Awards season starts to overwhelm from about February when dozens of critic groups start to hand out statuettes for best performances.
Ratings have slumped in some television award shows. After all, how many of the glitterati play a big part in our lives?
However, closer to home, the actors and musicians we nominate could be our family, friends or neighbours.
Just this week two major award ceremonies were celebrated in Edmonton: The 29th Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards for theatrical excellence and the Edmonton Music Awards. And several St. Albert connected artists were lauded for their accomplishments.
The Sterling Awards were hosted by the witty, tongue-in-cheek humour of Garret Ross and Mary Hulbert at the Mayfield Inn on Monday, June 27.
Although the Citadel Theatre was a major recipient scooping up hardware for both Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and West Side Story, Ross, a St. Albert Children’s Theatre alumnus received an award for an Outstanding Fringe Performance in Plain Jane Theatre’s Production of A New Brain.
Ross played the lead role of struggling composer Gordon Schwinn, a nervous man who collapses and must undergo emergency brain surgery.
Last summer’s Gazette Fringe reviewer described his performance as follows:
“The weight of the show falls on Gordon’s shoulders, and actor Garrett Ross delves into every aspect of his character as a quirky, sensitive and weird kind of guy. It’s not easy playing most of the show in a hospital gown, and you can’t help love, empathize and be charmed by this sweet goofball.”
A second Sterling winner was Louise Casemore for her performance in OCD as an Outstanding Fringe New Work. Casemore, a Paul Kane High graduate, wrote and starred in OCD, a comedy drama that explores mental illness. The play was based on Casemore’s own experiences as a teen suffering obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The 6th annual Edmonton Music Awards followed on Tuesday, June 28 at the Winspear Centre with nearly 1,000 people attending the event.
The Royal Foundry, featuring married couple Jared and Bethany Salte, picked up the most trophies as group of the year, single of the year and for music video of the year.
However, St. Albert band The Provincial Archive made quite a respectable showing receiving honours in two categories. The indie-pop trio, led by St. Albert’s Craig Schram and Stephen Tchir, nabbed Album of the Year for their self-titled vinyl and Indie Recording of the Year for their single Bad Connection.
In addition, A/B Trio was presented a trophy for Jazz Recording of the Year What Happens Next. St. Albert’s Thom Bennett (drums) along with Dan Davis (sax) and Josh McHan (double bass) are one of the most in-demand jazz ensembles in the area and are on speed-dial as sidemen for recording sessions.
The ever-hilarious CityTV Dinner Television host Bridget Ryan took on the role of master of ceremonies shepherding the 23 awards handed out.
For a list of nominees visit each respective site at sterlingawards.com and edmontonmusicawards.com.
