Gala awards event benefits Black Rep’s community programs
By Kenya Vaughn
For the St. Louis American
On Sunday, celebrities from both coasts gathered at the Grandel Theatre for the Woodie Awards, recognizing the best from The Black Rep’s 29th season.
Kingsley Leggs, who currently appears as Mister in the Broadway hit The Color Purple, emceed the star-studded gala. And after his rendition of “So You Want to Meet the Wizard” from The Wiz, there was no doubt that he deserves the role. Local jazz legend Denise Thimes shared the stage with Leggs as mistress of ceremonies.
The ceremony was packed with performances and humor, showcasing the best and brightest from 2005 and offering a sneak preview of Season 30: The Black Pearl. But with the loss of several pioneers in performing arts in the past year, namely Ossie Davis, August Wilson and Katherine Dunham, the Black Rep also made this year’s Woodies a platform to pay tribute.
Kelvin Roston, Jr. kicked the commemoration off with a perfectly recited monologue from Davis’ hit Purlie. Famed Broadway actor and director Kenny Leon shared a touching illustration inside the life and mind of playwright August Wilson while Heather Beal gave a passionate performance from Katherine Dunham’s dance piece entitled “The Spiritual”. Rheaume Crenshaw wowed audiences with her soulful rendition of “Monday Morning Blues” in honor of Black Rep Musical Director Emeritus and Broadway orchestrator Neal Tate. The memorial concluded with Executive Director Rudy Nickens paying homage to Vivian Crane, mother of Black Rep Founder and Producing Director Ron Himes, who passed away earlier this year.
In addition to Leggs, Leon and the award’s namesake, Woodie King Jr., several national celebrities participated in the festivities as presenters. Actress, producer, director, and Broadway veteran, Hattie Winston, who was most recently seen on the primetime series, Becker; stage and screen veteran Ernie Hudson; and Glynn Turman, who appeared in the television series, Touched by an Angel and A Different World were on hand to help celebrate.
It was apparent from the resounding applause and standing ovation from the Dreamgirls snippet that the show was the favorite, but once the awards started being handed out, it became clear just how much subscribers loved the production. Although the familiar favorites received their props, for 2006 plenty of fresh faces were invited to the podium in recognition of their performances.
This year’s winners are:
* Outstanding Actor in a Lead Dramatic Role Male went to Eugene V. Russell IV for his role as Wendal in Before it Hits Home.
* Outstanding Actor in a Lead Musical Role Male went to Jahi Kearse for his role as James Thunder Early in Dreamgirls.
* Outstanding Actor in a Lead Dramatic Role Female went to Starletta DuPois for her role as Reba in Before it Hits Home.
* Outstanding Actor in a Lead Musical Role Female went to Willena Vaughn for her role as Effie in Dreamgirls.
* Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Dramatic Role Male went to A.C. Smith for his role as Bailey in Before it Hits Home.
* Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Dramatic Role Female went to Linda Kennedy for her role as Claire Reid in Relativity.
* Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Musical Role Male went to Drummond Crenshaw for his role as Marty in Dreamgirls.
* Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Musical Role Female went to Malkia Stampley for her role as Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls.
* Outstanding Director went to Ron Himes for his direction of Dreamgirls.
* Outstanding Scenic Designer went to Felix Cochren for Dreamgirls.
* Outstanding Lighting Design went to Kathy Perkins for Dreamgirls.
* Outstanding Costume Design went to Greg Horton for Dreamgirls.
* The Award for Outstanding Production went to Dreamgirls.
* A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Harold Wheeler.
* An Award for Outstanding Educator was presented to Janet Bonner of East St. Louis Public School District #189.
* An award for Outstanding Community Partner was presented to MICDS.
Proceeds from the star-studded gala benefit the company’s Education and Community Programs that serve more than 65,000 people each year.
Corporate sponsors for the 13th Annual Woodie Awards included: Gold Sponsors – Anheuser Busch, Ameren, BJC HealthCare, Emerson, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Monsanto Company and National City Bank; Silver Sponsor – Washington University; and Patron – A.G. Edwards.
For more information about the Black Rep’s upcoming 30th anniversary season entitled Season 30: The Black Pearl, call (314) 534-3807.
