because of the beginning I'm just gonna play a little
Good evening everyone I will ask you all to please take your seats as the show will begin shortly
Good evening everyone, we would ask everyone to kindly take their seats as the show will begin shortly Thank you
Looking at the memories need the stars above for all the world was right how
by
the way all right
whoa
just call the round here there's something you can feel things are gonna happen. Yes, that sensation behind us. We won't forget where we're from, but just look how far we've come. There's no use is there so take one step into make it don't question don't ask why you cannot mistake if you're the one stopping you're asking for Where are you going as one step is time to start with each rung of the ladder
Joe
question don't ask
why.
You cannot mistake don't pass me
step.
My God
Good
luck
good people of the Edmonton theatre community. Please welcome our amazing team of ASL interpreters for the evening. Andrea Connor Loic Jody Morrison. Gabby Frick Berg. Jenny Stevens and our hosts for the evening. You know them as the two from that dream you had that one time keeping it sexy. It's soo Gober, Dan and Matt Sherman.
You sound amazing.
It's great. What have you been doing here?
Folks, welcome to Sterling.
Oh my gosh. It's so cool that there's so many people in here. Oh my god, I was about to fix my glasses.
Your glasses look great. Thanks, buddy. Yeah, it's great to be here in the Westbury theater. One thing I can say about the Westbury theater, is it Scott big balls.
Huge. Someone's got to tell somebody Yeah,
and you know what, that's, that's setting the bar for the quality of jokes for the rest of the evening. here folks.
Before we officially begin, we have a few things that we wanted to talk about. Absolutely. Um, something that I wanted to talk about is the fact that I come from generations of settlers on this land who were brought to the countries that they came from by colonizers. My family is from Guyana and South America.
That's exciting. We're gonna talk later.
Find out if your family knows my family. What part of New Amsterdam you're from we'll find out. Yeah, so my my family is from Guyana, we settled here. But something that I learned very recently and whatnot that I learned very recently, that I acknowledged a lot recently is that I can trace my lineage back to Guyana, but I know that my family didn't start there. I know that you know, we are a product of indentured laborers, and I don't know what part of India My family's from, but I know that there's a part of my family from there. I know that I have relations from China, but don't know where and I actually don't even know their names. So that's how I landed here is that I've come from a mystery of a family. But we're slowly putting the pieces together. Yeah,
awesome. Thanks for sharing. CEU and the reason we're sharing this, this kind of info with you is based on long standing traditions on this land. Anytime that people gather. You share the story of who you are, where you come from, because that is who makes you who you are. And tonight we're gathered specifically on Papa's Chase creed territory. This place above the river as well as down into the Roscoe flats has for so long been a place where folks have gathered just like tonight to share those stories for me personally, I come from ancestors from from the Netherlands, from a small town in Poland who have any fans of windmills or wooden shoes out there. Yeah, and the other branch my family is from a small town in what is now known as Poland. A town called Gdansk.
Yeah. That's us. Yeah. And, but yeah, being treaty people is active. It's active in recognizing where you come from recognizing the role that you play in the land that you live on, and recognizing how you can do better as a treaty person. So I encourage you all to do some homework about yourself, and about all the ways that we are very much sharing a lot in common with our indigenous you know, for you know, I don't want to say forefathers because that feels right. But But, but the people who took care of this one long before we got here, because we can do better.
That's right. The traditional caretakers Yeah,
thank you so much.
Yeah, um, folks, one bit of business. This is a theater production of sorts. This is the your friendly reminder to put your phones on like silent. I honestly don't care if you have them out. In fact, I encourage you to take photos because everyone on stage is going to look awesome. So keep them out and take photos, but like if they make noise soon, I will probably come answer the phone for absolutely yeah. Which would be funny.
Yeah, that'd be really fun for everybody involved. Least about you, but that's okay.
Um, all right,
Shall we head over to our script?
Let's head over to the script
that was the transition where we head over to our script.
All right, now I can officially say Happy theater Holy smokes, do we all look gorgeous are what? And also we just need to have a round of applause for the fact that we are all together again for the first time in four years.
Oh my gosh. It's like a breath of fresh air. This is amazing. And also, I think we also have to talk about big gorgeous musical number that just happened. Yes. That medley of the dance. And one step more is from Carly niece's Sterling nominated show in my own little corner. And let's not forget Dan Bell and Don those key. Yes. So tonight, we have something pretty special in store for all of you because we are kicking off the 35th annual Elizabeth's Sterling Haynes awards. in style right here in our new home at Edmonton zone fringe theatre. Yeah, give it up for the fridge. We could not think of a better spot to to you know, make a home for ourselves. And this is the perfect spot to celebrate the 2022 2023 professional theater season. So fasten your seat belts. All right. So we're gonna grab on some laughter We're gonna laugh we're gonna cry. We're gonna sing some songs, not you but somebody else. And it's time to relax and enjoy the Stirling's All right.
Tonight is all about shining a spotlight on the extraordinary accomplishments of Edmonton is brilliant to theatre artists. And as we applaud their brilliance, we're also paying homage to the one and only Elizabeth Sterling Haynes. She was a trailblazing performer, director and educator whose tireless efforts helped shape a vibrant, uniquely Elberton theatrical legacy. Elizabeth Sterling Haynes spirit lives on and the daring and thought provoking and downright entertaining productions we have witnessed this season. And let me tell you the nominees we have tonight embody that spirit in every fiber of their being.
Now, speaking for myself, I know that for many years, I didn't really understand the intricacies of this event. Like how do the nominations happen and who decides who when and why is it Marie Yunus? All right. Well allow us to give you a pervert proverbial peek behind the curtain at the mechanics of this celebratory theater machine. Nominations for this evenings awards were made by three separate juries. appointed by the Sterling awards committee. Only companies that register with the Stirling's are eligible to be nominated. And this is a great reminder for fringe artists. Hey fringe artists. Remember to nominate or to register your shows to for the next year Sterling's you do that on our website right now. I mean don't do it right right now, but you can. So yeah, don't forget, our mainstage jury attended over 56 eligible productions this year, determining nominees for the fringe awards, and another. Nope, I lied. I lied. So much. Okay. They attended fit 56 eligible production stage in Edmonton during this season, with a separate jury determining nominees for the fringe awards and another jury for individual achievement in production. I did it right that time. That's right. Thank you so much.
Those are the jury facts Jerry fat Yeah. Now all jurors made their recommendations using a five point system and a secret ballot. So the final list of nominees tabulated by the accounting firm of kudelski and Associates was then sent back to the original jurors. Who then voted for the award recipient in each category. Then those ballots were again returned to good now scan associates for final tabulation. And the names of the winners have been brought here tonight in sealed envelopes. So in other words, it's like the Sterling jury has been passing secret notes in high school and tonight, we're reading them out loud in front of the rest of the class.
All right, folks. Now, here's a lovely little reminder that we're keeping things pretty breezy. So the bar is open in the lobby. So pop out, get a drink whenever you feel like it. No one's gonna hold it against you. Just make sure you bring one for us.
We're not saying that you should turn tonight into a drinking game.
No,
but if you were, we made a Sterling's bingo card just to help you keep track. So if you wanted to take a photo with that right now, now's the time. I see some phones. I'll give you some seconds for that. Let's go 10 98765432 And do it all right now it's one you're done. Done. Thank you so much.
Some of those are mean.
They are a little.
Well, yeah, I think it's time to handle some Sterling's. What do you think? Hi.
Thanks. So the Sterling awards committee extends its most sincere gratitude to get Toski and Associates for their support of this event, with particular acknowledgement to Richard de and Darlene godowsky, who oversaw every detail of nominating of the nominating and voting process, right.
We're grateful to Yeah, let's hear for them. I believe they're here tonight. We are grateful to have so many amazing sponsors and those sponsors that make the Stirling's possible. You'll hear their names throughout the show and the committee extends its thanks to all the individuals who have so much time and effort serving on this year's juries.
Yes. And you'll also know we're making some you know, we've made some changes this year. And one of those changes is the gorgeous new Sterling statuettes designed and created by imagens own designer Production Manager entrepreneur extraordinaire Tessa stamp.
Tessa ScanSpeak we've got some tests of fans. Yeah, we love Tessa.
Her team includes carpentry by Jacqueline Jacqueline single metal fabrication by abrazo custom metal fabrication and laser engraving by Randy at Custom powder solutions.
Yeah. Randy, let's hear for Randy. Randy. No last name. Each one of those beautiful works of art is actually a piece of Edmonton theater history. This is really cool. They were fabricated with like off cuts with lumber used in shows whose sets were designed in the tesserae creative construction and design factory throughout the season. And going forward. Tessa and her team will continue to source materials from other shops at theater such as the Citadel Edmonton Opera, and the Mayfield dinner theater as well. How cool is that?
Now I'm sure you'll notice that we have some dapper musicians up here. This year our band is generously sponsored by the Edmonton Arts Council. So please give it up for LaShawn Meza content on bass Daniels did Nikki on drums and Eric Mortimer on the key
All right, folks, here we go. Our first awards this evening are for outstanding achievements in design. Now here to present the awards are five playwrights who did not let even a global pandemic stop them from writing shiny new gorgeous place those plays where we had a girl before you the fiancee, Michael mysterious, tell us what happened. And here I now collectively they are writing my life story against my wishes,
but for my wishes. Yeah.
It's a consent joke. So please welcome Trevor Schmidt Holly Lewis. Jeffrey Simon Brown, Michelle. Rob. And Belinda Cornish.
