The design of the set for "Bedroom Farce," which required three bedrooms, won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Set Construction. Accepting the award, Andrew S. Greenleaf joked, "It was quite a challenge to put three bedrooms on the small and unusually shaped stage at Silver Spring Stage and I thought, 'Who designed this stupid thing?' But I had no one to blame because I designed it myself."
Karen Jadlos Shotts was nominated for Outstanding Performance as a Lead Actress in the play and musical categories for her work as Annie Sullivan in The Arlington Players' "The Miracle Worker" and as Sally Bowles in Little Theatre of Alexandria's "Cabaret." She won for "The Miracle Worker," in which she portrayed the teacher to young Helen Keller, played by 8-year-old Mollie Clement.
Jadlos Shotts got the biggest laugh of the night when she accepted her trophy and quipped: "I'm really surprised. I really thought the kid would get it. And so, to that end, I'd like to thank Mollie for being shorter than I am."
There were several other instances in which cast members competed against each other in performance categories, most notably parts of the ensemble of Little Theatre of Alexandria's "Over the River and Through the Woods," a visit with an extended Italian American family that focuses on two sets of grandparents. Veteran actors Bernard Engel and Donald Neal, who played the grandfathers, were nominated for Outstanding Performance as a Featured Actor in a Play. Engel won.
Longtime actress Marilyn Hausfeld and newcomer Elissa Hudson, who played the grandmothers, also were nominated for Outstanding Performance as a Featured Actress in a Play. Hudson won, and she seemed shocked by her success. "First time on the stage, first nomination, first win," she blurted out to laughter. "My mother, about 35 years ago, said, 'You know, kid, you belong on the stage.' And I said, 'Get out of here.' So this is for my mother."
Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly (D) attended his first WATCH gala, sitting at a table with members of the Providence Players, for which he has performed in eight roles over the years.
"I'm here out of interest in supporting theater in Fairfax County," he said. "We have Vienna Theatre Company, Herndon's Elden Street Players, Reston Community Players and the Providence Players here tonight getting awards, so we have an abundance of riches in the county. Providence Players won three awards, and we were nominated for eight, so first time up at bat with WATCH, I think that's pretty impressive."
Connolly, who said he plans to audition for a production this spring, said community-based theater is a valuable civic asset.
"It's a great way to bring the arts to the neighborhood level," he said. "Not everybody can get down to the Kennedy Center to see a performance."
With Foundry Players of the District joining WATCH this year, there will be 99 productions to judge in 2005.
A complete list of winners is at www.washingtontheater.org.
