Saturday Night, June 14 th , Little Theater on the Bay held its annual award ceremony in the Salmon Room at the Mill Casino. Because the theater had a shortened season due to its extensive, comprehensive “Save the Liberty” renovation plan, LTOB stylized the 2003 ceremony as its “ MiniMasque Awards”.

 

Ceremonies were “ MC'd ” by Jim Thornton, who recently played the Stage Manager in LTOB's recent rendition of Our Town . The role of the Stage Manager was played this past season on Broadway by Paul Newman who won a Tony Award last week for his characterization. Local pundits who have had the opportunity to see both performances believe that Jim's characterization was perhaps the equal of Mr. Newman's, and nobody who left the local theater felt disappointed or cheated that they lacked to opportunity to see the New York production.

 

Leading off the awards was the presentation of the “Newcomer Award”, given to a first-time actor or actress in an LTOB production. The award was presented by Ken Erskine, director of Our Town and a gentleman who just last year joined the list of LTOB committed members who have been awarded “Man of the Year” and “Woman of the Year” for outstanding service to LTOB three times. The winner, no stranger to LTOB's stage was Ron Nance, the ever-popular MC for LTOB's annual Little Ole Opry on the Bay, who played Constable Warren in Our Town, Ron's first appearance on the LTOB stage. Those in attendance agreed that Ron should continue in his theatrical work.

 

The second award, the cameo award, was given was presented by Omar Cadiz, another popular actor on the LTOB stage. Omar is currently learning the role of Sancho in the musical Man of La Mancha, which will be presented by the Bandon Playhouse in September and October. The cameo award was presented to George Markel

 

The third award, the Juvenile Award, is presented to an actor under the age of 18. The presenter this year was Josie Kuehn, a member of the LTOB Board of Directors. The winner was Sara Simpkins

 

The fourth award was the community service award, presented by Jason Denton, president of LTOB. This year's award winner was the Mill Casino, whose generosity and timeliness of a grant to the re-building of the liberty Theater Building led to completion of the first phase of the project and the beginning of the second phase. In his remarks, Mr. Denton did acknowledge that every grantor to the project is, and ought to be, considered our community service award winner. The award was given to the Mill Casino in recognition of all of the benefactors of LTOB.

 

After the foregoing awards, the program was turned over to the On Broadway Theater who entertained the audience with three musical numbers from its new production of Popeye, which will be opening June 28 th. Popeye is being directed by Michael Gonzalez, a senior at North Bend High School , assisted by Theresa Erskine, who is also playing Olive Oyl .

 

The Best Supporting Actress was presented by Don Williston , a member of the LTOB Board , and Director of the Bandon Playhouse Production of Man of La Mancha. Don filled in for Brian Bond, last year's Best Supporting Actor as the Modern Major General in Pirates of Penzance . The Award was presented to Theresa Erskine

 

The Best Supporting Actor Award was presented by Josie Reed. At last year's Masque Awards, Josie was Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Pirates of Penzance . The winner was Don Moulton.

 

The Love Award, annually given to that person or persons who has demonstrated love for the theater, was presented by Dorothea Yantis, longtime Director and Treasurer of LTOB. The winner was Jason Denton.

 

The Ralph Moe Best Director was presented by the LTOB president, Jason Denton. Nominees included Ken Erskine for Our Town, Josie Reed for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the Houghtons for The Little Ole Opry on the Bay. The winners were the Houghtons . The Ed Publicover Award for Technical Achievement was awarded to Mark Klee.

 

Best Actress was presented by John Adamson to Deana Spence. Best Actor was presented by Theresa Erskine to Jason Denton.

 

The Bandon Playhouse presented the final entertainment of the evening, with Kerry Oxford and Donovan Wertz presenting three songs from the upcoming production of Man of La Mancha.

 

The Man of the Year was awarded to Jason Denton and the Woman of the Year was awarded to Sally Simpkins.