We're here speaking in the middle Hello, everybody. The nominees for outstanding set design are Stephanie banyak for Alina high Radek production Lorenzo Savini network, Citadel theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Senator Beata Hawk born for freaky green eyes screaming matches in association with punctuate theatre and fringe theatre. Scott Reed clue sent it out theater Alison Yoda 100 words for snow, Northern Light theater
and the Sterling goes to Scott Reed clue Citadel theatre
Hi friends Wow gorgeous Tessa good work. Obviously I'm not Scott reed. He's in Calgary. I'm Cheryl Hoover. I'm Director of Production at the Citadel Wow, finally we're back at it. This is Scott sent me this email. First of all I would like to thank the Stirling committee and the entire Edmonton theatre community for welcoming me welcoming me. It was such a pleasure to be back in Edmonton. I would like to thank the rest of our design team, Patrick Bagan, Leona brows and and Alison Lynch. The entire creative team. The cast and Nancy McAleer, who led us through it all. I would also like to thank Darrell chlorin and the entire admin staff at the Citadel for all the work they do to make the show happen. Most of all, I would like to give a huge shout out to stage management and the production team. The scenic carpenters the painters the team and props to stage crew, Cheryl and her team. They all put so much into the show and without their hard work and dedication. What I designed would never have made it to the stage. Thank you have a good night
the award for outstanding costume design. It's sponsored again this year by those super supportive Legal Eagles. The players de novo. Here are the nominees
Joyce Padwa prison dancer, Citadel theatre prison dancer Leona brows and Jersey Boys Citadel theatre. Dena finman Pride and Prejudice settled Citadel theatre Rachel Fobes the royal Citadel theatre and Sarah what ei trouble in mind Citadel Theatre Royal Manitoba Theatre Center and
the Sterling goes to Deanna finman Pride and Prejudice Citadel theatre
I am such a backstage person and you're going to find out why.
First off the the real
superheroes of the costume world are that incredible team led by Patsy Thomas.
They are small but mighty. But
every show nominated for costume design was created by them. And they are extremely small this year. But the amount of work that they have done has been incredible and I'm so grateful for having them create the show with me. To Cheryl and Daryl, thank you so much for this opportunity. It was a dream to me a coach Scott Reed and Kevin Humphrey. Thank you for being such great collaborators. And to that amazing cast. I've been doing this for over 30 years and no one's ever applauded a quick change for me. And they are they have been amazing. Thank you so much.
And the nominees for outstanding lighting design are Steve Lucas the royal
Narada mackeral for Listen listen. piatra alive
cat ovens for freaky green eyes
Roy Jackson for enough Northern Light
and Alison Yoda for 100 words for snow
and the Sterling goes to Allison you know 100 words for snow Northern Light theater
Belinda gave her she's gonna take it. I'll take that. I'll take that
I don't know who I don't know who Allison would have thanked but she thanks them
the nominees for outstanding multimedia design are Hugh Conacher for network at the Citadel theatre and Royal Winter royal Manitoba Theatre Center. S Katie Tucker. For arfi plus at Edmonton Opera. Match Sherman for 100 words for snow at Northern Light theatre T Aaron Gruber with Rebecca cipher for the space between stars small matter productions and presented by skirts of fire and the final nominee is in Jackson for subscriber like at work southwest playwrights theater.
And the Sterling goes to Matt Sherman 100 words for snow Northern Light theatre
Thank you very much.
That's a Bingo square we don't get tonight.
Um,
I've been nominated for this award a couple times and I've never received it before. This is very cool. But I always figured the reason why was the in the name of the award. It's called Multimedia multi meaning more than one media being the media. And I have a confession. I've only ever used one. And that's video and I thought Oh, that makes sense. All these other designers have a secret second or third media that they're using that one day I'll figure out but I want to shout out those those other nominees and when I first started doing video design for for theater, there was no roadmap to do it. There was no program that taught you how to do it. You were kind of figuring out yourself and a lot of folks did it through like different channels in different ways. So shout out to all the other nominees who through whatever way you have found a way to put video into theater I commend you and and your designs were amazing. So kudos to all of you. I also want to give a huge shout out to Trevor was one of the very first directors who ever hired me for video design. And Trevor it is always a pleasure to work with you. We have a shorthand that I absolutely love. It's just effortless and so much fun. Allison is not here tonight. But I want to give a shout out to Allison for the lighting design as well as Daniela I think designs are only as good as all the elements combined together. So all three of those elements, the lighting, the sound and video all coming together truly made the show what it was. And on stage we had Dana Hoffman and Dana is so cool. Who just made this whole thing look look amazing. It was so much fun to create that playground for you, Dana. You know, I pull up to the theater on like a vintage motorcycle. And Dana pulls up on a skateboard and like man, I will never be as cool as Dana Hoffman. I also want to give a shout out to the folks here at Emily Adam and everyone at the fringe who who gave us the tools to do this. And Liz there was a moment in in our tech rehearsal where I brought my daughter Alice with me there was a sequence in the show where the all these snowflakes were popping up around the stage and and for like over an hour Liz played this game of chase the snowflake with Alice and she got to run around the set and and stomp out snowflakes and and that's so important because I want to show up the theater parents in the room. Those who are like doing this together, Megan and I are both working in this industry. It truly takes a village and our village is all of you so she's gonna be weird. And that's great. Thank you so much.
Don't know where Matt's going
I crack myself up you know, I'm sure he'll be back one day. This guy it is customary at the Stirling's that the winner statuettes be brought to the stage by a pair of newcomers to the professional theatre community. Performing this honor for us tonight are a pair of representatives from Edmonton preeminent theatre training programs.
She is currently a student at Grant MacEwan new BFA in Musical Theater Program. And he's a recent graduate of the U of A's BFA Acting Program. Please say hello to arraign Matt Kinsler, je and Aaron rifugio. They are
then we're gonna pages right here. Nice. Nice. All right, great. Okay, great. Welcome. So glad they're here.
The Ross Hill Award for Outstanding Achievement in production honors the experts behind the scenes for a body of work exemplifying a career of distinction and accomplishment. This year's recipient is the superbly multitalented Mel girI.
Yes.
Male is a technological wizard. So it seems only appropriate that we will hear about mail and his work from sound designer and composer Matthew scopic via a video.
1962 the quaint Edmonton community of Bonnie doon was blessed with the birth and addition of Mel girI. He was a vibrant, fearless and extremely curious baby boy, friends and neighbors of the family communicated that he was a delight, except for one drawback he refused to keep his shirt on. Mel's curiosity remained into his teenage years and led him to take on a volunteer Usher position in the late 1970s at the Citadel theatre. Mel fondly recalled sitting in the theater during one fateful shift after having just smoked a college cigarette to technician technicians, Tim Williamson, and Roy Fraser. were goofing around and pulling pranks, yet remained focused and excellent at their jobs. Maybe it was the particularly potent strain of Panama red for which Mel had previously inhaled that evening. But while watching Williamson and Fraser, Mel had a revelation. I want to goof around like this. I could do this. In the fall of 1980, Mel began the theater arts program at Grant MacEwan. On his first day, in a class taught by none other than Ross Hill, mill noticed an antiquated dimmer system, sitting at the back of the room. Always the curious type Mel bravely asked to disassemble the unit. He took it apart and was inspired a foundational moment that would permanently imprint the rewards of fearlessness, and curiosity into his brain. While still in school, Mel began touring and working with theater network. He managed to utilize resources from Grant MacEwan to uplift the quality of any and every production we worked on. In 1984. Mel began work with Chinook theatre and quickly became the Technical Director. For the fringe.
The world was sliced was given in 1987 Mel embraced an ever changing stream of digital technologies, lighting, video, and interactive media with the Department of drama at the University of Alberta. Mel was an early adopter of digital design technologies in the performing arts, initiating their use at the University of Alberta. He was also instrumental in developing and leading the pedagogy of computer graphics for theater production. over the 27 years mal spent at the U of A he was a guiding influence to countless students. He has shaped the minds of an entire generation of theatre makers to be fearless and curious, Mel's behind the scenes expertise has been notable and Edmonton is performing arts scene, feature film, and interactive arty. Beck's recent work includes several immersive experiences at dark Fort Edmonton immersive Halloween event. Mel currently works as a production developer with Edmonton digital art technology team moment discovery, whose tech advances body computing as an art form. Mel brings extensive expertise to moment discovery in both the analog and digital realms of theater and event production, including lighting design, video production, and interactive media. Mel has a contagious positive energy. He is a valued member of any team he is on. And throughout his 42 year career he still finds time to take his shirt off. Camera comrades, please welcome Mel Geary, the recipient of the 2023 Ross Hill Award for Outstanding Achievement in production
so many nipples.
I don't know where we are anymore.
You know I yeah, that really sent me but that was gorgeous. So you know,
I think a male Are you here?
The world was a mess but his hair was by
fax
so Matt said on the other on the phone the other day when we were chatting that I would hear there, hate him or love him. Matt, I love you. Love you so much. I've been influenced by many people in this career fun life that I've had lucky life that I've had and I want to acknowledge some of those people. Matt has already mentioned and Tim Ross for modeling such curiosity, which I think Matt pretty much covered most of that. Willpower for spiritualist experimentation and the word sub optimal. And of course, Matt for all his years together at the U of A. His innovation is drive his creativity is friendship. I want to thank some of the early directors who inspired me, Steven Heatley, Jason Van der Veen, Brian Dietrich, and of course, Doc Paisley. Do my first designer DD boy, Daniel van hice, Morris Hartman, Robert nails thanks for your patience focusing on those 12 lights and eight. Oh, sorry, not eight working dimmers seven working dimmers apologies to the stage managers whose cues I'd missed during my brief stint as a board operator, Bruce Kennedy, why did the lights changing? And Jackie post song for suggesting a career sense? Sorry, a career shift in that sense to the general managers and production managers who's dealt with my requests for larger budgets? More gear, and dealing with the fallout from exceeding those usually. I'm truly sorry, mostly. Brenda Liz grieve Alan Welsh. Thank you. Apologies to the students who endured my angry Sharpie and pin pink pen notes, PowerPoints and endless Mel splittings. It was an honor working for you all those years. Thanks to the amazing techs for the skills and knowledge you passed on, especially troubleshooting those first lighting consoles that were a nightmare to the amazing talent on stage that makes us all worthwhile and memorable. Read the trees I remember as a kid at the Citadel is an usherette Ray story. Ed Connell, thank you guys so much. And Toronto, my love who didn't want to be mentioned in this speech sorry. Cue outro music
this way
here to present the awards for outstanding achievements in sound is a performer who exquisitely fell blank stuttered and crashed through the delightful and hilarious Peter Pan goes wrong at the Citadel. Theatre, and another who moved us with his performance and this year's Anahita is Republic and network please welcome Rochelle the plant and Michael Payne.
