The Desert Theatre League, the DTL, comprised of 30 amateur and professional theater companies in both the Hi- and Low-Deserts, gave out their DTL Desert Stars Awards at a sold-out Gala dinner and presentation event at Del Webb’s Sun City in Palm Desert Sunday night. The five-hour show saw 111 trophies awarded over 100 categories; 14 of those awards went to Morongo Basin theater companies.
The Hi-Desert Cultural Center took seven awards: Outstanding Production, Cabaret/Revue/Variety, “Mother Dearest”; Andrew Accardi for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama, “The Diviners”; Dawn Davis for Outstanding Supporting actress in a Drama, “The Diviners”; Barry Cutler for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a musical, professional division, for “Little Shop of Horrors”; Analisa Pilecki for Outstanding Lead Female in a Cabaret/Revue/Variety, for “Mother Dearest!”; Ben Bees for Outstanding Lead Male in a Cabaret/Revue/Variety for “Mother Dearest!”; and Jarrod Radnich, Outstanding Lighting Design for “The Diviners.”
Groves Cabin Theater got three nods: Outstanding Production for a one-acts play; Abe Daniels for Outstanding Director of a one act; and Kevin Hayles for Outstanding Lead Actor in a one act, all for their production of “2 Cats, No Dogs.”
Theatre 29 garnered two trophies: Analisa Pilecki for Outstanding Musical Direction; and Ben Bees for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical, both for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.”
The Desert Theater League also gave the prestigious “Bill Kuhlman Award” for theatrical Unsung Heroes to Abe Daniels for his rehabilitation of the Grove’s Cabin Theater and a $1,000 scholarship for Yucca Valley High School graduate Destany “DJ” Briggs.
