OpenStage Theatre and Company, a Fort Collins theatre, had a huge night at the Colorado Theatre Guild's 2017 Henry Awards.
The Fort Collins theatre won four Henry Awards from the Colorado Theatre Guild, and won the highest honor of the night, the "Outstanding Season" award. That was the first time the OpenStage Theatre and Company had received the award. OpenStage was nominated for 13 awards and won four -- Best Actor (Steven P. Sickles in La Bete), Best Actress (Sydney Parks Smith in August: Osage County), Best Director (Dulcie Willis for August: Osage County), and Outstanding Season (Open Stage Theatre and Company). [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="19811,19808"] The theatre was up against the Arvada Center, Colorado Springs TheatreWorks, Lone Tree Arts Center, DCPA Theatre Company, and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre for the Outstanding Season award, and beat all of them. Denise Burson Freestone, OpenStage's co-founder and artistic director, said,Receiving the Colorado Henry Award for 'Outstanding Season' is an incredible honor, especially as the other regional nominees included such powerhouses as the Denver Center Theatre Company and the Arvada Center."
Until 2013, theatre companies outside of the Denver metro area were never eligible for the Henry Awards. On Monday, July 17's ceremony, many statewide companies were in attendance.
The Henry Awards recognize outstanding achievements by theatre companies, and the event serves as an annual fundraiser for the Colorado Theatre Guild. The prestigious awards are named after local theatre producer Henry Lowenstein.
Henry Awards split the four design categories -- Sound Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, and Scenic Design -- into two tiers, which is then determined by member companies' annual overall budget.
Tier One: The DCPA, Arvada Center, Creede Repertory Theatre, Theatre Aspen, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and Colorado Springs TheatreWorks
Tier Two: Lone Tree Arts Center, OpenStage Theatre, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Thunder River Theatre Company, PACE Center & Inspire Creative, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre, Miners Alley Playhouse, Bas Bleu Theatre Company, Buntport Theater, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, The Catamounts, BDT Stage, and The Edge Theater Company
If you're interested in the full list of winners for the awards, please click here.
Have you seen a performance at the OpenStage Theatre? What about the other theatre companies? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.