The nominees for outstanding score of a play or musical our Romeo Candido prison dancer Citadel theatre and prison dancer Incorporated, hawks Hawksley Workman almost a full moon Citadel theatre Simon Abbott and Byron Martin for Jason, Kenny's hot boys summer Grindstone theater Fireheart hos ready, and a heaters Republic, our tasks productions and Darren Haagen unsung Tales from the frontline workshop West playwrights Theatre
and the
award goes to
Romeo Candido prison dancer.
Hello Roberto is not here he is in Toronto and I hope he is celebrating in his homestead. We have the honor of accepting this award on his behalf. And this is what he wrote. I want to thank my co creator Carmen, my producer Anna, our director Nina and to the cast who gave the music its wings and soul and also to the crew who put up with us. I want to thank all of the previous casts crews, partners, directors, presenters and funders who gave prison dancer their time, talent and energy. Much respect to musical director Keirsey boy and Aretha for bringing the soul every night of the run. Much love to the Citadel theatre and to the whole organization for giving us a perfect home. Thank you to the national creation fund for breathing life into this project when we thought it was over this award is dedicated to the young emerging Filipino Filipina Philippine X storytellers and composers with a song to share to all those who came before us. We share your song with ours.
And the nominees for outstanding sound design are Aaron Makary. Elina. Pyretic productions. Dave Clark, the Royal Citadel theatre. Daniela Fernandez 100 words for snow, Northern Light theater Darren Hoggin subscribe or like workshop West playwrights theater. And Darren Haagen and Morag Northy the innocence of trees theater network
and the Sterling
goes to
Dave Clark, the Royal Citadel theatre
Hello friends no I'm not Dave Clark. But I was just actually sitting thinking as they were reading the nominees I've known Dave and I have been since 1987 was the first show we worked together on and in my head I went oh my god, that's almost 40 years. Are you kidding me? Anyways, but we were children. Anyways, Dave called me this morning and said, Oh my god, I can't go to the Sterling's. Can you can you read something and? Sure, Dave. So here we are. Thanks to our director, Andre sills, the cast for their beautiful voices and for stomping the heck out of McCloud theater stage. And to my fellow designers. What a unique, fantastic show. Special thanks to head of audio Nick rose, assistant head of audio Michel labrosse And everyone at the Citadel for their hard work and support. Dang dang Dang. Which if you don't know there's, it's a boxing show. That was the boxing. I don't do sound effects. Anyways, thank you have a good night.
out our next presenters have made a career of heisting all the other shows in the Edmonton Fringe Festival. So it seems only fair that they are here tonight to celebrate the shows that provide them with their source material. Taking a night off of their Mayfield dinner theater run of cluster flick the improvised movie and here to present the fringe awards are my hilarious brethren and their musical director DJ bollocks Jacob ban again Mark mir. And Ron Peterson of Gordon's big bald head.
Thank you, thank you good evening. Good evening. The nominees for outstanding the nominees for outstanding fringe director are Lynette J Smith, ride the cyclone uniform theatre alumni Theatre Company. Brennan Doucet Walter pansy craze collective Trevor Schmidt crack in the mirror guys in disguise Christy Hanson faking bake oh hello productions
calm and oh Sahar and Jesse Arden the big sad the Fox Den collective
and the Sterling goes to Lynette J Smith, uniform theatre and Skoda alumni theatre co
my god I wrote something on a scrap of paper and I put it in this little cab. Just pull that out. Y'all are amazing. Thank you. I love this community so much. So congrats to all the humans in this category. I'm honored to be a part of this ride the cyclone was such an incredible time of learning for me. Thank you to Jacob Richmond and Brooke maxvill for writing this quirky Canadian musical. And for me as a theatre educator and director I could not have asked for better learning and teachers on this production. Thank you Michael Victoria Ali, RN Damon, Mark Hunter Stephanie. Caitlin Connor Murray, Gus Patrick, the incredible goddess Mari Mackenzie my guide and all things congrats new mama and Candice Laurie who is my right arm. Thank you, of course to Skoda for being our summer home. And to Tim who's here tonight. Thank you for understanding that theater. Making is crucial and is also the third partner in our lives. Thank you so much. I've read the cyclone was a dream fever dream. Thank you everyone. Thank you so much.
The nominees for outstanding fringe Performance by an Ensemble ride the cyclone uniform theatre and Skoda alumni theatre Co. Walter pansy crazed collective the URL King's gonna alumni theatre co destination Vegas wiz giggling production crack in the mirror guys in the skies fags in space low hanging fruits
and the Sterling goes to ride the cyclone
uniform theater and Scott alumni theatre CO
we are unrehearsed for this moment. Thank you so much to the Sterling juries jurors for this recognition. Like Lynette said this show is a dream thank you so much to Lynette our fearless leader to Mauri our amazing musical director to all of the crew that helps make this show a success our band today. Missing with us is Mackenzie Tennyson, congrats new mama Charlotte as well as our narrator extraordinaire Michael that um, thank you so much.
I don't know what else to say
other than this cast this ensemble. We're more than just an ensemble. We are a family and I love making theater with all of you always so thank you so much
good evening, people of Earth. These are the nominees for outstanding fringe performance by an individual. Rebecca Merkley. Jesus teaches us things dama Tammy production Zachary Parsons. Listen,
ski Lilith fair. Pansy.
Cabaret guys and discard Ellie he faking bake. Oh, hello production. Andrea
house salsa lessons start us Claire
Josh Travnik couldn't join straight edge
and the Sterling goes to Zachary Parsons was in scam pansy cabaret guys in disguise
I love a significant piece of wood. I want to thank Darren Hoggin for being such an incredible mentor and like kind of the closest thing I've ever had to having a drag mom I want to thank Daniel beland for being such an incredible piano. our stage manager Gina mo for knowing how to keep gay people on track. The entire Roxy team who made us so comfortable all summer the fringe loves of my life, Spencer Passman and Morgan Smith, for sitting with me. And I just want to say it is a it's a very scary time to be queer in this world right now. So I just wanted to say to all of my fellow queers in the audience tonight and no offense to the straight people i I'm an ally
but to my to my fellow queers here tonight, never stopped celebrating your joy because queer joy is a revolutionary act. Thank you
Yes, for outstanding fringe new work award to play right. Thank you very much. Ellie Heath. Faking bake oh hello productions
Rebecca Merkley Jesus teaches us things to damage me productions. Jake kucik white guy on stage talking innocent operation Liam salmon, Eggs in Space low hanging fruits and Seth Gilfillan and Steven already conjoined spinach later
the Sterling goes to Leanne Solomon figs in space, low hanging fruits
Oh, that's messed up, okay. And that's how I'm choosing to emotionally process this in this moment.
Oh, my gosh. Hi, everyone. Thanks. Um, so I have like, Okay, so as we all know, theater is a team sport, right? Like, so I have to thank my collaborator and good friend Owen Holloway. The words I write are just words. You know what I mean? Like, if they inspire someone, that's the dream. If they don't, that happens to. So I have to think, oh, when for realizing the play, stupid you do? Yeah, what a director does. I wrote this speech like 20 Thank you so much, you whoever you are. What a director does is help make those words sing. So to that end my eternal gratitude to the Rockstar acting talent that was Braden Butler and Sheldon Stockdale, we totally lucked out on that. Actors have this magical gift that brings so much humanity to the characters that I can only hope to do in writing. Let's be honest. Big thanks to Mitch Dexter, our designer and Galen height are eternally eternally calm stage manager. I don't understand how SMEs do it but you're calm I emulated our aim to emulate in my regular life. Big thanks to our ASM Harlan Dexter and thanks to all the little facts out there. You know what I mean? Yeah. This is a word that a lot of us were used against us growing up and I think it's a revolutionary act to use that in an empowering way. Especially in times like right now. So thank you for this. Thanks.
is now my pleasure to read the nominees for outstanding fringe production? Ride the cyclone human uniform theatre and Skoda alumni theatre co Jesus teaches us things dammit Tammy productions crack in the mirror guys in disguise
fags in space low hanging fruits
and conjoined straight edge theater
we can't get nominated. Okay, we're doing improv.
So let us please read this Yeah, I need this.
Whatever you need needs this. Mark. Come on, Mark.
I have video games
it's right the cyclo.
Thank you
so much to the Sterling's also to the fringe for creating this. I'm gonna say kick ass festival. Thank you so much. For all of the incredible family that stand behind us. Let Mari talk right now because I'm shaking so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I just want to say big thanks to everybody involved with this production. It was such a dream to work with everybody behind me. And to those that couldn't make it tonight. And I'm just so grateful to the Sterling's for recognizing this show. And to all the other nominees congratulations on your fabulous work. This season.
Live truly has arrived Thank you.
And now, please welcome Aaron selon and Aaron Wilson McNally with Stephen Greenfield on piano performing songs from Blaine Jane theatres Sterling nominated production of Sweeney Todd
shaundalyn and Nightingale Blackbird. How is it you see?
Sitting in cages, never taking upside the sky just how can you remain staring at the rain?
How to Choose
greenfinch and learned Nightingale Blackbird
how to choose.
One's comes this malady constantly for more wing rejoicing or merely hollow wing discussing
Oh
Robin, is it for wages singing to the song have you decided it's safer in cages singing when your
dog is gone?
