Morongo Basin theatrical organizations picked up some of the plum prizes Sunday night at the Desert Theater League’s 30th annual Desert Stars awards ceremony in Palm Desert. In addition to trophies for excelling in individual productions, five special awards were given out for theater excellence. Reporter Sara Snyder opens the envelopes to congratulate our local winners…
Theatre 29 took home two special awards. Theatre 29 president, director and actor Gary Daigneault got the Sydney Harmon Award, for advancement of theatrical excellence both on and off the stage.
Director musical director, and costumer Kathryn Ferguson received the Bill Kuhlman Award for the “Unsung Hero” of theatrical production. Alden West, currently starring in “My Old Lady” at the Grove’s Theater, won the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Jeanette Knight, producer of the Joshua Tree Improv Festival at Hi-Desert Cultural Center got the Michael Grossman Award, in recognition of talent, dedication and devotion to the craft of theater production.
The St. Joseph’s Players of Yucca Valley took home the Desert Star for Outstanding Production – Drama for “A Few Good Men.” Abe Daniels won for Outstanding Lead Actor – Drama, also for “A Few Good Men.”
For “Outstanding Production – Musical,” The Hi-Desert Cultural Center’s production of “Godspell” shared the trophy with College of the Desert’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” The Cultural Center also saw Cooper Gillespie winning in the professional category for a staged reading of “Grounded.”
Analisa Pilecki took home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress – Musical for the Theatre 29 production of Disney’s Mary Poppins.”
