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.
The Ginny Awards – named in honor of Ginny Stoolman, the daughter of the original Virginia Theater builder – have been hosted by CUTC since 1996. The location has sometimes changed and the awards have changed over the years, but what we’re really doing here every year is coming togther for a few hours to celebrate the power of community theater.
The winners for this year’s Ginny Awards are in bold.
Male Actor
Jason Morgan as the Baker (Into the Woods)
David Kessler as Tony (West Side Story)
Jeff Dare as Harold Hill (The Music Man)
Female Actor
April Blacker as the Witch (Into the Woods)
Kate Myers as Maria (West Side Story)
Jenny Gleason as Marian Paroo (The Music Man)
Supporting Male Actor
Jeff Grider as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf (Into the Woods)
Zach Benner as Bernardo (West Side Story)
Jim Dieker as Mayor Shinn (The Music Man)
Supporting Female Actor
Kari Croop as Cinderella (Into the Woods)
Arianne Cohen as Anita (West Side Story)
Chris Taber as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn (The Music Man)
Diane Pritchard as Mrs. Paroo (The Music Man)
Up-and-Coming Actor
Craig Kurjanski as Rapunzel’s Prince (Into the Woods)
Kieran Miller as Lt. Shrank (West Side Story)
Ryan Gossett as Winthrop Paroo (The Music Man)
Up-and-Coming Actress
Wendy Walter as Cinderella’s Bird (Into the Woods)
Lillie Sokolski as Gladhands (West Side Story)
Taylor Knowles as Anybodys (West Side Story)
Sydney Reilly-Treat as Amaryllis (The Music Man)
Musical Moment
C. Jefferson Grider and Craig Kurjanski for Agony (Into the Woods)
Dave Kessler, Kate Myers, Arianne Cohen, Cullyn Murphy and Zach Benner for Tonight (West Side Story)
Jeff Dare as Harold Hill and Townspeople for Seventy-Six Trombones (The Music Man)
Dance Moment
The Company for Ever After (Into the Woods)
Zach Benner, Arianne Cohan and the Sharks for America (West Side Story)
Jeff Dare and students for Marian the Librarian (The Music Man)
Dramatic Moment
April Blacker as the Witch in Witch’s Lament (Into the Woods)
Dave Kessler, Kate Myers in Final scene (The Street) (West Side Story)
Jenny Gleason and Jeff Dare for Til There Was You (The Music Man)
Comedic Moment
Catlin Caruso-Dobbs & C. Jefferson Grider as Little Red & Wolf in Hello Little Girl (Into the Woods)
Tommie Howie as Action and the Jets in Gee, Officer Krupke (West Side Story)
Abby Bohall, Kathleen Carroll, Liz Martin, Nancy Nichols, Sara Coffey, Jaclyn Loewenstein, and Cara Day for Pick-a-little, Talk-a-little (The Music Man)
Every year the CUTC board recognizes volunteers and others who have given their time and effort to The Champaign Urbana Theatre Company. This year we have a great group that has been awarded the “G” Awards.
The Great Heart Award- for contribution to a project which came from the heart.
Jan Weber
Guiding Light – for volunteering in front of house
Barb and Mandy Wood
Go-Getter – someone willing to do anything behind the scenes
Jamie Gossett
Greasepaint – for volunteer “hands on” efforts backstage
Phil Meadows
Gypsy – for most involved/extra effort chorus member
Ray Essick
Guts & Glory – for unique contribution to the company
Bill Williamson
Glitter – for volunteering with costume assistance
David Robertson
Gifted Giant – for artistic/technical contribution
Jill Lagerstam
Great Scott – for volunteering in Murder Mysteries
Gil Yohnka
Generous Giving – for the Board member who has given above & beyond the call
Diane Pritchard
Golden – for overall contribution to the theatre company
Dr. J. Barry Howell