‘Peter Pan’ flies away with Haven awards

Published 8:49 pm Monday, August 13, 2018

“Peter Pan” was the big winner at the second annual Haven Awards Saturday night with actors, actresses, directors and behind-the-scenes volunteers walking away with trophies for their efforts.

The Brookhaven Little Theatre production swept the categories, earning awards for best actress, supporting actor and actress, rising actor and actress, hair and makeup, lighting and sound effects, costume, set design and director as well as best show of the 50th season.

In between the presentations, the audience was treated to performances from BLTeens and Haven Kids along with the big reveal of the new season.

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It’s no secret that Brookhaven Little Theatre’s first show will be “Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical.” Auditions were held recently and the show is cast. BLT will be the first community theatre in Mississippi to perform the show, which is set in New York City in 1899.

Performances are set for Oct. 4, 6 and 7 and Oct. 11, 13 and 14.

Other shows announced during the reveal party and Haven awards included:

• “Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” with performances Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 14-16;

• “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” with performances April 26—28 and May 3-5;

• “Les Miserables: School Edition” with performances June 27-30,

• “Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Kids,” with performances July 25-26.

Additional events planned for the 51st season are the Brookhaven screening of “Cornbread Cosa Nostra” from director Travis Mills Oct. 25, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Jan. 11 and Brookstock Too July 12.

The season ticket package is available from www.brookhavenlittletheatre.com for $80. The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra tickets can be added to the season ticket package for an additional $20, or purchased separately for $30 a seat.

Donations for the Save the Haven Fund are also accepted through the website, said Troy Douglas, president of the BLT board of directors.

The BLT board is tasked with raising $17,000 to complete the theater’s portion of a grant received from the Mississippi Arts Commission. The grant will be used to  complete the renovations on the Marquee Room. BLT is required to match 20 percent of the MAC grant.

Once finished, the Marquee Room can be used as a dinner theatre area, small performances, comedy shows, rehearsal space and improvisational groups, Douglas said. It can also be used for receptions such as the reveal party Saturday night.

Douglas is looking forward to the new season of shows that BLT is offering.

“It’s a very family-friendly season and I hope the community, and even the region, comes out to help support us,” he said.

The winners and nominees of the second annual Haven Award were:

• Best Leading Actor: Jeff Bryant as Hoke in “Driving Miss Daisy,” Larry Romack as Kris Kringle in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Doug Hoy as Oscar Madison in “The Odd Couple,” Austin Showers as Captain Hook in “Peter Pan,” and the winner, Turner Owens as Danny in “Grease: School Version.”

• Best Leading Actress: LeAnna Maddox as Doris Walker in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Bailey Pounds as Sandy in “Grease: School Version,” Sue Junkin as Daisy in “Driving Miss Daisy,” Pat Young as Daisy in “Driving Miss Daisy” and the winner, MaryRhea Waterloo as Peter Pan in “Peter Pan.”

• Best Supporting Actor: Kris Douglas as Boolie in “Driving Miss Daisy,”  Jesse Carlile as R.H. Macy in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Paden Phillips as Murray in “The Odd Couple,” Connor Cagle as Kenickie in “Grease: School Version” and the winner, Jesse Carlile as Smee in “Peter Pan.”

• Best Supporting Actress: Gracie Gray as Frenchie in “Grease: School Version,” Raven Brent as Shellhammer in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Jeanene Smith as Gwendolyn Pigeon in “The Odd Couple” and the winner, Emmaline Wolfe as Wendy in “Peter Pan.”

• Best Rising Star Actor: Eddie Showers as Starcatcher Lost Boy in “Peter Pan,” Josh Brown as Doody in “Grease: School Version,” Austin Tanksley as Young Simba in “The Lion King Kids” and the winner, Tyler Shann as Twin 2 Lost Boy in “Peter Pan.”

• Best Rising Star Actress: Avery Sellers as Susan Walker in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Lucy Allen as Cha-Cha in “Grease: School Version,” Eleanor Bishop as Timon in “The Lion King Kids” and the winner, Gigi Fitzsimmons as Michael in “Peter Pan.”

• Best Show of the Season: “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Odd Couple,” “Grease: School Version,” “The Lion King Kids” and the winner, “Peter Pan.”

• Best Hair and Makeup: “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Odd Couple Grease: School Version,” “The Lion King Kids” and the winner, “Peter Pan.”

• Best Lighting and Sound Effects: “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Odd Couple,” “Grease: School Version,” “The Lion King Kids” and the winner, “Peter Pan.”

• Best Costumes: “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Odd Couple,” “Grease: School Version,” “The Lion King Kids” and the winner, “Peter Pan.”

• Best Set Design: “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “The Odd Couple,” “Grease: School Version,” “The Lion King Kids” and the winner, “Peter Pan.”

• Best Director: Joanna Sproles for “Driving Miss Daisy,” Celeste Lowery and Sarah Underwood for “Miracle on 34th Street,” Doug Hoy for “The Odd Couple,” Paden Phillips for “Grease: School Version,” Wendi Case for “The Lion King Kids” and the winners, Trey and Emily Waterloo for “Peter Pan.”