2007 Elly Awards

Left: The Crest Theater on Sunday night Sept. 23rd.


The full list of awards is here.

Everybody was there! Well, not EVERYBODY, just the beautiful people! Well, not ALL the beautiful people, of course, but quite a few nonetheless!

When I walked into the theater, I had to make a careful decision - what food item to purchase?

Last year's decision didn't work that well. Then, I bought a lot of popcorn, and tried to waylay some of the beautiful people in conversation, using the popcorn as a lure. At intermission time, I leaned against the wall, and lunged out when beautiful people passed by. When Anna Miles passed by, I lunged out and said "do you want some popcorn, Anna?" "No, thanks," she said as she hurried past, with arched eyebrows that seemed to say, "as if!"

So, this year, I chose a soft pretzel and a soda instead. I encountered Garbeau's Mark Ferreira, who said, "I would shake your hand if you weren't burdened down so. I would shake your pretzel, if it wasn't a crime in several states." (or words to that effect).

Can't win, with food at the Elly's.....

Kaylynn Rothleder, one of the nominees for Leading Actress: Musical, for "Annie" (Runaway Stage Productions - in the middle), her dad, Mark Rothleder, and friend.










Left: Ryan Warren and Katherine Vanderford. Ryan was one of the nominees for Leading Actor: Education Musical, for "Pajama Game" (St. Francis High School), but through one of those mysterious oversights that always seem to happen, this year, Katherine wasn't one of the nominees. Nevertheless, sister Meghan Vanderford was a nominee, for Supporting Actress, Child: Young People’s Musical, for "Grease" (Davis Musical Theatre Company).




Left: Craig Howard as Billy Flynn, and the marvellous RSP dancers, in "All I Care About Is Love", from "Chicago" (Runaway Stage Productions).

Runaway Stage production's "Chicago" won numerous awards, including Direction: Musical (Bob Baxter), Best Overall Production ("Chicago"), Leading Actor: Musical (Craig Howard), Leading Actress: Musical (Lauren Miller), Musical Direction: Musical (Christopher Cook), and Choreography: Musical (Darryl Strohl). Congratulations to them as well!


Left: Craig Howard as Billy Flynn, and the marvellous RSP dancers, in "All I Care About Is Love", from "Chicago" (Runaway Stage Productions).










Left: Bob DeLucia was Master of Ceremonies Sunday night, and Kevin Caravalho provided welcome comic relief!

Those who waited till the very end saw a fine preview performance of Kevin Caravalho as Frank 'N Furter in Garbeau's Dinner Theater's production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". Sexy! (sadly, my camera's battery died just before his entrance...)




Left: Ron Cisneros. The Elly Award for Choreography: Young People’s Musical was won by both Debbie Wilson for "42nd Street" (El Dorado Musical Theatre) and Ron Cisneros for "Cats" (River City Theatre Company).









Left: Tyler Milliron. Tyler Milliron won three Elly Awards Sunday night: Leading Actor, Adult: Young People’s Musical, for "Peter Pan" (El Dorado Musical Theatre); Leading Actor, Child: Young People’s Musical, for "42nd Street" (El Dorado Musical Theatre); and Supporting Actor, Adult: Young People’s Play, for "The Princess and the Pea" (Garbeau's Acorn and Oak Theatre).





Left: Lauren Miller. Lauren won the Elly Award for Leading Actress: Musical, for "Chicago" (Runaway Stage Productions).











Left: The Elly Award for Overall Production: Education Musical was won by El Dorado High School for "Crazy For You". Here, Director Paul Tomei (who won the Best Director, Education Musical as well), and the cast, take the honors.









Left: John Healy's widow (I believe, Dee Dee Healy). Dee Dee Healy was nominated for two Elly Awards, for Costume Design: Education Musical (along with Louise Brown) for "The Music Man" (Oak Ridge High School) and Costume Design: Education Play, for "A Streetcar Named Desire", Oak Ridge High School.

Tonight's Elly Awards ceremony was notable for honoring John Healy, in memoriam. The Oak Ridge High School theater instructor was highly-respected in every way. I met him on only one occasion, but his memory stuck with me: high-energy, fun-loving, and very friendly. (That occasion wasn't even a theater event, but rather a political protest against the practice of offshoring high tech jobs, in Concord, on Labor Day, 2003, when I was running for Governor).

John Healy's niece (if I am not mistaken), Eh-Eh Plotkin, won and Elly Award for Leading Actress: Education Play, for "A Streetcar Named Desire", Oak Ridge High School.

And John Healy was MikeMac's uncle as well.

(quite complicated...)

Left: Lauryn Caruso. Lauryn Caruso won two Elly Awards Sunday night, for Supporting Actress: Musical, for "West Side Story" (El Dorado Musical Theatre) and Leading Actress, Child: Young People’s Musical for "42nd Street" (El Dorado Musical Theatre).








Left: Jean Henderson. Jean Henderson won The Elly Award for Costume Design: Musical, for "Camelot" (Davis Musical Theatre Company).

DMTC struck out again at this year's awards ceremony, in almost every possible way, but with one very significant exception: Jean Henderson, costumer, after having been nominated eleven previous times, finally won an Elly Award! Congratulations!




Left: "I Like Him", from UC Davis' Theater Dept. puppet version of "The Man From La Mancha".