Theatre Tuscaloosa Presents Annual Awards

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Theatre Tuscaloosa held its version of the Tony Awards on Sept. 17 with the 25th installment of the T. Earle Johnson Awards Ceremony, which honors the efforts of performers, technicians, volunteers, patrons, sponsors, and contributors.

The ceremony was held via live stream on Theatre Tuscaloosa's YouTube channel and can be watched in full here. Honorees are determined by votes from audience members, board and staff members, and All-Star Cast members.

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ACTING AWARDS

Outstanding Second Stage Actress: NorQuina “Q” Rieves as Karla in "Sentences & Words" (3rd Annual Festival of One Acts)

Outstanding Second Stage Actor: D’Mar Tarront-Milton as Eli in "One Lane Bridge" (3rd Annual Festival of One Acts)

Outstanding Featured Actress: LaQuenteshia Whitfield as Mrs. Alums in "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963" and as Mrs. Loomis in "Inherit the Wind."

Outstanding Featured Actor: Khalifa Nunn as Dancer in "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963."

Outstanding Supporting Actress: Crystal Lassiter as Wilona in "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963."

Outstanding Supporting Actor: Taril Slater as Daniel in "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963."

Outstanding Leading Actresses (Tie): Kenyatta “YaYa” Browne as Clairee in "Steel Magnolias" and Kathy Wilson as M’Lynn in "Steel Magnolias."

Outstanding Lead Actor: Josh Kauffman as Bertram Cates in "Inherit the Wind."

OTHER AWARDS

Paul K. Looney, “Our Ox is in the Ditch” Award: Jenny Ryan, for taking on the role of Mrs. Brady after the first two actresses cast in the role suffered injuries that prevented them from performing.

Newcomer of the Year: Alex Momoh and Katonio “KJ” Crews, who played the lead roles of brothers Kenny and Byron, respectively, in "The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963."

Jake Leigeber Volunteer of the Year Award: Ian Akins, for "going above and beyond the call of duty as an assistant stage manager."

Patron of the Year Award: Ryan Alford, for "being an extraordinarily dedicated audience member."

Doug Perry Outstanding Service to the Theatre Award: Butch Chandler, for providing climate-controlled storage space for the costume inventory for many years.

Charlie Dennis 'Bear It' Award for Technical Service: Alexandra Smith, for her "exemplary" work backstage.

The Show that COVID Quarantined Award: The cast of "Father of the Bride," for learning their lines and continuing to rehearse at the onset of the pandemic and subsequently never getting to perform.

Phantom of Tuscaloosa Award: Costumer Jeanette Waterman, for spending her free time sewing masks for DCH and many other individuals in the Tuscaloosa area.

Kathy Wilson was also inducted into the All-Star Cast, with members all receiving three prior T. Earle Awards before induction. Wilson has appeared in over 30 notable roles such as Vera in "Smoke on the Mountain," Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," Stella in "A Streetcar Named Desire," Mrs. Lynch in "Grease," and M’Lynn in "Steel Magnolias."

Wilson received an All-Star Cast medal and will be acknowledged on a plaque in the Wilson Carr Rehearsal Hall.

Editor's note: The Charles Prosser Straight Flush Award was not awarded since no individual participated as a volunteer in every mainstage production.