PRESS RELEASE
Supporters, volunteers and patrons of Valley Performing Arts gathered on June 8th to celebrate VPA’s 40th season of providing quality live theatre at the Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at the Machetanz Theatre in Wasilla. Master of Ceremonies, Dave Nufer, kept guests entertained as he introduced the presenters and kept things on track for the evening.
State Representative Shelley Hughes began the evening by presenting a citation from the 29th Alaska State Legislature to Larry Bottjen, VPA’s former Artistic Director, in recognition for his 40+ years of service to Valley Performing Arts and the community.
VPA Members (Season Ticket Holders) elected Janel Gagnon, Elizabeth Hanson and Airel Talon-Keller to the VPA Board of Directors during the meeting. They also selected the following season standouts with the Members’ Choice Awards:
Best Set Design- Suzanne Hermon, On Golden Pond
Best Lighting Design- Rod Mehrtens, On Golden Pond
Best Sound Effects-DJ Rotach, The Hallelujah Girls
Best Costume Design-Mary Martushev, Anne of Avonlea
Best Supporting Actress- Cathy John, “Carlene Travis”, The Hallelujah Girls
Best Supporting Actor-Micah Horning, “Jamie”, Fruitcakes
Best Actor-Kevin Cochran, “Norman Thayer”, On Golden Pond
Best Actress- Tori Hicks, “Suger Lee Thompkins”, The Hallelujah Girls
Best Director- DJ Rotach, The Hallelujah Girls
Best Production- On Golden Pond
VPA’s Board of Directors honored the following dedicated volunteers:
Volunteer of the Year: Tracy Jones
Best Newcomer of the Year: Tori Hicks
Board Appreciation: DJ Rotach
Artistic Director’s Award: Mary Martushev
The Milking Stool Award went to Mathew Firmin for his performance as “Nicky Holroyd” in Bell, Book and Candle.
Thank you to Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Edward Jones Investments, MTA, Mat Valley Federal Credit Union, Wells Fargo, Evangelo’s Restaurant, Khan’s Sushi, Settler’s Bay Lodge, MudBusters Car Wash, and Perk-Up Coffee for their generous donations for great door prizes.
Valley Performing Arts’ Season 41 starts September 11th, 2016 and runs through May 29, 2017 with Harvey, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Elf: The Musical, Boeing, Boeing, Lend Me A Tenor, And Then There Were None, and California Suite.
For season tickets please give our office a call at 373-0195. Individual tickets to each play go on sale in August.
Award winners, in attached picture, from left to right:
Larry Bottjen
Tori Hicks
Mary Martushev
Micah Horning
Tracy Jones
DJ Rotach
Cathy John