Milnerton Players have been nominated for 14 awards at the 2017 Cape Amateur Theatre Awards (CATA).
Last year they received 19 nominations and walked away with eight awards.
The amateur dramatic group’s acting chairperson, Sheila McCormick, said they are excited about the recognition, especially because they only presented three productions in 2017.
“In the early part of the year, we had to do some serious maintenance on the theatre so our first production, the comedy thriller, Let’s Murder Marsha, was only performed in late July. To have each of the productions acknowledged is hugely gratifying,” said Ms McCormick.
The three productions are Let’s Murder Marsha, Art and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
In Let’s Murder Marsha, Marsha Gilmore is a married woman who is obsessed with reading murder mysteries. Beryl Eichenberger has been nominated for the Best Supporting Actress in a Play or Musical for her role as Lynette Thoren.
“As a first time nominee, I am very excited that I have been recognised for the fun part I played. It was a great production with tremendous teamwork which I think underscores all the productions at Milnerton Playhouse,” said Ms Eichenberger.
Ms McCormick said these nominations are all thanks to the professionalism and commitment that is shown by each of the cast and crew members in all the productions.
“Cape Town has a huge bank of talented actors who perform in community theatres around the peninsula. Many in fact do perform professionally so the standard is very high,” she added.
The production Art has been nominated for seven awards including Technical Excellence (Fin McCormick and Wayne Hendricks); Best Set (Barry Altwig); Most Promising Newcomer (Anton Schafer); Best Supporting Actor in a Play or Musical (Werner Steffen); two nominations for Best Lead Actor in a Play or Musical (Martin Kluge and James King); and Best Musical Director; Director of Play or Musical; Play, Musical or Adventurous (Anton Schäfer).
Art is a comedy set in Paris and it raises questions about the meaning of art and friendship, and concerns three long-time friends.
With six nominations is I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. This is a comedy musical as the characters take the audience through the progression of relationships throughout the course of one’s life.
From the first date, marriage, childbearing, divorce and eventually, funerals.
The play has two nominations for Musical Director; Director of a Play or Musical; Play, Musical or Adventurous (Tersia Harley and Sheila McCormick); two nominations for Lead Actor in a Play or Musical (Neil Leachman and Christian Marais); two nominations for Lead Actress in a Play or Musical (Fiona Tanner and Christine Thonissen.
The awards ceremony will take place on Monday March 5.
