The Uwharrie Players
Home History 2012 Season News

 

Uwharrie Players 2011 Awards

    The 25th Annual Awards Banquet was held in the Magnolia Room January 28, 2012 with a wonderful buffet created by Chef Tim of SMRC.  The 2012 President Charlotte Maness kicked off the evening's celebration by introducing the first of 3 Co-Master's of Ceremonies Gary Moran who was the MC at the first UP Banquet 25 years ago!  The audience was entertained by several video presentations assembled by James Cotton from productions and banquets from the last 25 years including "Where It All Began...", "Remembering the Fun..." and Making New Memories...".  
    The next Co-Master of Ceremonies Charlie Sistare was the 2011 winner of the Metrolina Theatre Association Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in last summers UP Production of "All Shook Up".  Current Board Chairman Rod Almond Presided over the final segment of award presentations and closed the celebration with his own amazing musical composition recounting every play performed over the last 38 years!  The audience was excited and surprised by a flash mob singing "Can't Help Falling in Love..." from "All Shook Up" during the "Making New Memories..." video segment. 
   

DD - Dearly Departed, Spring 2011
ASU - All Shook Up, Summer 2011
HCC - A High Country Christmas, December 2011
WOW - War of the Worlds Radio Show, October 2011

Awards by Category:

Favorite Newcomer: TIE: Audrey Barringer and Clinton Long
Favorite Adult Ensemble Member: Dustin Gurganus (ASU)
Favorite Radio Show Performance: Shawn van Wallendael
Favorite Juvenile Performance: TIE: Zoe Morris (HCC) and Suzannah Sistare (ASU)
Samuel R. Holshouser Award: Harriet Brooks
Favorite Musical Performance Male: Nick Culp (ASU)
Favorite Musical Performance Female: Staley Story (ASU)
Favorite Comic Performance Male: TIE: Charlie Sistare (ASU) and Johnathan Ewart (ASU)
Favorite Comic Performance Female: Natasha Wall (ASU)
Joan M. Giglio Award: Gilbert Umberger
Favorite Character Actor: Johnathan Ewart (ASU)
Favorite Character Actress: Nancy Cottingham (ASU)
Best Supporting Actor: Nick Culp (ASU)
Best Supporting Actress: Natasha Wall (ASU)
Best Actor: Clinton Long (ASU)
Best Actress: Staley Story (ASU)
Favorite Show: All Shook Up directed by Jack Stevenson, Choreography by Eddie Mabry, Music by Angela Moore
 

   The 2012 UP Board of Directors was introduced to the audience:
Chairman: Rod Almond
President: Charlotte Maness
President Elect: Marty Medlin
Secretary: Paula Morris
Treasurer: Patti Furr
Working Members: Wayne Brooks, Bob Baker, Billy Clayton, Alesia Gurganus, Jeff Hamilton, Carol Hearne, Brian Jones, James Phillips, Mark Stephenson

 

 

 


 

Uwharrie Players Take Home 6 awards from the 2011 Metrolina Theatre Awards

(Charlotte, North Carolina) – The Metrolina Theatre Association, representing more than 60 organizations, along with hundreds of theatrical artists, directors, and producers in the Charlotte region, held their 8th Annual Metrolina Theatre Awards 2011 recognizing excellence in theatre on October 9 at the Omni Charlotte Hotel (132 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202). The audience and nominees enjoyed a reception from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., with complimentary hors d'oeuvre and a cash bar. The main event began at 7:00 p.m. celebrating excellence in theatre for the 2010-2011 season. Just under 500 people attended the 2011 awards event.

The Metrolina Theatre Awards recognize outstanding performances and creative elements in 8 categories - Drama, Comedy, Musical, Regional–North, Regional–South, College/University, and Special Event. This year, there will be close to 100 recipients. The Metrolina Theatre Association organizes more than 80 peer nominators; this year, MTA nominators attended 105 adjudicated shows, submitting thousands of nominations. They then complete a preliminary ballot to select the award nominees. The final vote is certified by an independent accountant, and winners are announced at the awards ceremony.

