From BG INDEPENDENT NEWS
Actors from Horizon Youth Theatre picked up awards, including a top comic acting honor, at the Ohio Community Theatre Association’s OCTA Fest Jr. this weekend.
Thomas Long received an Outstanding in Comedic Acting for his role in “The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet.”
HYT presented a 40-minute excerpt from the play, which was originally staged in October.
Also at the festival 3B Productions’ “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” was one of two excerpts chosen to be staged at OCTA’s state conference on Labor Day weekend. Several HYT actors performed in the chorus for that show, which was 3B’s annual summer youth production.
“Little Mermaid” received outstanding awards for: Dylan Coale, makeup design; Joe Barton, costume coordinating; Janine Baughman and Tom Montgomery, musical accompaniment; and Sarah Matlow and Will Dupuis, outstanding musical performance. Also, 3B received excellence for: vocal ensemble; Bob Marzola, choreography; Beth Kinney, props; Andrea Maccariella, props; Jesse Bernal, set design; and Noah Halaoui, musical performance.
In addition to Long’s award, HYT won a number of merit awards. Those were: first time director Jeffrey Guion; Wendy Guion, props; ensemble acting; and Anne Weaver and Bob Walters, acting.
The Toledo School for the Arts presented an excerpt from “Little Prince” and received an outstanding for puppet design and excellence for ensemble acting, as well as several merit awards.
The festival, held Saturday in Wadsworth, was about more than competition. As the performers from all over the state waited for the results, they flooded the area in front of the stage and sang along to the show tunes being played over the public address system.
Together they danced and sang tunes from “Les Miserables,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and current smash hit “Hamilton.” All this culminated with a conga line snaking its way through the auditorium.
(Elizabeth Roberts-Zibbel provided information for this story.)
