Their adaptation of Into The Woods was named ‘best overall musical’ at last Saturday’s gala dinner in Mosgiel, while Marty Newell was named ‘best director’, Natasha Wilson won ‘best vocal direction’, and the musical won best ensemble for Ever After, best set and best wardrobe.
Showbiz was also nominated for best makeup and hair, best property, best lighting and visual augmentation and best choreography, while Ben Wombwell (Cinderella’s Prince) and Pol Nicholson (Rapunzel’s Prince) were both nominated for best supporting male in a musical, and Eve Corbett (The Witch) was up for best leading female in a musical.
Remarkable Theatre’s Take A Chance On Me, staged at Arrowtown’s Athenaeum Hall last September, also received six nominations, including for best overall play, won by Repertory Invercargill’s Mums the Word 2 — Teenagers.
Newell says he’s ‘‘absolutely blown away’’ by Showbiz’s trophy haul.
‘‘It’s great that everybody’s hard work and commitment to it has been recognised — that’s the greatest reward for me, to see with the overall and, especially, the ensemble awards, that everybody got recognised.
‘‘We just had an amazing team that were all on the same page and we just all worked together and we talked to each other when things weren’t going right ... I had a great creative team and I couldn’t have done it without them, it’s that simple.’’
He notes, too, Into The Woods had ‘‘pretty much ... everything thrown at it’’, including having to use temporary venues to rehearse after the lease expired on their former Isle St space, which they shared with Remarkable Theatre, a year ago.
It also meant they had to build the set in a temporary space, while their costumes and other equipment were stored in different council spaces.
‘‘We just had an awesome team who were working together to get it done.
‘‘I’m really proud of what we did last year.’’
Ostas chair Gwyn Stevenson says they were ‘‘incredibly proud’’ to celebrate the remarkable talent and hard work showcased across the South over the past 12 months.
