ITA Finley Award Winners - 2009

Mon, 25 Jan 2010, 02:04 pm

Melz29 posts in thread

The 35th Annual ITA Finley Awards - Winners.

David Crewes Award for Best Set: “The Young Ones” Stage Left Theatre Troupe Goldfields
Best Costumes : “The Producers” Murray Music and Drama

Brian Maddox Youth Award went to Beth Shaw for Audio Operator for “Spelling Bee” (Playlovers)
Yvonne Lynch Breakthrough Award went to Joshua Haines as pianist for “Oklahoma” (Murray Music and Drama)

Best Other Than Lead Female : Gemma Northover for her role in “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Old Mill Theatre)
Best Other Than Lead Male : Tim How for his role in “Sweeney Todd” (Roleystone)

Best Choreography : Jessica Dunn for “Greenwicks” (University Dramatic Society)
Best Musical Director: Matt Austin for “Sweeney Todd” Roleystone Theatre)

Elizabeth Crewes Front of House Award went to Playlovers
Sheila Buchanan Encouragement Award went to Murray Music & Drama

Best Musical Theatre Performer Male : Scott Burns for his role of Sweeney Todd in “Sweeney Todd” (Roleystone Theatre)
Best Musical Theatre Performer Female : Lindsay McNab for her role as Mrs Lovett in “Sweeney Todd” (Roleystone Theatre)

Best Actor went to Isaak Lim for his role as Tom Ripley in “The Talented Mr Ripley” (Playlovers)
Best Actress went to Jenny McCann for her role as Blanche Dubois in “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Old Mill Theatre)

Best Director of a Musical: Stephen Carr for “Sweeney Todd” (Roleystone)
Best Director: John Milson for “The Talented Mr Ripley” (Playlovers)

Best Musical: “Sweeney Todd” Roleystone Theatre
Runner Up: “Nunsense” Wanneroo Repertory Club
Third Place: “Greenwicks” University Dramatic Society

Best Play: “The Talented Mr Ripley” Playlovers Theatre
Runner Up: “Streetcar Named Desire” Old Mill Theatre
Third Place: “The Shape of Things” Old Mill Theatre

-- someone who has a record of the Adjudicator Certificates may also like to post these to this thread.

Cheers, Melz

Thread (29 posts)

Threaded Flat

MelzMon, 25 Jan 2010, 02:04 pm

The 35th Annual ITA Finley Awards - Winners.

-- someone who has a record of the Adjudicator Certificates may also like to post these to this thread.

Cheers, Melz

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 04:30 pm

Paid Director Awarded Again

Good to see a professionally paid director receive an amateur award again.

LabrugMon, 25 Jan 2010, 04:47 pm

Paid

He wasn't paid for the play he was awarded for. That is the condition.

What, are we to exclude all actors/technicians/directors just because they do some professional work on the side? What, that they get paid to do some of their work, that means the rest of us don't stand a chance? I am about to do some extra work for a TV Mini-series - therefore I can't be a candidate for the Finley's in 2010?

Personally I think it is great that "professional" industry people are still involved in Community Theatre and it should be encouraged. I would love to be paid to do what I love and still get my hands dirty with Community Stuff.

Personally, I am sure that while John may be pleased to have won an award, it is not that big a thing on his horizon. He just likes making good shows.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
SN Profile
Photographer
Community Spirit

MusicalMumMon, 25 Jan 2010, 04:58 pm

Was Mr Milson the only UNPAID Director....

.......who has done/do paid Directing work who directed a community theatre piece this year? I'd be very surprised if there were no other 'professionals' who worked unpaid in community theatre this year. Actually, I know for a fact there other unpaid professionals who did and were eligible for the Finley competition. So if it wounds you so greatly, instead of posting cowardly anonymous snipes on this site, maybe you need to campaign to have all those who have/are working professionally who give of their time and expertise for free to community theatre to be banned. While you're at it, how about those with 'professional training'; for example the very large number of WAAPA, Curtain, UWA trained performers, directors, technicians, stage managers, etc., who may not have ever done a paid gig, but certainly are of professional standard and have been in/worked on many a 'professional' standard show. Hmmmm, whilst we're on a roll, how about those who do co-op shows and may well end up with next to nothing in their pocket? Ban them too? Good luck with that by the way. You could single handedly pretty much decimate the community theatre scene in Perth. Then there'd be no shows (or at least very little worth watching), no ITA and no Finleys to bitch about. And then what would you do with your time?