The Uwharrie Players submitted 2 productions for adjudication this year.  The spring production of "Dearly Departed" took a comical look at how a poor southern family deals with death.  The summer production of "All Shook Up" was a rollicking musical story of multiple complicated love triangles resolving in 4 weddings.

The Uwharrie Players are proud to announce capture of six the coveted awards this year, all resulting from the Summer 2011 production of All Shook Up.

Outstanding Production
All Shook Up - Uwharrie Players

Outstanding Lead Actor-Female
Staley Story (Natalie) - All Shook Up - Uwharrie Players

Outstanding Supporting Actor-Male
Charlie Sistare (Jim) - All Shook Up - Uwharrie Players

Outstanding Supporting Actor-Female
Natasha Wall (Sylvia) - All Shook Up - Uwharrie Players

Outstanding Direction
Jack Stevenson - All Shook Up - Uwharrie Players

Outstanding Lighting Design
Rose Goodrich and Lena Olson - All Shook Up - Uwharrie Players

 

 


 

The 2010-2011 Season Awards Banquet

    The Uwharrie Players held its 24th annual awards banquet on Saturday, March 26 at the Dennis Vineyards Special Events Center. The emcee for the evening was Charlie Sistare, who entertained the audience before turning the evening duties over to the special celebrity guests from daytime television:  Dr. Mehmet Oz (Dustin Gurganus), Dr. Phil McGraw (Gilbert Umberger), Ellen DeGeneres (Lisa Ewers), Paula Deen (Charlotte Maness) and Oprah Winfrey (Natasha Wall).

The skit can be viewed courtesy of the Stanly News and Press:
http://thesnaponline.com/video/x1281096227/Uwharrie-Players-Awards-Banquet
(this link may become inactive without notice)

 



The 2010-2011 season Award Winners

Favorite Juvenile New-comer — Emma Furr;
Favorite Adult Newcomer — Jeff Morris;
Favorite Juvenile Ensemble Member —  Donovan Gurganus (Annie);
Favorite Adult Ensemble Member — Paula Morris (Annie);
Favorite Radio Show Performance Male —  Gilbert Umberger;
Favorite Radio Show Performance Female — Rachel Moon;
Favorite Female Musical Performance — Emily Morris for "Maybe" in Annie;
Favorite Male Musical Performer —  Charlie Sistare for "You're Never Really Dressed without a Smile" in Annie;
Favorite Female Comic Performance — Staley Story;
Favorite Male Comic Performance — Jeff Morris;
Favorite Character Actress — Colleen Conroy(Don't Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell) ;
Favorite Character Actor — a tie this year: Steve Coats (Don't Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell) and Charlie Sistare (Annie);
Best Supporting Actress --- Staley Story (Annie);
Best Supporting Actor —  Christian Payne (Don't Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell);
Best Supporting Actress —  a tie this year: Emily Morris (Annie) and Laura Wheeler (Annie);
Best Actor — Michael Furr (Annie).
Favorite Show — “Annie.”
Michael Furr was inducted into the UP Hall of Fame by votes from the UP members.
The Joan Giglio Award was presented to Wayne Brooks for his contributions to the UP. 

The Sam Holshouser Award was awarded to Kelly Baker (reported as Bob Baker in the SNAP)

UP President Betsy Furr gave the SNAP a view of  Uwharrie Players season lineup for the summer, fall and winter of 2011.

The season will comprise of the following plays, musical and radio show.
“Dearly Departed” will be presented May 7-8 and 13-15 at Albemarle High School Auditorium.
“All Shook Up” will be presented  July 22-24 and 29-31 at the
Stanly County Agri-Civic Center.
The Orson Welles classic radio play, “The War of The Worlds,” will debut as the UP’s Radio Show fundraiser Oct 29-30.
Robert Inman’s play,  “A High Country Christmas,” Dec. 2-4 and 9-11.

