Ovation Awards 2010!
On Sunday January 31st, 2010 the 6th Annual Ovation Awards were held at the Vancouver Academy of Music. This yearly awards night is put together by Scott Ashton Swan and APPLAUSE! Musicals in Concert. It celebrates all musical theatre in Vancouver and is the only all-inclusive awards event that the musical theatre community can share. Everything from pantomime to full scale musicals are celebrated.It’s also a chance to reconnect with past Fighting Chance alumni, and the musical theatre community as a whole. This year our General Manager, Theresa Morrison, was invited to present the awards for Outstanding Set and Costume Design.
This year, Fighting Chance was awarded 6 awards in a possible 9 categories.
It was thrilling for us to make such a great showing. On top of that, FCP alumni also took home another two awards for their work on other shows. All in all it was a great night. Below are some quotes from the Fighting Chance winners:
“My body had a totally unnatural reaction to winning. I thought I’d be able to get up there and crack some jokes, say thank you and sit down, but when they called out Rent, I started to shake and choke up. Rent was such an amazing theatrical experience for me, and to have Fighting Chance recognised for our work on the show in this way meant so very much. It was a great end to an experience I won’t soon forget.” – Ryan Mooney, Artistic Director
“I was truly honored to be recognized at the Ovations. I was doubly happy to share Best Supporting Actress with Jacquline. The talent is immense in Vancouver, and to be honored with an award is always fantastic. Thank you to all that voted. This year will be another great year for theater in Vancouver.” – Cathy Wilmot, Actor in Rent and Forbidden Broadway, Supporting Actress Winner for A New Brain
- FCP Alumni Cesar Erba, High School Musical 2’s Shannon Adams, Ovation Winner for tick… tick… BOOM! Brandyn Eddy and Altar Boyz’ Vince Tong
“When I heard my name announced I was STUNNED! I was actually sitting out in the lobby, (1) as it was full in the house, and (2) because I did not expect to win! I was up against some very talented competition, so when Cathy looked at me with this giant smile on her face and said, “get up there” I was still in “holy shit-balls mode”!
To hear the roar of the crowd while walking up the aisle brought me to tears. Fortunately, the walk was long enough that I was able to reign them in before I made it to the stage.
I perform because I love it… pure and simple. I started doing this about 11 years ago to counter-balance my career stresses (I was a cop), and while I never expect to be able to earn an income from performing, I left the policing world and have designed my business around being able to perform. And to know that others appreciate what I bring to the stage is the ultimate affirmation!
FCP Resident Stage Manager Liz Wilton-McMahan and Jenn Suratos, Joanne in Rent
To be able to then sit back and see so many others from the same production that I was in (RENT) also win… well, that was a very proud moment for me! Not only was I ecstatic for my fellow actors and friends, but I was just so proud of EVERYONE in the cast & crew, because I was reminded once again that collectively we really brought to the stage something very special this summer.” – Arne Larsen, Actor in Rent, Winner of Male Gypsy Award
“This year’s Ovation Awards night was a total blast; st
anding room only, packed full of performers, friends, and family. I never thought I’d ever actually win something, though! A million thanks to all; it sure feels good to be appreciated.” – Nick Fontaine, Actor in Rent and Ovation Award Winner for Supporting Male and Male Newcomer
FCP Winners
- Actor in a Musical – Brandyn Eddy, tick… tick… BOOM!
- Supporting Actor in a Musical – Nick Fontaine, Rent
- Supporting Actress in a Musical – Jacqueline Breakwell, Rent
- Gypsy – Male – Arne Larsen, Rent
- Gypsy – Female – Andrew Bailey, Rent
- Community Production – Rent
For a review of the evening and full list of winners check out reviewvancouver.org