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10th NH Theatre Awards event recognizes top performances

Thursday, February 9, 2012

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Toby Tarnow smiles and looks off stage after arriving to the podium with the Children's Theatre Award during Friday evening's New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Members of the Peacock Players perform a scene from Dinosaur Musical during Friday night's New Hampshire Theatre Awards at The Palace Theatre in Manchester.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Members of Actorsingers perform a scene from Guys and Dolls during Friday evening's New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Keith Weirich accepts the award for Best Director of a Musical - Community during Friday night's New Hampshire Theatre Awards at The Palace Theater in Manchester.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Jared Mezzocchi pumps his fist over his head after winning Best Originial Playwright - Community during Friday night's New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Taylor Morrow laughs as she walks away from the podium after winning the award for Best Youth Actor during Friday evening's New Hampshire Theatre Awards at The Palace Theater in Manchester.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Members of M&M Productions act out a scene from The Good Doctor during Friday night's New Hampshire Theatre Awards at The Palace Theater in Manchester.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Producer of the Milford Area Players, Dave Agans accepts the award for Best Community Production of a Comedy/Drama during Friday night's New Hampshire Theatre Awards at The Palace Theater in Manchester.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Side profiles of the New Hampshire Theater Award are seen back stage before the start of Friday night's award show at the Palace Theater in Manchester.

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Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Toby Tarnow smiles and looks off stage after arriving to the podium with the Children's Theatre Award during Friday evening's New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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img

Staff photo by GRANT MORRIS
Toby Tarnow smiles and looks off stage after arriving to the podium with the Children's Theatre Award during Friday evening's New Hampshire Theatre Awards.

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By TERESA SANTOSKI

Staff Writer

MANCHESTER – The stretch SUV that pulled up to the curb set the tone perfectly for the 10th annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards on Feb. 3 at the Palace Theatre.

Nominees and other attendees were dressed to rival a Hollywood awards show, turning the audience into a sea of formal gowns, top coats, furs and sequins. Here and there, a tuxedo or white dinner jacket could be glimpsed.

New Hampshire’s theater community wanted to look its best, as no one knew until the winning name was called just who would be walking across the stage to receive one of those coveted glass awards shaped like the state of New Hampshire.

The nervousness and excitement in the air only enhanced the attendees’ wit and sense of timing.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the special awards.

Toby Tarnow, artistic director of the Riverbend School of Theatre Arts in Milford, received the Children’s and Youth Theatre Award.

“It’s an amazing honor for the work that we’ve been doing,” Tarnow said, her poise

and elegance reminiscent of Katharine Hepburn.

She described her passion for the creative process that takes place in the theater and how it encouraged her to establish the Riverbend School of Theater Arts.

“If I could share that with children, I’d be doing something I love,” she said.

“I share this award with everyone whose energy and love brought me to this place,” Tarnow concluded, asserting that she will be in the theater “until I drop.”

Vick Bennison, of the Milford Area Players, who tied for Best Director – Drama/Comedy (Community Theater) for “August: Osage County,” expressed his gratitude to his significant other.

“I want to thank my wife, Lily. Is she awake?” he asked, referring to the lateness of the hour.

The value of youth theater was apparent to this year’s adjudicators, who lavished honor upon honor on the Peacock Players, including Best Production (Youth Theater) and Best Director – Musical (Community Theater) for “The Dinosaur Musical.”

While accepting his Best Director award, the Peacock Players’ Keith Weirich took the opportunity to acknowledge a person who spends little time in the spotlight.

“Everyone in Peacock Players knows how I feel about them,” he said, and expressed his gratitude to “Heather, my beautiful, long-suffering wife.”

Weirich thanked her for enduring the challenges of being married to a director and reminded her of the benefits.

“At least I gave you a cute son,” he joked.

“August: Osage County” was an unanticipated favorite for this year’s awards, with winners acknowledging the black comedy’s mature language as they accepted their awards.

“I learned so many new words,” joked Barbara Webb, this year’s Best Actress – Comedy/Drama (Community Theater) about her role as Violet Weston.

A variety of performances interspersed throughout the awards, including “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” by the cast of the Actorsingers’ “Guys and Dolls,” rounded out the event nicely, underscoring the fact that this evening is all about the theater, those who live for it and those who love it.

Teresa Santoski can be reached at 594-6466 or tsantoski@nashuatelegraph.com.

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