Teach me
Nightingale Blackbird teach me how to say I cannot
I have sailed the world beheld it wanders from the pearls of Spain to the rubies of Tibet last night here in London. Have I seen such SHA one lady look at me Look at me missile LOOK AT ME PLEASE or favorably favorably with your glance. Miss what do you what do you see your favorite those trees Oh won't you give Won't you give me a chance to work would say I'll just Spain for all its wonders when in Cairdeas Lane lives the Greeks when they look at you look at you pale and ivory skinned don't look at you looking so sad. So we're here for raw Merson not to retreat to the darkness backup your windows not a new not a new dock down here. Look at me.
Fantastic, the Margaret Mooney Award for Outstanding Achievement in administration honors an administrator who has most embodied the hard work and excellence that professional theatre demands.
This year's recipient is both a beloved performer and an invaluable administrator who keeps oh so many wheels turning the extraordinary Coralie Karen's
here to speak about Coralie is another behind the scenes superhero Hiva Karen's joined by the namesake of this award and bonafide theater legend, Margaret Mooney.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I am Margaret Mooney, after whom the award is named. So there I was a child actor in Edmonton in the 1940s. Doing stage sink grease paint and Footlights, I swear and radio place. Radio gigs paid us $15 for 15 minutes and I can assure you that that was a lot more money than it is now. Cigarettes for example, were 33 cents a package. I reveled in knowing that I was being paid $1 A minute and thought this well I still think it's fabulous. I was also a private student of Elizabeth Sterling Hanes, after whom this Sterling's are named this is that name dropping type of a night
to introduce tonight's winner, please welcome the winner of the 2011 Margaret Mooney Sterling Award for Excellence in administration. Eva Karen's
Hello, I am having strange flashbacks being in a space with all you funny, smart, fancy people. It's fantastic to be here. About 22 years ago, I went into the green room of the Tim center with a huge birthday cake and two babies as one does. And there I met Coralie Cairns, who by the way, as far as we know, is not related to me. And that paved my way to my first job in Edmonton, which was with shadow theatre. At shadow Corley became a wonderful colleague and a very, very different in the following years when I moved on to other jobs, we had many many conversations both practical and very existential, about the work of arts administration, the role of boards and governance, about theatre and about her very enduring commitment to shadow theatre, of our school in the theatre community. And to all of you the Edmonton theatre community. Coralie is most identified with her more than 25 years in shadow theatre, while being an artistic associate, she was during that time, also the company's bookkeeper then the general manager, and is now the financial manager. She is the Accounts Manager for the first school in a theater, where she played a key role through all of its recent very significant transitions. She also supports tatto with bookkeeping in her arts administration life Coralie lets other people take center stage. But it would be a very big mistake to underestimate her contributions. She works quietly, meticulously, diligently, and she always always seeks to uphold the sustainability, the accountability, and the integrity of the organizations for whom she works. I can tell you from conversations that I've had with her that she has a very deep love for Edmonton theatre community. She celebrates and is ever curious about new talent. She embraces change. She has a deep appreciation for all players, actors, designers, technicians, producers, stage managers, volunteers and audiences. She is that person who truly believes that collective success is the best kind of success and fulfillment. And she puts her heart and soul into doing her part to lift us all up. Coralie my sister in spirit, I am so happy that we can all share our love and appreciation for you this evening and celebrate your hard work and gifts to our theater community. With this richly deserved award, the Margaret Mooney Award for Excellence in arts administration.
Wow
Wow. Thank you so much, Eva. And thank you, Margaret. You are a legend. I remember you back then. Um, I am very honored and touch to receive this award and acknowledgement. As I said Margaret Mooney she is a legend. This was a very unexpected surprise. When I started working in theater as an actor, I never imagined becoming an administrator but here I am, and what a gifted as being. This job has allowed me to immerse myself daily into the world of theater. When I wasn't on stage I was backstage where funnily enough, the first CONUS admin offices were located. So I was never far from all the drama both onstage and in the office. Believe me. Administration has allowed me to have specific consistent valuable engagement with shadow theatre, diverse gonna theatre community and other companies. I appreciate that. The basic day to day operations are what allows long term visions to be realized. Actors work in a world of imagination, but administrators work in a world of reality and budgets. I find that some of the most creative solutions occur when dreams face the annoying constraints of reality. It truly takes a team effort to figure out what actually is possible and what may need to be put on a future wish list. I've enjoyed being part of countless projects from the first inkling of an idea all the way to closing night and the closing of the books. I am so proud to have been part of the team that built the new Barcelona theater tender Connor and I are still closing the books. Along the way, I have met many incredibly talented people. And I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for my dear friend and colleague, John Hudson. He opened
he opened the administrative door for me offering me a job as a bookkeeper both for shadow theatre and for scomo theater way back, way back actually before a number of quite a few of you were born. He's constantly pushed me forward to new opportunities. And, John, I really thank you for that. Thank you so much. I'd also like to thank John Spruill for his unfailing support in all my endeavors. His patience and insight has been invaluable. And thank you to the administrative colleagues who helped guide me, including Al Roscoe, Karen Brown for now, Gina, Mo, to name a few. And in particular, Eva Karen's and I can't believe this because I have written down here my sister in spirit, so amazing. Who continues mentoring me to this day very sheet. Anyways. I've had the
I've had the privilege to work.
I've had the privilege to work with committed board members who've become friends, and have fostered long term relationships with loyal subscribers. What a rewarding job this has been. I am grateful for this amazing theatre community we have in Edmonton, present and past. Thank you, Judy. We miss you. To all of you here tonight. I am in awe of your passion, ingenuity and determination indetermination thank you so much. Thank you.
We had a bet going backstage if they were sisters or not. And I'm unsure if I've lost that bet. up next here to present the awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in production. And outstanding new play are two powerhouse artists who wear many hats, one of which is a producer. These two brilliant humans just produced and wrapped a remarkable tour of punctuate theatres tour of the last mighty man of Odessa. Please give it up for Alison dicey. And Janie sat No.
The award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in production is sponsored by the innovators at the Canadian Institute for theater technology and the nominees are having Gilchrist production designer and builder
cat Evans Production Manager
Andrea handle
Rivera stage manager
Tristan fer
house technician
and Nancy Yuan stage manager
and this Sterling goes to
Natalie you and sage manager
thank you so much for this honor. I'm strangely not comfortable being on this side of the stage. But I just need to say I'm so proud to be a part of this theatre community and so proud of the work that we do. I need to thank everyone I've had the privilege of working with in the past few years because as you know, it's been a challenging time to bring theater back. And I can't imagine doing it without better people than the people I've worked with. They have met the challenge with grace and heart and so much support and I owe them everything. Thank you
The award for outstanding new play is sponsored by our good friends at theater Alberta. Thanks Carrie. And the nominees are Carly nice in my own little corner commonground Byron Martin and Simon Abbott Jason Kenny's hot boy Evan Gilchrist reconstruct Darren Huginn 10 funerals shadow theatre and Liana moku. Elina
Pyretic productions
and the Sterling goes to Carly nice in my own little.
Can everyone hear me is my mic actually on? I also wrote a speech in 20 minutes because I honestly expect to win anything. So first and foremost, I just want to thank everyone for allowing accessible theater to this
length if you're doing all the work to make it accessible, I promise you access isn't that hard. But give me five seconds to find my list while you're well on doing that you can look at
the queue. I don't have one that first
but I have dogs
I wants to start by thanking common ground and riser and Mac for even acknowledging that this show should exist in giving me the power and tools and creativity to be able to do it without common ground and riser. I would not be standing on this stage right now. I do want to give a huge shout out to my entire team. Sarah director Dan music director and I'm pretty sure we just need to share this award because we share teams so I'm just gonna keep going on last Lindy, my co producer, couldn't have done it without you i Christie and ofera specifically for helping you with the dramaturgy of the show. Christie for putting up with a lot of I need to do something else. So let's write a show. And torchy for being an amazing project support worker who I don't think I could have survived the process but I would also like to thank our wonderful stage manager M. No, Pamela will Jonah from the moment discovery team that made a really cool dark wall behind me that I'm now claiming as my own. And I would also like to thank the wonderful fringe team for also making theater accessible. This is one of the only venues I can work in. So yay team.
Truly, I could not walk off the stage with them, giving a huge thank you to Randy Mueller, who
shaped one human I was he was the first director that I had that ever told me to stop letting people tell me no so look at that Randy I didn't say
one of the last
notes he wrote me was match I smell a sterling so you want to Sterling thanks everybody
Oh, that's exciting. Oh gosh.
This season's set it up production of Jersey Boys helped us fall in love with the music of Frankie Valli and the four seasons. They helped us fall in love with them all over again. I'm here to perform, to here to perform. Can't take my eyes off of you. From the Sterling nominated production is Ferran Tima tail with Steven Greenfield.
You're just too good to be true. I can take my eyes off of you. You be like haven't touch I want her HoH who do so much. Long Last Love as a ride. And thank God I'm alive. You're just too good to be true. I can't take my eyes off for you. Pod and Louie that I stay there's nothing else to compare. The side of you leaves me we there are no words left to speak. But if you feel like I feel please let me know that it's really you're just too good to be true. I can't take my eyes off for you. I need a little help at the horn section. Bottom Ba ba ba section bottom.
Bada bada bada bada bada bada bada bada bada love you alright, I need you bet you I love you. Thank you for trusting me when I don't let me down
how about I found you stay
and let me love you baby lamb mean
love you. You're just too good to be true. Can't take my eyes off for you. You be like having to touch I want to lose you so much. How long last love as arrived? And I thank God I'm like, You're just too good to be true. I can't take my eyes off to you. I want to hear you again
Have you
cried all right, I need you bet you too. I love you. trusting me when I say
now that I found you stay, baby, let me love you
you're just too good to be true
huh
oh hell yeah
nobody wanted that for me
All right, folks, friends, lovers can you believe it? We're at the halfway point.
Against all odds are more or less on time.
Now, this is a great time to say that on behalf of the Sterling committee and our incredible community we are so thankful to be here after Yes. So folks, let's take a minute to thank our very special friends Marie Yunus, Megan dark and the whole damn team. Thank you so much.
