‘Fiddler’ leads awards

Tom Titus

“Fiddler on the Roof” struck up a winning melody at the Huntington

Beach Playhouse’s annual Bobbi Awards Sunday night, walking off with

a dozen trophies including the Best Show of the Season honor from

both the judges and the theater’s patrons.

The musical also captured honors for its director, Marla Gam

Hudson; its leading actor and actress, Tim Nowicki and Grace Lynne,

and its backstage contingent -- choreographer Michal Lopez, musical

director Bill Wolf and stage manager Lynn Garcia. Completing the

“Fiddler” winner’s circle were supporting actress Blossom Benedict,

set designer Andrew Otero, juvenile performer Sabrina Fuster and

special effects artist Adam Levine.

There were a few trophies left over, however, and the

Shakespearean outdoor production “Henry IV, Part 1” grabbed most of

these. Honors went to director Wendi de Barros, actors Paul Burt and

Matthew Gilbert (who also shared a special choreography award for the

show’s fight scenes) and James Reagan for best first-time

performance.

De Barros and actors Burt and Gilbert were cited for their

contributions in a drama, but Burt (who played Fallstaff) commented,

“I thought we were doing a comedy.”

The comedy directing award went to Gigi Fusco Meese for

“Squabbles.” Best actor and actress honors for comedy went to Michael

Fernandez for “Squabbles” and Kip Hogan for “The Foreigner.” Best

actress in a drama was Teri Ciranna for “Ladies in Retirement,” a

show that also produced a best supporting actress award for Margaret

VandenBerghe.

Ruth Siegall won as best supporting actress for a comedy for her

work in “Squabbles” and Aristotle Ibasco was named best supporting

actor in a musical for “A Chorus Line.”

Kurt Finney, who stepped into a major role on a few days’ notice

when the original actor was injured, captured the best supporting

actor in a comedy trophy for his work in “No Sex, Please, We’re

British.”

The costuming award went to Jenny McGee for “A Man for All

Seasons” while James W. Gruessing’s settings and Michael Schrupp’s

lighting design for “Ladies in Retirement” also were honored.

The playhouse presented a special award for stage management to

Kelly Tickner, who served on five productions during the playhouse’s

2002 season. The newly christened Helen Susman President’s Award --

honoring the playhouse pioneer who passed away last year -- went to

volunteers June Chow and Patty Weebe.

The Huntington Beach Playhouse swings back into action next

weekend when the comedy “Don’t Dress for Dinner” continues the 2003

season, opening Feb. 21.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.