 


 

UP Board Approves Return to Calendar Year Season

May 10, 2010 - The Uwharrie Players Board of Directors approved the return to the 'Calendar Year' season.  The decision was made after weighing the pros and cons of the current May to April season that was created when the Players joined the Metrolina Theatre Association in 2008. 
The board voted May 10th to transition back to the Calendar Year season by producing one additional show in 2011 (bringing the total to 4 productions not including the radio show).  This allows us to offer a 3 show season ticket to our patrons and simplify the transition back to a calendar year.  The final show of the 2010-2011 season will likely be in March 2011, and the first show of the 2011 season will be in April or May of 2011.  The Play Selection Committee is already examining candidate shows to produce in the 2011 season.

 

2009-10 Season Award Winners

The 2009-10 Uwharrie Players 23rd Annual Awards Banquet was celebrated in the fellowship hall of the First Baptist Church of Albemarle on April 24th at 6pm.  The following people were recognized for their efforts in 2009-10 season:
 

Front Row--Left to Right
Mark Stephenson (Best Actor--Of Mice and Men, Sweeney Todd, & Sound of Music and Favorite Male Musical Performance "Edelweiss"--Sound of Music)
Rod Almond (Favorite Male Comic Performance--Sound of Music)
Dustin Gurganus (Favorite Juvenile Newcomer--Sound of Music)
Christian Payne (Favorite Male Radio Show Performance--A Christmas Story)
Charlie Sistare (Favorite Character Actor--Sound of Music)
Marty Medlin (Best Supporting Actor--Sweeney Todd)
Edna Lipe-Harkey (Favorite Character Actress--Sweeney Todd)
Lena Olson (The Sam Holshouser Award)

Second Row--Left to Right
Kelly Almond (The Joan Giglio Award)
Maddie Medlin (Best Supporting Actress--Steel Magnolias)
Christine Barringer (Favorite Female Radio Show Performance--A Christmas Story)
Angela Moore (Favorite Featured Performance--Sound of Music)
Harriet Brooks (Hall of Fame Inductee 2009-2010)
Christy Hinkelman (Best Actress--Sweeney Todd; Favorite Female Music Performance "Worst Pies in London"--Sweeney Todd)
Caroline Firczak (accepting for Jack Stevenson--Director Favorite Show:  The Sound of Music)

Not Pictured:
Charlotte Maness
(Favorite Adult Newcommer and Favorite Female Comic Performance)
Joe Giglio (Hall of Fame Inductee)

      AWARDS BY CATEGORY:

   Favorite Juvenile Newcomer:   Dustin Gurganus
   Favorite Adult Newcomer:     Charlotte Maness  
   Favorite Adult Featured Performance: Angela Moore
   Favorite Radio Show Performance Male: Christian Payne
   Favorite Radio Show Performance Female: Christine Barringer
   Favorite Female Musical Performance: Christy Hinkelman - "Worst Pies in London - Sweeney Todd  
   Favorite Male Musical Performance:  Mark Stephenson - Edelweiss- Sound of Music
   Joan Giglio Award:  Kelly Almond
   Favorite Female Comic Performance: Charlotte Maness - Steel Magnolias 
   Favorite Male Comic Performance:   Rod Almond - Sound of Music 
   Samuel R. Holshouser Award: Lena Olson 
   Favorite Character Actress:  Edna LIpe-Harkey
   Favorite Character Actor:    Charlie Sistare
   Best Supporting Actress:   Maddie Medlin 
   Best Supporting Actor:     Marty Medlin 
   Best Actress: Christy Hinkelman in Sweeny Todd 
   Best Actor: Mark Stephenson 
   Favorite Show:  The Sound of Music
   Hall of Fame: Joe Giglio and Harriett Brooks  

 

 

 

 

The 2008 Uwharrie Player Award Winners

   The 2008 Uwharrie Players 22nd Annual Awards Banquet was celebrated at Stanly Community College January 24th at 6PM.  The following people were recognized for their effort in 2008 season:

   Favorite Juvenile Newcommer:   Brandon Hearne and Samantha Blue tied for the honor
   Favorite Adult Newcommer:      Ginger Haston
   Favorite Juvenile Featured Performance:   Morgan Smet
   Favorite Adult Featured Performance:  Madison Story
   Favorite Female Musical Performance:   Natasha Wall
   Favorite Male Musical Performance:   Nick Culp
   Joan Giglio Award:  Mary Lisa Grahm
   Favorite Female Comic Performance:  Laura Wheeler
   Favorite Male Comic Performance:     Noah Melton
   Samuel R. Holshouser Award:   Lena Olson
   Favorite Character Actress:  Susan Sharples in To Kill a Mockingbird
   Favorite Character Actor:     Mark Stephenson in To Kill a Mockingbird
   Best Supporting Actress:     Natasha Wall
   Best Supporting Actor:        Nick Culp
   Best Actress:  Mary Lisa Grahm in Children of Eden
   Best Actor: Russ Sharples in To Kill a Mockingbird
   Favorite Show:  Children of Eden
   Radio Show MVP (Voted by Radio Show Cast): James Cotton

 

 
 
 
___________________________________________________________
 

Uwharrie Players 21st Annual Awards Banquet

January 26, 2008

    The Uwharrie Players presented awards in the Magnolia Room of Stanly Regional Medical Center Education wing after another wonderful banquet prepared by Chef Tim.  The Ceremonies were opened with a welcome from incoming president and banquet organizer Don Burris.  Masters of Ceremonies Johnny Almond and Madison Story entertained the crowd between presentations with their wacky interpretations of 'plays that the Uwharrie Players should do'.  The presentations were preceded with a slide/music show of snapshots from the 2007 season prepared by Betsy Furr followed by the Humorous Awards.  The audience was entertained by Edna Lipe-Harkey and her reprise performance of 'Beauty and the Beast' and the cast of 'A Grand Night for Singing' accompanied on the piano by the shows director Martha Chapman.

    The winners are:

Favorite Newcomer: Tom Wallace (the Beast in Beauty and the Beast)
Favorite Featured Performance: Madison Story for Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Female Musical Performance: Edna Lipe-Harkey for 'Beauty and the Beast'
Favorite Male Musical Performance: Tom Wallace for 'If I Can't Love Her' from Beauty and the Beast
Joan Giglio Award: Linda Clontz (Board Member, Secretary, Ticket Sales, Promotions, and more!)
Favorite Male Comedy Performance: Hal Houston as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast  
Favorite Female Comedy Performance: Betsy Furr as Babette in Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Character Actress: Jordi Coats in Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Character Actor: Nick Culp in Beauty and the Beast
Samuel R. Holshouser Award: Kent Harkey for his effort in making 2007 a great season
Best Supporting Actress: Edna Lipe-Harkey as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast
Best Supporting Actor: Michael Furr in The Boys Next Door
Best Actress: Christine Plough as Beauty in Beauty and the Beast
Best Actor: Tom Wallace as Beast in Beauty and the Beast

    There were not enough votes this year to induct another member into the Uwharrie Players Hall of Fame.


Uwharrie Players, Inc. 20th Awards Banquet
in the Magnolia Room

Awards Presented:

Sam Holshouser Award - Patti Furr
Joan Giglio Award - Linda Klontz and Edna Lipe Harkey (tie)
Uwharrie Players Hall of Fame - Kent Harkey
Favorite Newcomer - Natasha Wall - Blessed Assurance
Favorite Featured Performance - Betsy Furr - King and I
Favorite Male Musical Performance - Johnny Almond - "We Kiss in a Shadow"
Favorite Female Musical Performance - M. L. Grahm - "Getting to Know You!"
Favorite Male Comic Performance - Reed Furr - Crossroads
Favorite Female Comic Performance - Colleen Jones - Crossroads
Favorite Character Actor - Red Davies
Best Supporting Actor - Daniel Whitley - The King and I
Best Supporting Actress - Sharon Mace - Crossroads
Best Actor - Michael Furr - The King and I
Best Actress - M. L. Grahm - The King and I
Favorite Show - The King and I - Director John Stafford
Favorite Juvinal Featured Performance - Madilyn Furr - The King and I



January 28, 2006 - Uwharrie Players celebrate with annual awards night

Front row, left to right, are: Susan Sharples, Patti Furr, Harriet Brooks, Mady Medlin, Betsy Furr, Michael Furr; back row: Clay Weemhoff, Edna Lipe-Harkey, Gary Moran, Darlene Stibal, Kent Harkey, an The Uwharrie Players recently held their 19th annual Awards Night Celebration at the Stanly County Senior Center in Albemarle.