Yes, now, folks, it's time for the intermission. So please imbibe at your leisure. The bar is in the lobby, and we'll see you in 20 minutes for this evening's startling star studded second half of a great break.
Just stop these
things.
A little bit closer. All I want to know is can you come closer
to be a girlfriend? It wasn't really when you're around the gather with so in the end up play pretend you've got the belief and know if this will not work, says Come on. Let's give it a shot
you say I
want to be a girlfriend. Do you want to be my man
like do my one. Month kindnesses have a full screen
to take me a year your arms be gone.
Girlfriend It was
It wasn't in the plans.
Trust me.
A new love somehow
Chevron
so
For the sweet
smile brothers.
Rocks
Right Apple.
Hello, folks, two will begin in five minutes.
She's
day Friends. It makes
sense.
Evening friends
No Amen.
I tried to do handstands. You tried to do his stance on you tried to do stunts for you you black and blue blue
I tried to do handstands for you. I tried to do a stance for you.
Tried to do stunts for you. Black Blue Blue.
So I see a bruising me froze and things. Freeze and frozen strawberries used to chill you bruising July good to me. Black in blue
jeans for you got news for you. On my knees for you go jeans Pink
cube spook me love SCI fi
Yeah, a cube will leave you chose his girlfriend Dino over me. His best friend Alicia and drove Kenny's an embarrassment to this frat. Was your voting you summer semester student union president role that none of this would have happened. I hate to say it but it's true. He's forgotten his own Jason Kenney. This podcast titled ship for you
he broke his promise he broke his Oh. I used to hate Dolly. No, I hate them. Now I want to take
you okay
to hurt heard you sing and did I miss a frat meeting or something? Jason, we were just talking about you. Want to talk to you guys? Man. These new rules are tough. They are tough. But I thought that since you were the new summer semester student union president now you've been the views for us. You know, I prioritize it but the themes coming down and then Dina one job Kenny one job and you hit Kenny Are you having a look at all the data you have? Our face is a red folk You don't think I heard that right. What's going on here? Did you forget that we had a patch Now you give us a stab in the way along behalf of the Jedi?
Right still highly inappropriate. I don't know what you want for me. I'm trying my best your best. Kenny. You Why did you lie to me? You told me you cut the funding from the science department to get us a new Jacuzzi for the frat house. Where's the new Jacuzzi? Kenny? You're canceling a horse party? Yeah, with that I didn't have a choice. Will I do it? I'm kicking you out
Get up get up get up. Get up get up. Get up get up get up.
choreography. Get like you rehearse set at noon for the soundcheck. What's wrong, Kenny? Don't you want to leave? No, you don't. I got a better idea. Why don't we tie him up in the face? Like you didn't? Yeah, thanks to you and all the changes you've made. There are no more rules around. Hey, that's a pretty thick rope you got there. Well, you're down there. Bug you can kind of get around
yeah
it's gonna hurt
give it up for the folks in case against halfway summer. That's Mark's been working on Nikka Henry. Darling Simon Abba donkeys, Jesse Crowley. off the dome.
Like there's no way
there is a way I think we just broke the record
for the most middle fingers thrown at the Sterling awards now. was awesome. You should have made
a spot. But hey,
bro. Speaking of the bingo card, let's get that up on the screen. It's time for a little check in
that like it would be really hard to get like a bingo. So we decided we're gonna take a sip for every square that we knocked up. Yeah. All right. Get ready
to play along. All right now. We may even miss them because we're we're you know, we're in the wings. Yeah, let us know if we fucked up Ah, okay. Mountain zoo goose
happy tears
speech read from phone. Speech turned into rose yeah to drink. Saying that was melt. difficulties that
I got. I got my mic caught on a door. So it's true.
Citadel wins costume category oops. I don't know if it wasn't oops. But that last night? I comment on the weight of the trophy. I don't know if everybody saw when Mel came up.
It was so heavy. Yeah, that's
not here. To receive the award Liz, you're killing me. That's two drinks.
Awkward exit that happened. It was us
and hosts go off book. Batch. Absolutely. Did we miss any someone
in the first three seconds of the show that?
Are we oh, we don't have much did that happen? Who changed? Oh.
Oh,
what was the joke the joke that's true. I'll take your word for it
yeah, they're not wrong.
Okay, so, at intermission, someone came up to me backstage and said you know, this has always been so formal and so fancy. And I love how you guys are keeping it chill. But this is me formal alright.
Yeah. Do you know that we both work at rapidfire theatre right? Now? We're an improv theatre. Yeah. Okay, I saw a sequence on a blazer. Show me the blazer stand up.
Who?
Jersey? No. Those were sparkles. That was a technicality. But we're gonna drink anyway.
I miss is done. Now. Yeah. Secondary
to what's next? introduce somebody Oh,
boy. Oh, gosh. Aren't we cute? Hilarious. Okay. Oh, yeah.
Oh, how can I possibly forget what think I've had enough audience participation for one bit. Thank you so much. Oh.
That's an inside joke reference, which is
your drinking for both of us. All right. Folks. I'm here to present the award for young Theatre for Young Audiences is the stage management Dynamic Duo. The city does not deserve it is Molly Pearson and Jean appunti.
Everyone so tall. In addition to their sponsorship of outstanding new plays, the award for outstanding artistic achievement for young audiences is also generously sponsored by theater Alberta. And the nominees are Shereena Patel, choreographer Jack and the Beanstalk, Alberta musical theatre company. David Anderson performer Jack in the Beanstalk, Alberta musical theatre company Corbin Krishna Eric director Control Alt Delete concrete theater and she had to be sat in props design control alt delete concrete theater
and the Sterling goes to Shereena Patel, choreographer
Jack in the beanstalk.
I'm not gonna cry. I'm just because of the bingo thing. I'd like to thank my parents
never forget, I like to thank my parents for instilling the Indian culture in me for raising me with my Gujrati roots for teaching me dance in my roots for for forcing me on stage every time to do it. I love them for that. Thank you so much to Ferran. Thank you so much Ferran for trusting me as a choreographer who comes from a different walk of life to work on Jack in the beanstalk. And yeah, someone cried on stage. Check it off as well. Thank you so much for trusting me, for trusting that movement lives in my body that when I hear music, it can happen and that even if I come from a different walk of life, I can still make your vision come true. Thank you for trusting my vision. Thank you. Thank you for the entire Yes. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you for the entire cast for testing my vision and working with me on choreography even if it was on in the moment. We were working through things that you trusted me if I change it 10 times, you're still like, let's just do it. And we made it work and the choreography was beautiful, and I can't thank you all enough for this award. Thank you so much for Sterling awards for this my first time here and I feel so welcomed and just I'm honored thank you so so much. Thank
you, oh, they put me on a mic and I get a couple of seconds to say something. I just want to say a theater for young audiences is some of the most progressive. Oh, that's a dirty word. Now, some of the most forward thinking and inclusive theater that I have ever experienced and worked within. So thank you to the TA companies that are here and in our community. Yes, and thank you to all the artists who said yes to a T ya contract thank you so much. So I get the pleasure of reading up the outstanding production for young audiences Ctrl Alt Delete concrete theater Jack in the Beanstalk, Alberta musical theatre company.
Oh, we're gonna be here for another half hour and a sterling goes to control alt delete concrete theater.
Hi, everybody let me just find my notes. Take off my steamy glasses. Lord, this is this is just so wonderful. Thank you so much for this recognition and this honor tonight. Thank you to the Sterling committee and to all of the juries for all of your hard work this last season you know Huge shout huge shout out to AMTC you know we we share you know this category with them tonight. But we also share our office our home with them at the at the Playhouse. They're an incredible company to to share space with but also you know, it's just wonderful to to work with them to keep my Playhouse moving forward. I have to thank everyone who worked on this show. Of course our fabulous playwright Jana O'Connor for creating this brilliant world that we get to inhabit. I have to thank my my beautiful cast Brennan, Rochelle and Sheldon for for embodying these stories. Huge shout out to Cindy zubi Kim Clegg, Dave Clark as our design team, thank you to Hunter Luth and to the event Martin's as our stage management team that that got us on the road and I can't forget Alexander bolts who was our fabulous stage technician and driver and all around gogetter. I have to thank also our partner sees the sexual assault center of Edmonton. They appeared with us on this production and they they provided public health educators to join us on the road as a fabulous resource to the to the students to us to to the teachers. It was great to have them hosting our talkbacks they shared some incredible knowledge and some incredible resources. I am so thankful for their for their work this is the first touring show that we've done. I should say the first touring show live and in schools since the pandemic. So this this was a very special show for me. And it's also the first live tour that I got to direct since coming aboard in this position that concrete so this show and this experience will definitely hold a special place in my heart. I should mention the show itself is about cyber safety and consensual media sharing online and it's all wrapped up in this beautiful world of this internet carnival side show. So if you're not familiar with the show, please go to our website. If you go to side show dot concrete theater.ca We've also created a companion piece it's a digital interactive website that expands the world of control it's elite and takes you outside of the sideshow. So please go there. It's free. You'll have a great time. I'm going to put a pin in there and just say thank you thanks everybody.
The work that the children's theatre companies do is amazing I had earlier this year I was walking my daughter to school just like having on my coffee I hadn't showered yet, just a mess. And there's one of the drink companies just loading into the garage at like 7am and your heroes, your heroes doing anything at 7am All right. Tonight we've come together as a community to celebrate a glorious year in theater.
We also have to pause to remember those in our community we lost this year
Songs are like tattoos
here. No. I've been to see before. Crown and dang to me all let me say
Hey Blue there is a song for you, in canopy underneath the skin, an empty space
well there's so many sinking now you gotta keep thinking. You can make it through these waves as it goes and asks needles, guns and grass. Lots of love.
Everybody say saying that hell's the hippest way to go? Well, I don't think so. But I'm gonna take a look around
food
here is show you inside you here's a foggy love
is your song.
