Theatre Tuscaloosa Announces Statewide Community Theatre Festival Winners
November 8, 2019 – The Alabama Conference of Theatre announced the winners of the Alabama Community Theatre Festival (ACTFest) 2019-20 on Saturday, Nov. 2, in the Bean-Brown Theatre at Shelton State Community College.
The ACTFest 2019-20 Best of Show winners are South City Theatre’s production of The Gulf and Spark Theater Company’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Both productions will represent Alabama in the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) Community Theatre Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, in February 2020.
Theatre Tuscaloosa’s production of Love, Loss, and What I Wore was named Best of Show Alternate, meaning that if either of the other Best of Show productions are unable to travel to SETC, Theatre Tuscaloosa’s production will take its place. Three of Theatre Tuscaloosa’s performers, Faith Bonitz, Carol DeVelice, and NorQuina Rieves, were recognized with Outstanding Achievement in Acting awards.
Outstanding Achievement in Acting was also awarded to Harvey Lipscomb as “Dodge” and Lauren Norris as “Shelley” in Buried Child (The Actor’s Charitable Theatre); Madison Richards as “She” in An Ongoing Examination of the True Meaning of Life (Auburn Area Community Theatre); Andrew Rasnake as “McDuff” in Macbeth (Self Express Productions); Rachael Pike as “Kendra” in The Gulf (South City Theatre); and John Caleb Davis as “Chip,” Cassidy Ryan as “Rona,” Dawson “Pate” Spencer as “Mr. Panch,” and Riley Turberville as “Olive” in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Spark Theater Company).
Outstanding Achievement in Design was awarded to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Spark Theater Company) and The Gulf (South City Theatre). An Ongoing Examination of the True Meaning of Life (Auburn Area Community Theatre) earned the Spirit of the Road Award for their exceptionally positive attitude backstage.
Josh Kauffman won Best Actor for his portrayal of the title character in Macbeth (Self Express Productions). Autumn Brown won Best Actress for her performance as “Betty” in The Gulf (South City Theatre). Outstanding Achievement in Directing was awarded to both Lisa Ponder, director of The Gulf (South City Theatre), and Caleb Brooks, director of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Spark Theater Company). Outstanding Featured Ensemble was awarded to The Witches (Kendall Wakefield, Angela Proffitt, Casey Kauffman) in Macbeth (Self Express Productions).
ACTFest was hosted for the third consecutive year by Theatre Tuscaloosa and Shelton State Community College. For more information, visit www.theatretusc.com or call 205.391.2277.
