Fellowship Winners

The CUTC Fellowship is awarded to a candidate who is studying one of the performing arts disciplines, including but not limited to dance, theater, technical theater, voice, music education, or instrumental performance, is a member of the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company, and has participated in at least one CUTC production in the last year.  Each fellowship winner received $250 toward his/her educational expenses.  This years Fellowship winners are:

Lauren Barnes and Danielle Miller

Sue and Derek Kraybill Scholarship Winner

CUTC is also committed to supporting theatre and performing arts education. One way we do this is by administering the Sue & Derek Kraybill Scholarship and CUTC Fellowships. The Kraybill Scholarship is awarded to a candidate enrolled in a discipline related to theater and the performing arts, including but not limited to dance, theater, technical theater, voice, music education, or instrumental performance, is a member of the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company, has participated in at least one CUTC production in the last year, and is planning to continue his or her education at a college or graduate school. The scholarship winner receives a $500 scholarship. This year's Sue & Derek Kraybill Scholarship was awarded to:
 

Will Panek

Ginny Awards
2005 CUTC Ginny Awards Recognizes Volunteers

As a not-for-profit theatre organization, CUTC relies on community volunteers for a wide-range of services from acting to set design to costuming to sound to lighting. Each year we recognize our volunteers for their onstage and backstage contributions through the Annual Ginny Awards.

CUTC volunteers and invited guests met on Saturday, February 18th for the 2005 Annual Ginny Award presentations. The festive event was emceed by Lee McNabb and Andy Roberts, at Park Inn at Urbana. Entertainment was provided by members of the Company, who offered previews of the upcoming season with musical presentations from Jim Dieker, Heather Johnson, Jim Dobbs, Libby Mueller, Anna Summers, Jenny German, Caitlyn Dobbs, Andy Blacker, Dale Mueller, and Whitney Havice.

The 2005 CUTC Ginny Award Winners are:

Outstanding Dance Performance - Clint Dodds, Chris Eubank, Whitney Havice, Heather Johnson, Kali Martin, Casey Pulley, Kirby Toalson, Anna Summers, Ryan Summers, Eric Beckley & Dante Dobbs for “Having A Hunch” from Seussical.

Outstanding Comedic Moment - Jim Dobbs & John Tilford for “Lovely” from A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum

Outstanding Vocal Performance - Morgan Dietkus for “One Feather Tail” from Seussical.

Outstanding Upcoming Actress - Nina Samii as Shy in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Outstanding Upcoming Actor - Dante Dobbs as JoJo in Seussical

Outstanding Supporting Actress - Heather Johnson as Angel in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Outstanding Supporting Actor - Jeff Chandler as Horton in Seussical

Outstanding Dramatic Moment - Jeff Chandler & Dante Dobbs for “Alone in the Universe” from Seussical

Outstanding Actress in Lead Role - Morgan Dietkus as Gertrude in Seussical

Outstanding Actor in Lead Role - Eric Beckley as The Cat In the Hat in Seussical

The nominations for these awards came from a blue ribbon panel who came to all the shows and then met after each one to decide on the nominations for each category.  The blue ribbon panel was made up of Jennifer Goran, Kevin Kelly, Alicia Cross-Engelhardt, Jim Turpin and Pat Mayer.  After all the nominations were assembled, members of the company were allowed to vote by mail or over the internet.

The Ginny "Glitter" Awards are very special awards from the CUTC Board of Directors that recognize behind-the-scenes contributions. It's often noted that for every actor on stage, there are two or three times that many people behind the scenes who help create the magic that happens on stage.

The Great Heart Award is for overall contribution to a project that came from the heart. This year's award was presented to Wilbur & Marilyn Blacker,  who have graciously allowed us to use their trailer for load ins and load outs and other hauling over the past couple of seasons

The Guiding Light Award is for volunteering in front of the house. This year's winner of the Guiding Light Award was Dawn Schultz who has been an usher at the theatre and guided many of our guests to their seats for a long time.  Unfortunately Dawn was not there because she was, well, ushering at the theatre.

The Go-Getter Award is designated for someone who is willing to do anything behind the scenes. Whether it's set building, painting, moving set pieces or finding a special tool. The Go-Getter Award was presented to Dale Mueller.

Also recognizing the "hands on" volunteer efforts backstage is The Greasepaint Award.  The award this year went to Autumn Bates.   Everyone off stage left knows that Autumn is always there with whatever prop you need whenever you need it

As a volunteer community theatre we each wear many different hats so The Gypsy Award recognizes involvement and extra effort by a chorus member. This year's winner was Peter Haydel who has helped with building & painting sets, but also jumped in as a chorus member when extra men were needed for “Whorehouse”

The Guts and Glory Award recognizes unique contribution to the company. This years award is made to Champaign Telephone Co, for answering our phone line 24/7, passing along info & taking messages and ticket orders for the past several years.

The Glitter Award was presented to Jeff Chandler who has helped with costuming and make up for just about any show he was involved in

The Gifted Giant Award for artistic and technical contributions went to Andy Blacker for great set designs, float designs and generally any artistic project that has been asked of him.

The Generous Giving Award is for the Board member who has given above and beyond the call of duty. There was a tie for this award.  It went to Wendy & Chris Harris.

The Golden Award for overall contributions to the theatre company went to Busey Bank (Dave Kuhl & Susan Abbott) for the use of the Busey Center (now renovated) for all these years as well as any other type of support that we have asked of them.

Thanks to all who made this a very memorable occasion, especially Chairman Aaron Clark, Jenny German, Cindy Havice, and Andy Blacker.

 

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