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ITA Finley Awards - Sat 23 Jan 2010

Thu, 10 Dec 2009, 10:08 pm
Melz62 posts in thread
2009 ITA Finley Awards

The Independent Theatre Association of WA is proud to present community theatre’s annual achievement awards, in recognition of non-professional theatre’s adjudicated productions for 2009. The 35th Annual ITA Finley Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday January 23, 2010 at the Judith Cottier Theatre, Perth College in Mt Lawley.

The Finley Awards are coordinated by the Independent Theatre Association, which is an umbrella organisation for community theatre in Western Australia. It represents over 60 community or amateur theatres in Western Australia.

Four dedicated ITA adjudicators attend every production entered throughout the year both in metropolitan and regional Western Australia. This year the competition is fierce with 54 productions entered, of those 37 are plays and 17 musicals - a record number of entries. About 10% are from rural clubs.

From humble beginnings in 1975 the Finley Awards have grown into one of the most prestigious events on the community theatre calendar.

Actors, directors, designers and technicians from around the state will attend and celebrate their night of nights. Awards include Best Play, Best Musical, Best Actor/Actress, Best Director, Best Supporting Female/Male, Best Emerging Talent, Best Musical Theatre Performer, Best Vocal Direction, Best Set and Best Costumes.

Finley Co-ordinator Dannielle Ashton says, "It’s going to be an exciting night and great theatrical showcase. This will be the biggest Finley Awards to date."

ITA committee member David Young says “there are lots of patrons of community theatre who aren’t active on stage and they too will be curious to see who takes out the honours”.

Last year’s Finley Award for Best Play was awarded to Deckchairs from Kwinana Theatre Workshop and the Finley Award for Best Musical was awarded to bare, presented by Playlovers in Floreat.

With entertainment from some of the best productions seen in 2009 and an electric atmosphere, if you have ever patronised a community theatre production or have been curious, then don’t miss this night of nights.

Date: Saturday 23 January 2010
Time: Doors 6pm, Awards Ceremony 7pm
Venue: Judith Cottier Theatre, Perth College, 31 Lawley Crs, Mt Lawley
Dress code: Semi Formal
Parking: Perth College Oval, entry off Beaufort St.
Tickets: $25 transaction fee applies
Bookings: TAZ Tix 9255 3366 or book online www.tazentertainment.com.au

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As I understand it....

Tue, 29 Dec 2009, 07:41 am
jmuzz
...having definitely sat in on meetings as a member of the ITA committee a cpl of years back (and no, the rules have not changed since then), if you earn a living as a professionalin any capacity, you can not win a Finley. Example - my girlfriend does casual work as an actor for a training company - she can not be eligible for an acting Finley while that is the case. Rumours about directors being paid? Seriously? Who starts these things? For any director worthy of being paid I can't think of a worse hell than working in an amateur production. Actors who don't learn lines until the last minute, accomodating everyones need to be away "just this one rehearsal".......you'd have to be certifiably nuts...if you were a professional. The only payments to directors would be for out of pocket expenses (purchase of props, etc) which is the company's discretion and perfectly valid. Eliot, normally I'm in sync with you in the "bah, humbug" stakes but I have to differ on this occasion and point out the wise words of Mr Jeffery Hansen a couple of posts back. I say the same thing every year...every year...what's wrong with holding an annual knees up where the different clubs can come together and old friends share a beer together? Forget the damn awards - how about the fellowship? The fact is that the awards are part of the glue that hold the theatre community together and perhaps that sense of community would survive if they disappeared...and perhaps not. I know a great number of people now who I first met at Finley award nights. I thank the ITA for the opportunity. The day the award night gets under say 200 attendees I would agree - do away with it. Given the numbers have increased in recent years I can't see that happening. Seriously guys, it's all about the occasion and the awards are a little less important or controversial when you adopt that attitude. Let's do away with Christmas and just bring the awards forward.
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ITA Finley Awards - Sat 23 Jan 2010— Melz10 Dec 2009
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