The Sammys
the best of Rice theater
Ever since 1980, the Thresher arts and entertainment editors have assembled an annual list of campus theater’s superlative performances, both in the limelight and behind the scenes. From this ballot, volunteers from Rice’s group of actors, directors, production crews and theater enthusiasts vote to bestow the Sammy Awards — the best of the best from this year’s campus productions.
The ballot divides into three categories: spoken performance, musical performance and production. In the case of close races, runners-up are listed, as are popular write-in nominees.
The Sammy Awards also feature an award for this year’s graduates who have made significant contributions to campus theater programs during their time as students. Recipients are nominated by students who have worked closely with them for the past few years.
And now, without further ado, the 2006 Sammy Awards: spoken
performance
best production, full length.
nominees
■ Cymbeline (Baker)
■ Closer (Jones)
■ Design for Living (Players)
winner
■ Midsummer Night’s Dream (Brown)
best production, shorts.
nominees
■ “The Whole Shebang”
Freshman One Acts (Wiess)
■ “The Morpheus Quartet”
Freshman One Acts (Wiess)
■ “Moaning,” The Vagina Monologues
(Women’s Resource Center)
winner
■ “The Flood,” The Vagina Monologues
(Women’s Resource Center)
best director
nominees
■ Malcolm Eckel, Foreigner (Wiess)
■ Ben Burford, Aunt Dan and Lemon (Players)
winner
■ Ben Burford, Midsummer
Night’s Dream (Brown)
best actor
nominees
■ Nathan Bledsoe, Matthew Harrison Brady
Inherit the Wind (Lovett)
■ Michael Curtis, God, “The Whole Shebang”
(Freshman One Acts, Wiess)
runner-up
■ Chris Turner, Iachimo, Cymbeline (Baker)
winner
■ Trevor Pittinger, Larry, Closer (Jones)
best actress
nominees
■ Michelle Moller, Imogene, Cymbeline (Baker)
■ Claire Sudolsky, Aunt Dan, Aunt Dan
and Lemon (Players)
write-in
■ Natalie Navar, Lemon
Aunt Dan and Lemon (Players)
winner
■ Kate Flanagan, Puck, Midsummer
Night’s Dream (Brown)
best supporting actor
nominees
■ Trevor Murphy, E.K. Hornbeck, Inherit the Wind (Lovett)
■ Michael Curtis, Reverend David Foreigner (Wiess)
runner-up
■ Jon Levy, Ernst, Design For Living (Players)
winner
■ Phil Redman, Bottom, Midsummer Night’s Dream (Brown)
best supporting actress
nominees
■ Jessica Simon, Hippolyta, Midsummer Night’s Dream (Brown)
■ Shira Polster, Sarah Inherit the Wind (Lovett)
winner
■ Cat Coombes, Oberon, Midsummer Night’s Dream (Brown)
musical
performance
best production.
nominees
■ Return to the Forbidden Planet (Martel)
■ Baby (Wiess)
runner-up
■ Ruddigore (Hanszen/Rice Light Opera)
winner
■ Bat Boy (Sid)
best director.
nominees
■ Meghan Leach, Return to the Forbidden Planet (Martel)
■ Nickey Rodin, Baby (Wiess)
wnner
■ Ben Burford, Bat Boy (Sid)
best actor.
nominees
■ Zach McLemore, Albin, La Cage Aux Folles (Hanszen)
■ Geoff Copper, Murgatroyd Ruddigore (Hanszen/Rice Light Opera)
runner-up
■ Diego Tucker, Thomas Parker Bat Boy (Sid)
winner
■ Dan Williamson, Bat Boy Bat Boy (Sid)
best actress.
nominees
■ Marisa Young, Lizzie, Baby (Wiess)
■ Nickey Rodin, Arlene, Baby (Wiess)
runner-up
■ Ryan Stickney, Shelley Bat Boy (Sid)
winner
■ Hayley Brown, Meredith Bat Boy (Sid)
best supporting actor.
nominees
■ Paul Early, Sheriff Reynolds Bat Boy (Sid)
■ Andrew Reich, Richard, Ruddigore (Hanszen/Rice Light Opera)
runner-up
■ Bobby Anderson, Dr. Prospero, Return to the Forbidden Planet (Martel)
winner
■ Drew McUsic, Rick Taylor Bat Boy (Sid)
best supporting actress.
nominees
■ Liz Blair, Miranda, Return to the Forbidden Planet (Martel)
■ Lauren Bertanzetti, Rose, Ruddigore (Hanszen/Rice Light Opera)
write-in
■ Gillian Smith, Mad Margaret, Ruddigore (Hanszen/Rice Light Opera)
winner
■ Ava Moursund, science officer, Return to the Forbidden Planet (Martel)
Other arts & entertainment stories
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- Significant contributions to Rice theater
- _Final Days_ proves ultimate poignant summer film
- _United 93_ opens emotional wounds, memorialized American heroes
News
- 700 sign petition in support of Latin Americann studies program
- About 1,100 participate in Global Night Commute
- Beinecke, Presidency fellows named
- Emerson gets top teaching honor
- Faculty Senate passes minors guidelines
- Five named Fulbright scholars
- Health Services adds physician
- IT summmer upgrades to speed up network
- Online course evaluton response rates dip slightly
- Ragsdale named social sciences dean
- Summer construction to begin on Hanszen and Inner Loop
- Women's issues advocates awarded
Sports
- Baseball clinches C-USA title with wins over Cougars
- Eggert ends 38-year career as trainer
- Injury-plagued Rice falls to Texas
- Robinson sets new record in discus
- Women's tennis run ends in NCAA first-round match
- Wright ties high jump record, Owls finish a distant third at C-USA

