theater." Cecilia Fordham got the Pierre Bowman Award.
Mark Dillen Stitham, "The Old Boy," MVT
Alan Sutterfield, "The Elephant Man," ASATAD
Melissa Cooper, "The Miracle Worker," ASATAD
Cecilia Fordham, "Gertrude Stein and a Companion," ASATAD
Jo Pruden, "Three Tall Women," MVT
Karin Valasek, "Gertrude Stein and a Companion," ASATAD
Matthew Pedersen, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," DHT
John Rampage, "Cabaret," DHT
Yvonne Filius, "Song of Singapore," MVT
Yvonne Filius, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," DHT
Shari Lynn, "Gypsy," LCC
Gary L. Anderson, "Arsenic & Old Lace," DHT
Justin Brossier, "The Old Boy," MVT
Gerald Kolbeck, "Our Town," HPC
Kristine Altwies, "Three Tall Women," MVT
Diana Carter Anderson, "The Elephant Man," ASATAD
Terri Madden, "The Old Boy," MVT
Dion Donahue, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," DHT
Steven Stanfill, "Gypsy," LCC
Sarahlea Gamiao, "West Side Story," ACT
Sylvia Higgins, "Gypsy," LCC
Becky Maltby, "The Pajama Game," ACT
Liz Schaller, "Gypsy," LCC
Vernon Campbell, "The Pajama Game," ACT
John Rampage, "Cabaret," DHT
Susan Park, "Three Tall Women," MVT
John Rampage, "Cabaret," DHT
Emmett G. Yoshioka, "Gypsy," LCC
Wally White, "Song of Singapore," MVT
Sandra Finney, Linda Yara and Lily Pink, "Dragon Quest," UH
Margaret McKea, "Marriage," UH
Lisa Ann M. Omoto, "Das How Come," UH
Stephen Clear, "Sweet Charity," DHT
Darren Hochstedler, "Cabaret," DHT
Darren Hochstedler, "Song of Singapore," MVT
Ron Perry, "Song of Singapore," MVT
Velina Hasu Houston, "Hula Heart," HTY
Lisa Matsumoto, "Das How Come," UH
"Cabaret," DHT
"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," DHT
"Song of Singapore," MVT
"The Elephant Man," ASATAD
"Three Tall Women," MVT