    The local community theater group, which is starting its 31st season, began this special event in 1988 as a way to celebrate and recognize the past season’s efforts and accomplishments.

    Following a delicious meal catered by Patricia Horner, Gary Moran returned from a four year hiatus to assume his familiar role as Master of Ceremonies for the festivities. Local DJ (and current Uwharrie Player member) Marty Medlin provided entertainment for the evening with his own version of the popular TV show “Whose Line is it Anyway”. 

    Of course, the highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards for the 2005 Uwharrie Players’ season. The following people were winners:

Favorite Newcomer - Richard Forrest.
Favorite Featured Performance - Maddie Medlin.
Favorite Male Musical Performance - Michael Furr.
Favorite Female Musical Performance - Betsy Furr.
Favorite Male Comic Performance - Kent Harkey.
Favorite Female Comic Performance - Edna Lipe-Harkey.
Favorite Character Actor - Clay Weemhoff.
Favorite Character Actress - Madison Story.
Best Supporting Actor - Michael Furr.
Best Supporting Actress - Staley Story.
Best Actor - Gary Moran.
Best Actress - Betsy Furr.
Favorite Show - “South Pacific”.

    The Joan Giglio Award, given each year to the Player board member who has made the greatest contributions to the efforts of the UP Board, was given to Patti Furr and Susan Sharples.  The Sam Holshouser Award, which goes to the person working the hardest behind the scenes to make the past seasons’ productions successful, was given to Harriet Brooks and Darlene Stibal.  

    Incoming Players’ president, Tom Horner, coordinated this year’s awards banquet. Decorations were provided by Edna Lipe-Harkey with assistance from Kent Harkey, Patti and Reed Furr, Betsy Furr and Susan Sharples.



February 25th, 2005 - The 2005 Annual Awards Banquet

 was held at Oakboro Music Hall with Master of Ceremonies Phillip Taylor entertaining the attendees between presentations.  The Uwharrie Players are pleased to announce the 2005 award winners:

   The UP Awards winners are:
Favorite Featured Performance: Emily Sharples
Favorite Female Character Performance: Susan Sharples
Favorite Male Character Performance: Russ Sharples
Favorite Supporting Musical Performance: Reed Furr
The Joan Giglio Award: Rod Almond
Favorite Newcomer: Susan Sharples
Favorite Juvenile Performance: Naaman Story
Favorite Male Comic Performance: Buddy Osborne 
Favorite Female Comedy Performance: Madison Story
Best Supporting Actress: Staley Story
Best Supporting Actor: Todd Furr in Joseph
Best Actress: Ginny Hinson
Best Actor: Michael Furr
Samuel R. Holshouser Award: shared by:
Edna Lipe-Harkey and Susan Sharples
Best Show: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Directed by Blair Johnson
Hall of Fame Inductee: Edna Lipe-Harkey


January 29th, 2005 - Tim Shires, President of the Uwharrie Players Inc. Announced the postponement of the annual awards banquet scheduled for tonight in Oakboro due to inclement weather and the forecast freezing rain.  The Annual Awards Banquet has been rescheduled for Friday, February 25th. 

