As Ruston Community Theatre closes its 48th season, everyone is invited to attend the annual RusTony Awards Celebration! This is a special evening event to celebrate the past season with photo and video slideshows, live performances, and, of course, presenting RusTony awards to some of the outstanding performers chosen by the current RCT season membership. This free
event will take place at the Dixie Center for the Arts, Thursday, August 27, at 6:30 PM. Come join the growing number of theatre-lovers in the area and celebrate another fantastic season.
RCT has had an especially busy year with an added musical in the fall —Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The audience favorite A Christmas Carol, the musical returned for the holidays and with the summer show Guys and Doll make three total musicals. The season also included two plays: The Odd Couple and Murder on the Nile, and two Junior productions: The Stinky Cheese Man
and Willy Wonka, Jr.
Further, the RCT youth council produced its very first Java N Jazz fund-raising event, which received rave reviews from a sold-out crowd. The youth council has also introduced some new merchandise this year, including RCT blankets perfect for when the theatre is tad cool.
As part of the annual celebration, awards will be presented to outstanding performers that were voted on by the membership. Nominations for the awards are made by an anonymous team of people committed to seeing every show and submitting their slates of nominations.
Youth performers who were cast in the two junior productions were not a part of the nomination process this year. Instead, those performers will be eligible for a new junior award, the Rising Star Award. Recipients of the award will be determined by a panel of selected individuals with experience in theater and performing arts who will select performers from each junior show who
displayed exceptional performance in their contribution to the productions.
Congratulations to all who were nominated!
Play Awards
Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role
● Andy Halbrook as “Oscar Madison” in THE ODD COUPLE
● Lindsay Holmes Delo as “Jacqueline De Severac” in MURDER ON THE NILE
● Stephen Vessel as “Felix Ungar” in THE ODD COUPLE
● Stephen Vessel as “Canon Pennefather” in MURDER ON THE NILE
Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Role
● Keith Beard as “Roy” in THE ODD COUPLE
● Joe Brown as “Murray” in THE ODD COUPLE
● Avery Madden as “Louise” in MURDER ON THE NILE
● Logan Stevens as “William Smith” in MURDER ON THE NILE
Outstanding Performer in a Minor Role
● Amy Houck as “Gwendolyn Pigeon” in THE ODD COUPLE
● Logan Poret as “Steward” in MURDER ON THE NILE
● Leah Sloan as “Cecily Pigeon” in THE ODD COUPLE
● Emily Wilson as “1st Beadseller” in MURDER ON THE NILE
Musical Awards
Outstanding Performer in a Leading Musical Role
● Chloë Alexander as “Miss Adelaide” in GUYS AND DOLLS
● Jace Baines as “Rowley Jefferson” in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
● Gabe Garcia as “Sky Masterson” in GUYS AND DOLLS
● Rebekah Heiden as “Sarah Brown” in GUYS AND DOLLS
● Riley Moegle as “Nathan Detroit” in GUYS AND DOLLS
Outstanding Performer in a Supporting Musical Role
● Preston Anderson as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson” in GUYS AND DOLLS
● Ayden Brown as “Big Jule” in GUYS AND DOLLS
● Vaida Carroll as “Chirag Gupta” in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
● Britton Kilpatrick as “Bob Cratchit” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
● Scout Luse as “Patty Farrell” in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
● Ashton Thomas as “Ghost of Christmas Past” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Outstanding Performer in a Minor Musical Role
● Caed Baines as “18-year-old Scrooge” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
● Eli Farris as “Bill Walter / Mr. Winsky” in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
● Eli Farris as “Fred” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
● Jude Hanchey as “Joshie” in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
● Rebekah Heiden as “Mrs. Fezziwig” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
● Gabriel Hibbets as “Joey Biltmore / Liver Lips Louie” in GUYS AND DOLLS
Outstanding Ensemble Member
● Elena Baines as “Ensemble” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
● Charlotte Hanchey as “Cheese Touch Girl / Doll / Joshie Dancer” in THE STINKY
CHEESE MAN
● Teagan LeBlanc as “Ensemble” in GUYS AND DOLLS
● Jari Richardson as “Joshie Dancer / Cheese Touch Girl / Doll” in DIARY OF A WIMPY
KID
● Sandee Sledge as “Ensemble/Mrs. Mops” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
● Levi Stephenson as “Ensemble” in GUYS AND DOLLS
● Kaejha Stewart as “Joshie Dancer / Cheese Touch Girl / Doll” in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
Outstanding Musical Performance
● “Adelaide’s Lament” from GUYS AND DOLLS performed by Chloë Alexander
● “Joshie Says” from DIARY OF A WIMPY KID performed by Jace Baines and Carson
Walker
● “Lights of Long Ago” from A CHRISTMAS CAROL performed by Rileigh Parent and
Ashton Thomas
● “Link by Link” from A CHRISTMAS CAROL performed by Joe Brown
● “Luck Be A Lady” from GUYS AND DOLLS performed by Gabe Garcia
● “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat” from GUYS AND DOLLS performed by Preston
Anderson
● “You’re Changing” from DIARY OF A WIMPY KID performed by Joe Brown
Outstanding Ensemble
● “Animal Heart” from DIARY OF A WIMPY KID performed by Jude Hanchey, Jace
Baines, and company
● “Better Than You” from DIARY OF A WIMPY KID performed by Scout Luse, Carson Walker, and
company
● “Fezziwig’s Annual Christmas Ball” from A CHRISTMAS CAROL performed by
Nathan Richardson, Rebekah Heiden, and Party Guests
● “Havana” from GUYS AND DOLLS performed by Havana Dancers
● “Link by Link” from A CHRISTMAS CAROL performed by Joe Brown and Ghosts
● “Oldest Established” from GUYS AND DOLLS performed by Preston Anderson, Andrew Scruggs,
Eli Farris, and Gamblers
● “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat” from GUYS AND DOLLS performed by Preston Anderson
and company
Special Awards
Newcomer Award
● Claude Baines as “Ensemble” in A CHRISTMAS CAROL
● Keith Beard as “Roy” in THE ODD COUPLE
● Madeline Neal as “Kay Mostyn” in MURDER ON THE NILE
● Logan Poret as “Steward” in MURDER ON THE NILE
● Carson Terry as “Fregley” in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
● Christopher Wondergem as “Ensemble” in GUYS AND DOLLS
In addition to these awards there is also the Helen Thompson Volunteer of the Year Award, the Kevin Cuccia Comedic Award, both of which are selected by the RCT Board, and the Heart of Community Theatre Award, presented to one member from each cast as voted by fellow castmates.
The RusTony Awards Celebration promises to be a memorable evening celebrating another outstanding season. Make plans to attend and relive some highlights from the past season with live performances, photo slideshows, and the presentation of awards! Season memberships for next year will also be on sale before and after the event. Consider becoming an RCT season member to support local performing arts while enjoying quality live entertainment and the benefits of membership, including the opportunity to vote on next year’s winners!
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