Cast and Crew of Gateway Theatre Guild's Doubt (l-r) Todd McGowan (Father Flynn), Kelly Boegel (Sister James), Brian Cunha (Director), Kristin Shepherd (Sister Aloysius), Angela Umeh (Mrs. Mueller), Kenzie Ten Eyck (Stage Manager). Photo provided.
It was a banner day for Gateway Theatre Guild Sunday, as their production of ‘Doubt’ walked away with two best acting trophies at the Quonta Drama Festival.
The Quonta Drama Festival, which has been called the Tony Awards of the North, or in true Canadian tradition the Stanley Cup of theatre, is a five day competition hosted in a different city each year that brings the northern Ontario's best onstage and offstage theatre talent together to learn, share and celebrate the joy of theatre.
Up against stiff competition from Sault Ste Marie, Gore Bay and Elliot Lake, North Bay’s Kristin Shepherd, Kelly Boegel and Todd McGowan gave strong performances that didn’t escape the adjudicator’s attention as all three were nominated in their categories.
Once again the ladies of the Guild proved they have acting chops with Shepherd winning Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role and Boegel winning Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role.
BayToday congratulates the cast and crew for a job well done.
The Outstanding Production award went to Gore Bay’s ‘The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls’ directed by Walter Maskel.
Gore Bay will now continue on to the Theatre Ontario Festival competition in May.
In all 13 awards were handed out during the annual Quonta Drama Festival Awards Brunch.
They are:
Five Adjudicator's Awards:
1. Award for Best Costumes –'Our Town' by Theatre SMC (St. Mary’s Theatre – Sault Ste. Marie)
2. Award for Special Effects – Chris Covey - 'Sugar Bean Sisters' by Sault Theatre Workshop (Sault Ste. Marie)
3. Award for Best Ensemble - 'Our Town' by Theatre SMC (St. Mary’s Theatre – Sault Ste. Marie)
4. Award for Outstanding Trio – Scarlett Maranger, Sonya Ostrowski-Masotti and Laura Schnablegger - 'Sugar Bean Sisters' by Sault Theatre Workshop (Sault Ste. Marie)
5. Award for Making Magic on stage – Lois Turner -‘Whales of August’ by ELATE (Elliot Lake)
Outstanding Visual Presentation: ‘The Attic, the Pearls, and Three Fine Girls’ by Gore Bay Theatre
Outstanding Technical Achievement: ‘Our Town’ by Theatre SMC (St. Mary’s Theatre – Sault Ste. Marie) for Sound Design
Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role: Murray Finn – ‘Whales of August’ by ELATE (Elliot Lake)
Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role: Kelly Boegel – ‘Doubt’ by Gateway Theatre Guild
Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Vernon Bailey – ‘Our Town’ by Theatre SMC (Todd McGowan from Doubt was nominated)
Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role: Kristin Shepherd – ‘Doubt’ by Gateway Theatre Guild
Outstanding Director: Walter Maskel – ‘The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls’ by Gore Bay
Outstanding Production: Walter Maskel – ‘The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls’ by Gore Bay