That was Caylee Thomas with Kathy dirt catch on piano performing a beautiful rendition of blue from Joni Mitchell songs of a prairie girl a theatre network production who's run was sadly cut short due to COVID.
up next here to present the awards for the outstanding performances is a stunning quartet of theater artists. The Unstoppable outgoing artistic director of skirts of fire festival. Net LOHAS L. Designer extraordinaire. Who did the lighting design on the Citadel is production of Clue Patrick Bagan and the innovative prolific artistic director of theater network Bradley moss and the multi talented performer stunt coordinator and extremely bendy, aerialist. Samara Vaughn wrap
Okay, so, ensemble.
We're gonna try this as an ensemble
Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble or musical is generously sponsored by the Edmonton Arts Council.
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a play or a call for dancer, Sandell theater, present dancer Jason Kenny's hot on summer, grind some theater
animals shadow theatre Pride and Prejudice Citadel theatre Sweeney Todd Lane Jane theatre company
right
we planned it we have no plans
will we should say
we have this thing
No no no no no
no, we have to think that the Jane Austen pit crew all the people who put clothes on us took them off of us put hair on us sanded off of us so so that's that some Thank you. So that's that's, that's Katie. That's that's Krista. That Steph. That's Olivia. Aaron, that sky.
That's Brendan. That's
Chris. Obviously the incredible creative team me echoes and Aaron and Ainsley and Morgan in the music world and oh my god. Nice. Francis and Gina. There's just so many people Aaron. Yeah, I know. Obviously Ben and Garrett and Beth and Carl, who we send me a goat yet. Thank you, everybody. Thank you, everybody. That was a fantastic experience
Hey, team. It's going well, but
we've been here for a while. How do you feel about holding your applause until I read all the nominees? All right. We'll see how long that lasts. But I appreciate the effort. outstanding performance in a Supporting Role musical at a farm or if a plus Edmonton Opera. Diana Del Rosario prison dancers Citadel theatre, dancer Malakai Wilkins, Jason, Kenny's hot boys summer Ryan's doing theater. Abby Vandenberg. Jason Kenney is hot boy summer, rhinestone theater. And Vance Avery Sweeney Todd plain Jane Theatre Company.
And the Sterling goes to Diana Ralph, restoring Del Rosario prison dancer theater dancer.
Diana and asked me to accept this award on her behalf. She's on Livestream right now. And this is the speech you wanted me to share. Thank you so much for this honor. I'd like to thank Donya, Carmen, Romeo and Anna, for your creation and for your endless hard work in making sure this story is seen by the world. Thank you to direct Nina Keirsey and Julio for guiding me with each of your magical talents and for having faith. In my cherish to Joanna Joyce. Michelle, thank you for the visual spectacle you've made on stage that I've been so lucky to play within every night to my chosen family, my lifelong friends that are a part of this cast. You uplifted me when I had almost absolutely no faith in myself. I'm grateful for every single one of you. Thank you to everyone at the Citadel who worked tirelessly before we even got to the theater and after we've left every day. Finally, I dedicate this to Diana five years ago who just left her first big theater audition in Toronto wondering if she will ever find a place in this industry. This show and these people have enriched my soul to an extent I could have never imagined that girl couldn't have asked for a better debut some more Filipino stories my.
The award for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role Play also sponsored by the Edmonton Arts Council. outstanding performance in a Supporting Role Playing Jamila McNeil the royal Citadel Ben Elliott's Pride and Prejudice set it up here Nadine shoe Pride and Prejudice sit it out there. Mohammed, the Royal Citadel theatre Andrea house the wrong people have money shadow theatre. Dana Lee Hoffman all the little animals I have eaten shadow
remember opening the Sterling and the Sterlington goes to Jamila McNeil.
Hey everybody, I'm Daryl from the Citadel. Jamila is performing at the Stratford Festival right now. And she sent these words to pass along to you. Thank you to every single person who supported the Riau. Thank you God for this moment. Thank you to my friends and family for supporting me every step of the way. Thank you to Philip Aiken for giving me this opportunity to Andre stepped in as our captain, it has been an honor to work with you. Thank you to our stage management team to the crew creative team and everyone at the Citadel who worked so diligently to put this show together to Austin, Alex, Troy and Moe from our pre show dance warmups together to our final bow. You've left an imprint on me. I'm so grateful to share the stage with you. Lastly to Dave and Marcela, my everything Mom and Dad. Thank you for not only breathing life into me, but for your sacrifice. I am nothing without you. Will make sure Jimmy like it's
oh my goodness. We are thrilled to have our next performers here to sing evermore from the Citadel theatre Sterling nominated production of prison dancer. There's two more. Well hey everybody they're gonna sing eventually. I'll be back give it up first.
Let's just say a huge thank you to our hosts tonight. That's
a huge deal.
outstanding performance in a Leading Role musical Julio Fuentes, present dancer set it out there at present dancer Inc.
Sheldon outer Sweeney
Todd plain Jane Theatre Company. Donovan workman Jason Kenny's hot by summer Grindstone theater.
Ferran timeto, Jessie
boys, sit it out there
Christy Hanson Sweeney
Todd plain Jane Theatre Company
and the Sterling goes to who loves who else when Tez present answering
Hello, again, I'm Julio carry with us this evening, but he passed on these words to share with you. It's a great honor to be recognized for this rule. I initially didn't think I would be the best choice to play Lola. Especially because I had taken a step back from performing and I was already wearing the choreographer hat. But it seemed the universe had other plans. And Lola allowed me to step into a level of my power I didn't know I had, and it wouldn't even have been possible without the support of such an incredible team. much gratitude to Anna Serrano, Maile Candido and Carmen de Zeus for creating such a beautiful story filled with Filipino spirit. To Nina Lee Aquino for your immense trust and fearless leadership. Here's he ran for being the coolest music director. Ever. To Kieran bow Hey and Josh cap along for making such an incredible choreography team and allowing me to freely wear both actor and choreographer hats through the whole process to our incredible design team, Joanna, you Joyce, Padua, and Michelle Ramsey, for the fantastic visual world we got to play in to the wonderful folks at the Citadel for giving us a space to tell our story to my classmates for making it such a joy to perform every night. And lastly to my family for loving and nurturing me into this craft. I am so proud to have played a part in Canadian theatre history with this story, and I'm even more proud to be a Filipino in this industry. Mobileye.
And these mics same, even talking awesome. Tonight's Award for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role Play. Thank you, April munificent li sponsored by Accra, Alberta. The nominees are Davina Stewart squeamish Northern Light theatre
Austin Eckert the royal Citadel theatre Dana Lea Hoffman 100 words for snow Northern Light theater. Roya Yes, Then may I need US Republic antosz Productions Kristen Johnson, enough Northern Light theater. Maryland Ryan in the innocence of trees theater network and the Sterling goes to Austin Akka at the Royal Citadel theatre
Hello, Third time's a charm. Here we go. Austin is also performing at the Stratford Festival this this summer and isn't able to join us here but he sent these words to share. As always, my thanks begin with my mother, Karla Eckers. Without whose years of Tyler's tireless care, love and enthusiasm, I would never have been introduced to the Performing Arts in the first place. Love you, Mom. I'd like to give thanks and pay my respects. To the ancestral people of treaty six territory. The people who have been the caretakers and protectors of the sacred land beneath our feet for countless generations. The Dene Cree Nakota Sioux and Soto nations. Performing a piece like The Royale is a rare and astonishing opportunity. I'm incredibly grateful for the vision of Darryl klaren. And the ingenuity of the entire producing body at the Citadel theatre for programming this piece that gives such a nuanced voice to black excellence and the costs associated with striving and dreaming as a young black man. Jamila Mo, Alexander and Troy, I couldn't have asked for a tighter ensemble. Thank you so much for the weekly rap sessions, the daily dance celebrations and the moment to moment care that you all took during the run of the show. Thank you to Andre for stepping in at the 11th hour and having such poise and thoughtful care with this team. Young folks coming up in this industry who find themselves burning from the inside out with so many generations of racialized trauma at their backs. I want to leave you with a quote from the work of James Baldwin. I'm catches up with kingdoms and crushes them to its teeth into doctrines and Renze them. Time reveals the foundations on which any Kingdom rests and eats at those foundations and it destroys doctrines by proving them to be untrue. Thank you
We are thrilled
to have our next performers here to sing evermore. From the center theater Sterling nominated production have led me here. What was it?
Well, at least I know y'all are listening.
Please welcome Sharise bombino and Darren Danko with Stephen Greenfield on piano.
can't be without you
in the world will try to divide us and I know you saw what we could out of them. So you can't tell me that I'm wrong. Cats breed with to you.
In line you
draw divides if we are that makes me feel like this way am I supposed to move on? But I believe that you and me can one day find who are happy. I believe and have a more with you. forevermore. And I believe that you and me could one day have our new beginning. I believe in evermore baby forevermore with you with you.
This is my love thank you for audience just stay on the outside people
forget about
don't try to fight it. You can fight but you can't fight to me you protect yourself and you set me free but how will you carry on? You can see I know I know. It's just gonna take some time. So we can be served. And I believe that you and me could one day find all happy. I believe and I believe that you and me can one day have our new beginning. I believe in have a more baby forevermore with you with you you just got there is no other I've been waiting for.
The outside please forgive me. We'll find
out. One day we'll
forget about me
one day we will find her happy
I'm equal parts calm and also I'm scared to read what's next. Maybe I got the wrong page. I don't know. All right. All right, in all seriousness
wrong parked. Okay,
bring it on back everybody. Respect is an app word to move us to what is arguably the pinnacle of this evening's celebration, the award for outstanding contribution to theatre in Edmonton.
