'Mr. Green', 'Honk!', 'Chicago' best on stage

Advertiser Staff

Manoa Valley Theatre's production of "Visiting Mr. Green" was named best overall play, while Manoa's "Honk!" and Diamond Head Theatre's "Chicago" shared top honors for best musical at the Po'okela Awards ceremony last night.

The awards recognized the best of Island stage productions at 11 venues on O'ahu. The ceremony was held at Ko'olau Golf Club in Kane'ohe.

Corin Overland of the Punahou School Theatre Department shared a three-way award for best musical director, for Punahou's production of "Les Miserables." It was the first time a high school had been on the final ballot.

In addition, Punahou's Paul D. Palmore ("Stand and Deliver") shared the sound design award with Jason Taglianetti ("A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline") of Manoa Valley Theatre.

Advertiser columnist Lee Cataluna ("You Somebody," DHT) and Nancy Moss ("Anna," The Actors' Group) shared the award for original script.

The Pierre Bowman Award was given to Richard Aadland.

List of winners

Leading Male in Play: Glenn Cannon, "Visiting Mr. Green" (MVT)

Leading Female in a Play: Annie MacLachlan, "Sea Marks" (HPU); and Jo Pruden, "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All to You" (TAG)

Leading Male in a Musical: Kevin W. Yamada, "Honk!" (MVT).

Leading Female in a Musical: Cathy Foy, "Follies" (DHT).

Featured Male in a Play: Randl Ask, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (DHT)

Featured Female in a Play: Eden-Lee Murray, "The Actor's Nightmare" (TAG)

Featured Male in a Musical: Larry Bialock, "Chicago" (DHT), and J. Calderone, "Chicago" (DHT)

Featured Female in a Musical: Wisa D'Orso, "Follies" (DHT)

Choreography: John Rampage, "Follies" (DHT), and Andrew Sakaguchi, "Chicago" (DHT)

Director of a Play: Dennis Proulx, "K2" (TAG); Scott Rogers, "Visiting Mr. Green" (MVT); Vanita Rae Smith, "Cripple of Inishmaan" (MVT)

Director of a Musical: John Rampage, "Follies" (DHT)

Musical Director: Corin Overland, "Les Miserables" (PUN); Alethea Train, "Beehive" (MVT); Donald Yap, "Follies" (DHT)

Set Design: Henry Deardorf and Paul Guncheon, "The Weir" (TAG), and Dennis Proulx, "K2" (TAG)

Costume Design: Athena Espania, "Honk!" (MVT), and Karen Wolfe, "Follies" (DHT)

Lighting Design: Lloyd S. Riford III, "Honk!" (MVT)

Sound Design: Paul D. Palmore, "Stand and Deliver" (PUN), and Jason Taglianetti, "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline" (MVT)

Non-Resident Guest Artist: Isabelle Decauwert, Actor, "Romance Romance" (DHT)

Ensemble: "The Weir" (TAG)

Original Script: Lee Cataluna, "You Somebody" (DHT), and Nancy Moss, "Anna" (TAG)

Original Music Score: Keola Beamer, "You Somebody" (DHT), and Roslyn Catraccia, "Once Upon One Kapakahi Time" (OHIA)

Special Excellence Award: "Barbershop" (ACT)

Overall Musical: "Chicago" (DHT), and "Honk!" (MVT)

Overall Play: "Visiting Mr. Green" (MVT)

Theater Codes: ACT: Army Community Theatre; APAC: Aloha Performing Arts Company; DHT: Diamond Head Theatre; HPU: Hawai'i Pacific University; J-M: Jon-Miro Productions; MVT: Manoa Valley Theatre; OHIA: 'Ohi'a Productions; PAL: Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College; PUN: Punahou School Theatre Department; TAG: The Actors' Group; UH: University of Hawai'i-Manoa.