Walter PlingeMon, 25 Jan 2010, 04:59 pm

Shouldn't be that once they

Shouldn't be that once they earn X amount a year, then they're ineligible? Don't other awards run like that?

David HardieMon, 25 Jan 2010, 07:22 pm

The irony of this is that

The irony of this is that the director concerned has *not* done a lot of paid work in the last few years. Even if there was a threshold of paid work that was not acceptable, then he would probably fit under it.

TaureanMon, 25 Jan 2010, 08:06 pm

Point of interest

All the hoo-haa about "paid/professional" etc is never going to go away.... sorry, but that is a given as long as jealousy features in theatre... but we all know that there is NONE of that in OUR Community...*coff*

Anyway... point of interest.... Has anyone bothered to ask a "Pro" director why they would want to work in community theatre with all it's budgetry constraints, rehearsals missing actors due to kids/work/parties, "quaint" venues, the "I'm sorry ... I can't make it on such & such date....", the knowledge that the people are "volunteers" rather than "professionals" and one cannot blow ones stack at them or they will run home in tears... and all the other problems associated with it?

I have... and the answer took me somewhat by surprise.

It's simply the freedom.

They can do the shows they WANT to do, with the people THEY choose from auditionees, theplays/musicals they ENJOY doing instead of having to bow, scrape, b*tt-kiss and cow-tow to the whims of financiers/producers/megabuck entreprenuers that run professional theatre.

Why do professional people get involved in amatuer shows??

FOR THE LOVE OF IT!!

..... the same reason as you or I....

Don't they deserved to be treated the same?

jeffhansenMon, 25 Jan 2010, 08:17 pm

What rubbish Graeme. I'm

What rubbish Graeme. I'm sure John did it purely for the Finley. :P www.meltheco.org.au

KimberleyMon, 25 Jan 2010, 08:34 pm

For the record

John is retired and certainly would be under any income threshold.

caroleMon, 25 Jan 2010, 08:45 pm

Adjudicators Certificate

Hi Melz - couldn't get there myself as I was performing in Annie in Mandurah on Saturday night, but I do know that Murray Music and Drama Club (Zoe Jay & Eilannin Dhu) got an adjudicators' certificate for the dream ballet sequence in Oklahoma, what the exact wording was I don't know, but that is one of the ones that was awarded. I also heard that a dog got one for Best Other Than Human, which I think is a gorgeous idea! Sorry - that is the end of my usefulness! (Thanks for the list at the start of this thread by the way.) Carole

LabrugMon, 25 Jan 2010, 11:26 pm

Fact is

Even if he had a full-time job as a Public Servant, he'd still be winning...

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
SN Profile
Photographer
Community Spirit

LabrugMon, 25 Jan 2010, 11:32 pm

Other Awards

As far as I am aware, there are no other Community Theatre Awards quite like the Finley's. The others are more restricited or club based... or professional.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
SN Profile
Photographer
Community Spirit

Walter PlingeTue, 26 Jan 2010, 10:00 am

Yes he has - that's what he

Yes he has - that's what he does! He is a professional Director - he has done a couple of non paid shows in the last few years out of the love of it but if you bothered to look at what show John has directed in the last few years you see that the majority were paid, professional gigs, so check your facts before you post!