And this year, we extend our greatest honor to a true champion. of the arts, the incomparable Judy Unwin. A woman who gave tirelessly to our theatre community over decades, Judy passed away in January of this year. Now this celebration that brings us together here would not be what it is, without the time, energy and heart that she poured into it. Tonight, it is our privilege to honor Judy Unwin
a light as bright as Judy's leaves an indelible mark on the folks who have had the privilege to bask in her glow. Please welcome to incredible artists who have spent years in collaboration, community and friendship with Judy. Please welcome Jason Hardwick and Kendra Connor.
is a true honor to speak to you tonight? I'm gonna do is I'm gonna do it just it's a true honor tonight to speak to you about our dear friend Judy unwitting and to posthumously present her with Elizabeth Sterling Hades Award for Outstanding Contribution to theatre in Edmonton. Judy passed
away on January 10. And it's hard to comprehend that she is not here with us because the Sterling awards would not exist without her. We are here tonight because of Judy.
Judy's involvement in Edmonton theater began at the walterdale in the 1960s. Among the many roles she filled there was actor, director, board member what President set builder box office chairman and opening night party hostess. Judy did everything. She was the original engineer when the walterdale is conduct melodramas, which ran each summer for an extraordinary 35 years. She progressed to directing and producing beginning with the melodramas and eventually moving on to more poignant works like Mark Madoff's Children of a Lesser God. After seeing the original production in New York, she knew she needed to to direct it and enrolled in an American Sign Language course to prepare. She was moved by the connection she forged with the deaf community as she worked on the show. In her director's notes she wrote, My hope is that this production will open the door to someone that you will be intrigued as I was by the world of the Deaf, that perhaps one of you will enter the door and want to learn that it helps to create a greater understanding between the two worlds. It is a step in the right direction and one that has enriched my life.
Judy joined the board of the Barcelona Theatre in 1996 and served with us for an incredible 26 years. In Judy. We scored an invaluable board member. She was a true ally, experienced, passionate, smart, outspoken, a force to be reckoned with. She knew everyone and everybody knew it. She was the kind of person who could just call and get Joe shocked her on the phone. Judy was involved in our fundraising efforts, particularly during our rebuild campaign, raising 1000s of dollars in silent auctions she organized, assisted by her beloved sister Louis. She was famous with our patrons for her gourmet six course dinner silent auction prizes, some of the most brilliant, generous and hotly contested or Ascona theater silent auction prizes of all time.
Judy was deeply passionate
about the theater and the artists within it, dedicating a significant portion of her life to supporting and uplifting them. She took a particular interest in making sure they were well fed. She hosted Chinese food dinners on Christmas Eve and there was a place at the table for Theatrefolk who didn't have a family to visit over the holidays. During dynasties annual Super THON fundraiser, Judy would turn up at the Barcelona with pots of her famous chili for the cast. Come on stage and crack some jokes. Then head back down to the kitchen and clean up and make sure the leftovers were packaged up for us to take home. One of my first memories of Judy is being with the Sterling Committee during tech time at the Mayfield. I showed up early and Judy was already there. She looked at me and said okay, come on, and took me to pick up an enormous plate of sandwiches and a variety of drinks for the performers and crew. There was never a worry that the artists wouldn't be fed with Judy around. It didn't matter that you didn't know her. She cared about you instantly.
The Sterling award committee is where we both got to know Judy the best she'd been around the event for ever back in 1993. The Edmonton performing arts publicist Association, the original organizers of this event decided to stop running it. An emergency meeting of the theatre community was called and a save the Sterling's manifesto was drawn up the community felt that this event was too important to give up. Judy was there that night? And when the meeting ended, she marched up to the organizers and said how can I help you? He helped for 25 years on the Stirling Committee. She was always the one who took on the most. And as the years passed, she took on more and more. And by the time I joined the team, it had all become too much and she was trying to gently step away. I'm not sure everyone in the theatre community knows how tirelessly duty to ensure the Sterling's happened every year.
Here's a list of the things that Judy did.
She liaised with the Mayfield met with their events team organized the ticket sales picked the menu and fought for the seafood buffet at
no additional cost to us.
She ordered the sandwich snacks and drinks for the performers during tech and insisted
we ate them whether we were hungry or not.
She organized the ballots and supervised
the voting the voting process with the accountants.
She ordered trophies got the name plates etched organized all the material for the event programs and booked the comp and all the volunteers shamed the 5050 and recruited all the sponsors to make sure that we definitely had enough money to pay for the whole event and when we
didn't have enough cash Judy would put the rest of the Mayfield tab on her personal credit card.
Even this year, Chris, you texted both of us to ask how the presenter envelopes got printed. And we all
realized that that was just another thing that Judy took care of
she did a lot for this event, a labor of love that she affectionately referred to as being like planning a wedding for 400 brides.
So to every bride here tonight, you have GV on when to think
I want to emphasize that she did all of this work for free. In fact, everyone who organized this event tonight is a volunteer. There's no nonprofit behind the Sterling's. It's a group of people who love this community and believe that our art and our artists should be supported, nurtured and celebrated. So we want to say thank you to the Stirling committee for bringing us all together tonight. In a fabulous night. We also want to uphold all the board members and the volunteers who are here tonight supporting their companies. Sometimes the work behind the scenes gets missed. We see you and we thank you. Judy's legacy
is a testament to the power of volunteerism and the impact a single person can have on an entire community. Her passion for theater in our town was nothing short of remarkable. And we thank her for half a century of devoted service.
So later at the party, let's all raise our dry min Dry Gin martinis to you Judy. We are all sad that you aren't here to accept this award. In person. You deserved it 20 years ago.
Judy sons Scott and Steve are here to receive her award on her behalf. Would you please join me in welcoming them to the stage to accept the award for outstanding contribution to theatre in Edmonton? Presented posthumously to our dear friend Judy Unwin?
Well if you're, if you're certainly his bingo card ahead identically dress Bobo brothers
you're in luck tonight.
I'm doing something Kendra. That was a
steal somebody for us. We are truly
honored and humbled to be here to accept this award. I'm Hebron mom
Aside from her, her own family nothing was more important to her
than this you guys. These awards
just community all heard of last year Judy would talk about how I was just gonna get to get a Lifetime Achievement word from the Sterling's well you know what that's about you know, and they know downplaying it or Jean her very Judi way. But you could tell us she was proud. And she was excited and she was stoked and we really wished it was her here tonight accepted this award. And thank you all for it and it's it's such a naughty herb. If she was here, she would have cracked some inside jokes, and probably make a few naughty remarks under the guise of having a senior moment. But she would let you know how much she loved so many of you and how much this community meant to her. We really hope that you keep her memory alive in your work, your volunteer efforts, your passion for the arts in this city. She was very proud of you and we are very
proud for you
oh geez
Oh my God. Don't boo me that was so rude.
Oh, all right. Sorry, Doug.
All right, my friends.
One more time for Judy because it's honestly people don't realize just how much work goes into something like this. And the people behind the scenes who you have no idea about, like they are they are really busting their asses to make this thing happen. And it's and it's it's such a gift. So yeah, maybe we should all decide to go volunteer somewhere. Yeah.
Yeah. All right. They're
starting to sign up. I heard you all. I'll see you in the lobby. All right here to present the awards for outstanding achievement indirection are two artists whose work spans across multiple genres and mediums contributing to the incredible multidisciplinary community. We are celebrating here tonight. Please welcome Nuri Gill. And Patrick London.
So, backstage my button broke on my shirt. And it presented a great opportunity because neither of us had pockets big enough to fit all these things. I don't have pockets at all. And there's two squares that haven't been crossed out yet on the what is it? Bingo. Got these heels here. They're coming off.
Got to do my part, right. And I think
I only noticed three very small tech glitches that no one else may have noticed, but I did notice not gonna call anybody out but it happened. So I think there's only two squares left.
That is a lot better actually. Oh, look, there's a script. I didn't, actually great. Here are the nominees for outstanding musical direction. That's Order No. Don't have choreography
or fight direction first here. Fantastic. Okay, so outstanding choreography or fight direction. Shaquille rollick the Roy sent it off yet? Ainsley Hilliard
all the little adults. I have eaten shadow theater.
I'm Berber. Roxtec Alina Pyretic productions. Morgan
deathtrap. Tatra live
winters prison dancers send it off theater prison dancer Incorporated. Opening the envelope that wasn't written down
but we're doing it anyway freestyle and the Sterling goes to Julio Fuentes prison dancer.
It's pretty thrilling, thrilling. thrilling to see Helios work like this. Julio sent sent a few words for this. Bob Fosse he once said, Nothing is serious, but everything is important. And that's how I have always approached choreography. Getting to create the physical vocabulary of prison dancer has been such a fun experience. And I'm so lucky to have had the great support and trust for both the cast and the creative team. Thank you to Neely Aquino for trusting my vision for this story. To Kieran bow Hey and Josh Caffee along for being the best choreography team to work with. I couldn't have done this Herculean task without you and your collaboration and generosity to Joanna you for the playground you created for all of us and to the prison dancer cast for bearing with all of those marching sequences. Yay dance. Congratulations.
Here are the nominees for outstanding musical direction read nominees. Shannon Hubert Sweeney Todd clean Jane theatre
Chloe My hair's
step out mutter Edmonton Opera.
Simon Abbott Jason Kenny's hot boy summer Grindstone theater.
Steven Greenberg,
Jersey Boys Citadel theatre.
Do you see red prison dancer sit it out theater slash president or operator
let you do it. And the Sterling goes to Shannon Hubert Sweeney.
Wow, I'm not Shannon. Shannon unfortunately couldn't be here today. She is in Winnipeg. So if you're watching Shannon, this is amazing. This is really going to mean the world to her.
Shannon's an incredible human and incredible musician.
A mother
passionate about
working on musicals and operas. So I have learned so much from her. And yes, she's just going to be over the moon. So thank you so much to the to the jury. Thank you so much, everyone.
I just want to take a quick second to thank everybody who was part of the Sterling juries and everyone who is a part of organizing the Stirling's this year. This is volunteer work. And a lot of people put many many many hours into it and this event is fantastic. I love the space at the fringe and I'm sure you all agree with me thank you to everybody who put this together
okay, the award for outstanding direction of appeal. Musical is graciously sponsored by the Canadian Actors Equity Association
and the nominees are Oh 33 Andre shields the royal Citadel theatre
one and only Trevor Smith, words for snow northern my theater.
