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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

ITA & The Finleys

Wed, 30 Dec 2009, 08:57 pm
Hi Murray Love your input/discussions on various topics as indeed, I love to read other peoples opinions as well. Keep writing folks. May I just make a teeney, weeney comment? The ITA was incorporated in 1984 (I remember it well!) to continue to administer the Drama Festvals that I had run in 1980, 1982 and 1984 and to act as a resource centre for Community Theatre (to assist Community Theatre Groups to access scripts, insurance, actors, props, information etc, to run workshops and to be a united voice for Community Theatre). At that time the Finley Awards were administered (in trust) by the Playhouse. It was a couple/or a few years after 1984 that the Playhouse, due to financial reasons (I believe and someone please correct me if I am wrong) offered to the ITA and the ITA agreed to administer the Finley Awards. The Finley Awards was not "one of the reasons" that the ITA was formed. However, having stated what happened all those years ago - the ITA was the logical choice available to the Playhouse at the time that it wanted to cease adninistration of the Finley's as the ITA was, and still is currently, the only truly established body representing "amateur" theatre gruops in WA. Just a mute point I know, Murray, but an important fact in the history of the ITA. Happy New Year to all. May 2010 be good year for all of you. Cheers for now. Penny

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