Robert J WhyteTue, 26 Jan 2010, 10:15 am

Well I don't thin his whole

Well I don't think his whole world stopped because of the Finley's, I figure he wouldn't give two knobs of goat shit if he won or not. More to the point, his show was apparently was very poorly attended, and I wonder how many people apart from the judges saw all the entries last year. Probably no-one, even if you take into account that 4 shows Perth people wouldn't have gone to see because they were in Kalgoorlie,I doubt if they would have seen 10% of them. This is the big problem with the eventual winners, people have no yardstick to compare except the panel. But every year those who haven't seen everything that is entered suddenly become an expert on who or what "should" have won. I mean, do you really want the Finley's to be like a childrens pet show, where everyone has to win a prize? There is no other event in Perth Community Theatre where we all come together as a group, some people end up filling their next years schedules by chatting to people about what they are doing for the following year, I love the fact that I get to see so many people that I don't get to see much of during the year....its not like they have an annual ball or anything...I also think its great to see people dress up for the event too, most of us only see each other in costumes or our slob around rehearsal clothes. So if it makes you feel better to bitch about John Milson, go ahead, because seriously if you asked people in community theatre to tell you who won the Best Play and Musical at the Finley's off the top of their head from ten years ago, I doubt anyone would remember, much less care. It is a subjective, peer assessed Award, the shows were seen, the shows were marked, and Awards given...it is over for another year, Ive already moved on, as most others have. I don't begrudge the award to John, as I said I think he would be happy to have been awarded it, but I doubt he would have given losing a second thought. I myself wonder why John would bother working in community theatre with all the ridiculous nonsense that goes with the territory, but he has worked, and does work, and will more than likely continue to work in Community theatre....regardless of whether you agree with him being eligible to receive the award or not. Regards R.

JoeMcTue, 26 Jan 2010, 10:29 am

Ameater fart 'n bitch fest

Ameater fart 'n bitch fest which may be why I have never been to one?

There again I suppose it must be only just a gong way for warm props to justify thier existance & that of 'Aunty'.

Walter PlingeTue, 26 Jan 2010, 10:50 am

congratulations to everyone

congratulations to everyone who won! :-)

Walter PlingeTue, 26 Jan 2010, 04:32 pm

paid professionals

John Milson gave his time, energy and expertise to the show he directed, purely for the love of doing it, just like everyone else involved in the production. That he gets paid for work that he does elsewhere is entirely irrelevant. That he gets paid for work he does elsewhere does not necessarily mean his shows will be better than any other show nominated for a Finley as your comment seems to suggest. I imagine it is his skill not his fee that make his shows good. I also suspect that he is paid as a director because he is good at it, not the other way round. It is certainly true that John has a formidable body of work from which to draw when approaching a production and perhaps in any competition such as the Finley Awards his work would have certain advantages. However when I cast my eye over the list of winners I see a few names that also have some fairly impressive skills to bring to any production they are involved in. I may be mistaken but isn't Gemma Northover a NIDA trained actor? Doesn't this give her unfair advantage over the other actors who have not had the benefit of such training? Jenny McCann has an extraordinary wealth of experience acquired from some 20 years (sorry Jen) of theatrical pursuits (some of which she was actually paid for) and I doubt you could meet a more professional actor. I would certainly say she has an advantage. But if you're getting hung up over who gets paid and what's not fair I think you are missing the point of community theatre. It is a forum for ANYBODY of ANY skill level and a celebration of the love, love, love of the art. That people of Jenny and Johns calibre are out there doing community theatre can only be good thing so don't begrudge them some acknowledgement. And if you get a chance to work with them or any of the other extraordinarily talented people there are out there doing their thing, you will only benefit by it. And who knows maybe one day when you have built up your skill base someone may even want to pay you. And if they do I hope you are so inclined to share some of your skill and expertise - just for the love of it.

LabrugTue, 26 Jan 2010, 05:08 pm

Nice

"...you are missing the point of community theatre. It is a forum for ANYBODY of ANY skill level and a celebration of the love, love, love of the art."

Well said. That is truely what Community is about.

Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)

Jeff Watkins
SN Profile
Photographer
Community Spirit

Robert J WhyteWed, 27 Jan 2010, 04:21 am

I agree

I wish more people involved would realise that.