Alexandra skins all the little animals I have eaten shadow theatre
K Kate's Ryan Sweeney Todd plain Jane Theatre Company.
And yeah, go to Pride and Prejudice. Citadel Theatre
and the Sterling goes to clip there's a clip providing some friction
and the Sterling goes to Andre sills.
Would you believe I told you that Andre is at Stratford in the in the same show as Austin and Jamila. It's the Andre Andre sent these words for me to share with you. First off, I have to thank the man who opened the door for me Philip Akin. Yeah. A man who taught me a lot about acting and directing who also provided this incredible cast and creative team to play with. Thank you Darrell for trusting Philip and me to take his salon. Thank you to the whole team at the Citadel for being so accommodating and helpful. Thank you to catalyst for the scrim thank you to our stage management team, Molly Pearson And Yvette Martins. You kept my brain together. Molly, you deserve Stuart Sterling for calling this show. Thank you for being my assistant director. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you to my creative team Whitten Rachel David Shaq and Steve and last but not least my cast truly Alexandre, Mo, Austin and Jamila. Thank you all for trusting me with this ambitious theatrical feat.
fists up
what's up indeed. I'm sorry. Someone made me drink beer quickly. And now for the final set. of awards for the evening. The awards for outstanding achievements in production and boy, do we have a trio of presenters who know a thing or two about shaking up the Edmonton theatre scene. Please give a roaring round of applause for our fabulous presenters tonight. Josh Longo Chris Dodd, and Patricia dar Macy. These three artists have left an enduring mark on the cultural landscape, painting it with their unique intersections and experiences here they are.
Good evening Are you having fun tonight? I can see. Yeah, if you are raise your hands like this. This is I can see the deaf group in the front they're having fun because they're acknowledging it. Tonight's Award for Outstanding independent productions was sponsored again by Edmonton fantastic jam rapid fire theater. The nominees are smoke by tiny bear Jaws
reconstruct by common grounds Art Society
and
Republic by all Tosh productions
in my little corner by common grounds Art Society
boy trouble Morris project
the winner in
Smoke bear dies fingers congratulations.
Shit I, um I was thinking about being a little indie guy. Um I have this memory. When we were during tech week, where my my federal wife Toni Morrison and I were in Ecolab like this tiny little beautiful space and we had a bucket full of water and it was the first time that we were testing using this like camping showerhead to see if we could make the bucket. That whole system just a bucket and a showerhead go at the right time. And we tried it out for the first time and it worked. And Tory who is normally so calm as a cucumber turned and looked at me and she was like, Holy fuck. I had no plan B
I'll try to be brief. We want to get dancing, but congratulations man oh man, in very good company in this category also can't help but notice MEK frog was a producer on four out of five
we got some support from Citadel and punctuate. So thank you so so much. Thank you to everybody who came and saw the show. In particular, I think my beautiful beautiful team. Tori Morrison, Jenna Rogers, Steven sobolewski Helen belay Sam Jeffrey. I'm gonna go faster Jade Haley, Gabe, Danny wit Maddie, Ariadne, Mac live, Francis. We're so grateful to be able to work and share with you all here as part of this community. Lastly, we kind of have been talking about it already. But just to say explicitly, this is a really scary moment to be an LGBTQ person right now. We're seeing some pretty scary anti queer sentiments creeping their way north. And the impacts of this are particularly felt by queer black indigenous and POC folks. But the great news is that we are in a room of people who can do something about that. So when some of those things include programming, queer stories, advocate for that the companies that you work for and with higher queer artists, even when the content of the shows that you're producing have nothing to do with gender or sexuality, as well as unequivocally denouncing anti trans and LGBTQ rhetoric at every opportunity.
Represented represent and inviting audiences to witness a spectrum of queer experiences and empathize with us is, I believe, a powerful way that companies can counter the vitriolic stories being told about us and to help make a better safer world for LGBTQ people in our community and beyond. Thank you once again, this is.
Hey, y'all, we are now bringing you the Timothy rock Ryan Award for outstanding production of a musical and this award is happily sponsored. By our dear friends at production world. Then nominees are prison dancer, Citadel theatre, prison dance, Incorporated.
Sweeney Todd, plain Jane Theatre Company Jason Kenny's hot boy summer Grindstone theater Jersey Boys Citadel theatre Joni Mitchell's songs of a prairie girl theater network Wildside productions and this thing goes to no you need to take away the paper clip if you're gonna prison dancer, Citadel theatre prison
cooperative.
I have words to share from from Carmen and remail. And Anna Carla, who couldn't be with us here tonight but I know are watching on the live stream. So we are so sorry not to be there tonight to celebrate with all of you on behalf of prison dancer Inc, Romeo, Carmen, Carla and Anna thank you to the Sterling awards for this great honor to our most recent funding and production partners, Sarah and Sarah and the National creation fund team and Daryl Jesse and the entire Citadel theatre crew. Thank you for taking a chance on a musical that was 10 years in the making. To our incredible director Nina and the entire creative team she led my roaming sell up sell at my poll. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. To our cast the hardest working Triple Threat performers and candidate who always found time for laughter and joy mahoe Amin, mahalo Konami mean we love and last but not least, big, big love to this incredible Edmonton community. Thank you and see you all in Ottawa in November.
All righty, and now we bring to you the Sterling for outstanding production of a play. Who's ready for that? Yeah. I do want to say and we can keep that applause going. The award for outstanding production of a play is generously sponsored by everybody's favorite joint, the next act let me see next act, and the nominees are the Royal from Citadel theatre network, Citadel theatre,
Royal Manitoba Theatre
Center. All the little animals I have eaten shadow theatre 100 words for snow Northern Light theatre and Pride Prejudice the Citadel Theatre and the Sterling to
the royal from the Senate Oh, dinner
real quick real quick. Oh, no. Sir Beyonce had your best video
we we did a Yo yo, shout out. Do we did Yo yo yo we got everyone. Beyonce had the best video. You will also I'm looking for an agent by the way. That's it.
Okay. So it's this incredible team that made this happen. And just just to go to go off script, I'm not reading anybody else's words right now. Just just to say this, this was this was the little show that could that we COVID COVID kept trying to take us down. We announced we announced this this show as a part of our season and then it got shut down. Then we announced it in a new season and they got shut down again. And then Philip Aiken, our incredible director who had been with us for two years trying to put this show together, got ill and wasn't able to come but Andre was able to step in at the last second to direct and through everything. This show just kept persevering. And this incredible team of artists kept persevering and made one of the most beautiful shows ever to land on the Citadel stage. So thank you, thank you to all of the artists involved, the ones here and the ones watching from the home and the one starring in Stratford productions right now. We thank you so much and big, big thanks. Thanks to the Sterling's thanks, thanks for all the hard work you did to bring us all together. It's as people have said it's been it's been a tough couple of years. And it's it's a challenge making theater these days. And it's it's because of all of you brave souls out there that care so much about this and they're so passionate about your art, that we're able to come back together and celebrate so we're so proud to be a part of that. Thank you for a great night. Congratulations everybody.
Let's go
holy
smokes
Moe is so much taller than me.
My friends.
I think we did it. We didn't do it.
We did it. We have reached
the end of the
35th annual liberabit Sterling Haynes
Oh my God on behalf Oh, is this you?
Yeah. So I think before we get to some very important things, you have one very important bit of business to do. And that's to check in once again with our where's your beer? It's down here. Okay, great.
So don't make me do it.
The first half or the second half of the show. We saw a speech turned into a toaster everybody was invited out to the lobby for Dry Gin martinis that's a drink. Oh, I believe we also I already took off her. Yeah, that's right. That was out of spite. Thank you so much. Patrick has said there was a technical glitch and I'm just going to believe them. Yeah, who would know better
and several people think
their parents yes. That's about enough of that. Yeah. Did we miss anything?
No. What Oh, but we covered that one already. Come
it's my turn.
Okay. It's your line of the Sterling Christie Hansen,
Steven Zablocki and probate again. Hey, Ryan, Mary Ellen Pearlie. Look telling and myself. We extend our thanks to all the presenters and performers who appeared this evening, and congratulations to all of the nominees and the Sterling award recipients.
Oh my god and also
thank you for not canceling our Yeah. Now you were here buddy. We'd also
like to offer a frenzied round of applause to eautiful the Sterling technical team. Let's hear it for our lighting operator. We got Terry Miller, our sound operator. Our live stream switcher Chris Cavanaugh, we got our camera operators, Simon wicks and Amy dice. Our venue technical director Selena paint, y'all as well as our photographers, Ryan Parker, and Brianna Jiang. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you
to Kendra Connor. And Jason Hardwick for their help backstage and also for their many, many, many years of service on the Sterling's committee. This also would not be what it is without them. We also need to thank our wonderful stage manager Steven Zablocki, our assistant stage manager, Rhiannon Eldridge. And our director, the indelible Kate
for another round for our Edmonton Arts Council sponsored music, we got Liz Shan Meza Conte, Daniel said, Nikki and Eric, I believe this pronunciation is correct. More timer.
All right.
Finally, we
have to say, our beloved friends, and matriarch Christy Hansen. Y'all see you secrecy. I didn't even have to say nothing they just know okay. Christie has served on this committee for so long and she does more jobs than any person should be able to do. This is her final year on the committee and we have to say that we are so grateful for this event would not be what it is without her. And Thank you Christy. We love you Yes. You need to drink Oh
truly some impossible shoes to fill. That's I'm scared.
Yeah.
Hey, man. Yeah. That was dope.
That was a dope tan.
Do you know what what time it is there? Matthew.
I love it when you call me by my full name. I think it's time to put it well is it party? Yeah.
You don't sound shirt.
More time. Is that party time? Yeah,
they sound so sure. Yeah.
It just gonna have a lobby we're gonna dance the night away courtesy with music from the prom queens. Yes, thank you so much, everybody. That brings us to the end of this part of the program that I'm I have been sued.