Jan 4, 2005 - The Uwharrie Players were unable to secure the rights for Nunsense in 2005, and have elected to present Nunsense II instead. 
    The players elected a new Board of Trustees for 2005 with Tim Shires as the president and Tom Horner as President Elect for 2006.  Also elected are Colleen Jones as Treasurer and Susan Sharples as Secretary.  New Board members include Stephanie Brown (replacing James Cotton), Patti Furr (replacing Susan Talbert), and Tim Harris (replacing Buddy Osborne).  Reed Furr is rotating off of the board and will not be replaced.
    The revised Constitution and Bylaws were voted in at the January 4th General meeting.  
    The Annual Awards Banquet will be held January 29th, 2005 at the Oakboro Music Hall.  Suggested dress for the event will be semi-formal or a T-shirt from our of our prior production over the last 30 years!


June 13, 2004 - John Hartness of Barbizon Lighting Company (704-372-2215/984-7308) provided excellent instruction for a small group of Uwharrie Player lighting students in the control booth at the Agri-Civic Center.  The topics covered included the use and programming of the new light board, gel and gobo selection, lighting instruments design and use, as well as recommendations for future upgrades to the equipment.  The class also touched on the subject of communicating ideas with the other members of the production team, and handling difficult lighting requests.  The information provided was well worth the cost of this one day seminar.  Each participant received a Roscolux gel sample pack, and a Barbizon products and services guide. 


May 24, 2004 - We are pleased to announce that the Directors have been selected for the Summer and Fall productions.  
    Blair Johnson will bring her extensive background in dance and theater to the Summer Production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat as Director.  John Stafford will be returning to the Uwharrie Players as the Music Director for this production.
    The Fall production of Ramona Quimby will be directed by long time member and current Chairwoman Kelly Story.
    We are currently looking for volunteers to help on the various committees required to make the summer production a fantasitc show!  If you think that you can be of assistance, and don't know how to get involved, send an Email to Darlene Stibal: President@UwharriePlayers.Org .


January 24, 2004 - The Uwharrie Players Awards Banquet was quite a success this year!  The Uwharrie Players provided three whole turkeys with gravy, Honey Baked Spiral Cut Ham, and drinks and the attendee's each provided a dish.  Incoming president Darlene Stibal received enthusiastic approval applause when she asked for feedback on the new arrangements. 
     The traditional skit was performed by Madison, Staley and Naaman Story featuring examples of what happens to people who are Uwharrie Players for too many years.   They followed with presentations of humorous awards (another tradition) for dubious achievements that are better not mentioned here, but are one of the many reasons that we all love live theater!

   The UP Awards winners are:
Favorite Featured Performance:  Anna C. Harkey
Favorite Female Character Performance: Edna Harkey
Favorite Male Character Performance: a tie going to
both: Kent Harkey and Tom Horner
Favorite Female Musical Performance: Amy Hoffner - You Can't Get a Man with a Gun
Favorite Male Musical Performance: Noah Melton - The Girl that I Married
The Joan Giglio Award: Martha Chapman
Favorite Newcomer: Mary Scott Tom
Favorite Juvenile Performance: Truman Furr
Favorite Male Comedy Performance: Rod Almond
Favorite Female Comedy Performance: Emily Sharples
Best Supporting Actress: Emily Sharples
Best Supporting Actor: Scott Eury
Best Actress: Amy Hoffman
Best Actor: Buddy Osborne
Samuel R. Holshouser Award: a tie going to both
Dr. Darlene Stibal and Kelly Forrest Story
Best Show: Annie Get your Gun

   There were not enough votes to induct anyone into the UP Hall of Fame this year.


January 24, 2003 - The Uwharrie Players will celebrate their Annual Awards Banquet in the Eli's beginning at 6:30.  This year the players will provide roasted turkey and drinks, with the members bringing a side dish and/or desert to share.  You can renew your membership for next year before the awards ceremony at 7:30. 


October 29, 2003 - Uwharrie Players first official web page is available online just in time for the opening of The Diary of Anne Frank.  The visitors web page will provide in depth coverage of upcoming Uwharrie Players productions, and the members page will coordinate and connect the members to a more timely source of information about their organization.


July 2003 - James Cotton to direct The Diary of Anne Frank.  The Uwharrie Players are pleased to announce that James Cotton has been selected as the director and set designer for the November production.   Auditions will be held August 23, 24, and 25.