MusicalMumWed, 27 Jan 2010, 10:18 am

You're not wrong Robert, why would anyone...

....want to give of their time and expertise to become a convenient target of this petty bitching and moaning? We should be grateful to each and every professionally trained/experienced person who shares their expertise and gives their time to nurture and grow community theatre. Bottom line is that they are instrumental in the high standard that exists. This is an offshoot of tall poppy syndrome at it's worst. And the taller the poppy, the quicker we are to tear them down. I wonder how many Finley recipients (or even nominees) have *never* done a paid gig or have never attended WAAPA, NIDA, UWA, Curtain, etc for training. Apart from our superstar audio young lass, I doubt there would be many. And yet the claws seem only to be out for John. How convenient.

Walter PlingeWed, 27 Jan 2010, 06:28 pm

EEK not this nonsense

EEK not this nonsense again...... next person to complain that some of the winners were involved in professional shows will end up in my crosshairs..... Anyhow many thanks to all involved for what was yet another fantastic night of socialising and watching some of our great city's most passionate artists. Congratulations to all of the winners, particularly Matt Austin who pretty much cleaned up most of the musical categories. Also props to JDM and all in Greenwicks for writing and performing an all original local show that blew everyone socks off. Peace AJS

Walter PlingeWed, 27 Jan 2010, 06:30 pm

att "musical mum" i was the

att "musical mum" i was the Director of Sweeney Todd,i have never gone to uni to "train",and i have never been paid to do anything involved with theatre,(this is my tenth year in the game).so can ya believe that the man in charge of this years best musical,and the best male musical performer did it all for free! so what i do is a hobby,i enjoy giving up my time to do this, and will continue to do it stephen

MusicalMumWed, 27 Jan 2010, 09:13 pm

Not sure what your point is Stephen.....

...but bravo on your wonderful production and well deserved award. You do kind of 'prove' my point in a roundabout way. 10 years of community theatre experience in Perth and you would certainly know how to direct a top quality production. You may not have 'professionally' trained, but a 10 year learning curve undoubtedly would leave you just as skilled as those that have. Maybe even moreso in some instances ;) Hang on....another category of person to be banned...those who have had 'x' or more years of experience....... LOL! Nah, I think your contribution is amazing and stand in awe of anyone who can see past all the nonsense and produce such wonderful work for a decade.

Paul TreasureThu, 28 Jan 2010, 11:34 am

Stephen's point

Your comment earlier "I wonder how many Finley recipients (or even nominees) have *never* done a paid gig or have never attended WAAPA, NIDA, UWA, Curtain, etc for training. Apart from our superstar audio young lass, I doubt there would be many." That's what Stephen was responding to

MusicalMumThu, 28 Jan 2010, 12:20 pm

Yep, I knew that was his point of reference...

...just was a little unclear on the point of his post. I said I doubted there would be Many, not that I doubted there were Any. I understand that he wanted to identify himself as one, but was wondering if there was more to his point than that. Perhaps not.

But again I applaud any person who gives of their time, experience and expertise to community theatre, irrespective of where/how they acquired that experience and expertise. I happen to think that the Perth community should be thanking it's lucky stars that so many who do have formalised 'professional' training and experience are willing to give so much to the community sector; not being petty or snipey or making those people feel unwelcome.

You for example Mr Treasure. I am starting to wonder when/if you ever sleep! (..or eat, or relax for that matter....)

Paul TreasureThu, 28 Jan 2010, 12:33 pm

Sleep

Me only simple jungle princess! What means this word "sleep"?

MusicalMumThu, 28 Jan 2010, 12:36 pm

LOL!

....yes, thought as much... :)

stoogesThu, 28 Jan 2010, 02:23 pm

but he sure can eat love

but he sure can eat ;) love ya pabs

Paul TreasureThu, 28 Jan 2010, 03:46 pm

stumped

Nope... Can't think of a comeback to that one! Well... not one that I would put on a public forum like this ;-)

← Back to Billboard Bulletins