It’s typically the Denver Center Theatre Company that walks away with the most awards at the annual Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards recognizing excellence in theatre statewide. But this year, a smaller production company — Boulder-based BETC (Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado) — tied the big dog with the most wins with nine altogether. All of them were for their production of The Royale, a racially charged historical drama about a Black boxer in the early 20th century.
The Henry Awards ceremony took place at the Denver Center’s Wolf Theatre Monday night.
It was an especially poignant showing for BETC founders Stephen Weitz and Rebecca Ramaly, who turned over the theatre’s reins to Mark Ragan and Jessica Robblee earlier this year. The Royale won in overall categories for Outstanding Play and also for Director (Jada Suzanne Dixon). BETC competes in the Tier 2 category for smaller theatres in other categories including Lead Actor (Lavour Addison), Supporting Actor and Actress, Ensemble, Costume, Lighting and Sound.
The Denver Center took home nine Henry’s and the state’s second-largest theatre company at the Arvada Center brought home six this year, while theatres outside the Denver-Boulder area picked up crumbs. The Colorado Springs area got only three, with SET grabbing its first-ever Henry — a supporting actress nod for The Revolutionists — and the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College picking up two supporting actor wins — both for its production of It’s a Wonderful Life.
Despite an epic snow year, the mountain theatres came up mostly dry. Theatre Aspen, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre and Thunder River Theatre Company each came home with one Henry while the Breckenridge Backstage Theatre Company had one in the Youth Performer category. A number of other strong theatre companies were also left Henry-less Monday night, including Town Hall Arts Center, Curious Theatre Company, Miners Alley, Buntport, The Catamounts, Aurora Fox and more.
A few other notable wins included a Best Actress in a Musical – Tier 2 to GerRee Hinshaw for her bangup performance in Local Theater Company’s Raised on Ronstadt and Jessica Robblee for her performance in the one-woman show The Belle of Amherst. The Lead Actress — Tier 2 award was the first for newcomer Clover & Bee Productions — a company started by Robblee and Ragan before they took over at BETC.
Check out John Moore’s Denver Gazette story for a thorough rundown of the evening.
Complete list of winners
(Winners in bold)
Outstanding Play
“The Royale,” BETC
“The Children,” BETC
“The Book of Will,” Colorado Shakespeare Festival
“Hotter Than Egypt,” DCPA Theatre Company
“Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company
The Arvada Center’s production of ‘Into the Woods’ won for top musical. | Jamie Kraus Photography
Outstanding Musical
“Into the Woods,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
“The Color Purple,” DCPA Theatre Company
“Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
“Jersey Boys,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
“Jersey Boys,” Theatre Aspen
Director of a Play
Jada Suzanne Dixon, “The Royale,” BETC
Chris Coleman, “Hotter Than Egypt,” DCPA Theatre Company
Chris Coleman, “Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company
Tara Falk, “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” Cherry Creek Theatre Lisa Portes, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Director of a Musical
Hunter Foster, “Jersey Boys,” Theatre Aspen
Dee Covington, “Raised on Ronstadt,” Local Theater Company Jeff Duke, “Jersey Boys,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Kenny Moten, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Kelly Van Oosbree, “Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
Robert Wells, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” Town Hall Arts Center
Musical Direction
Jordan Ortman, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Eric Alsford, “Jersey Boys,” Theatre Aspen
Trent Hines, “Into the Woods,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Michael Querio, “Jersey Boys,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre Jesse Sanchez, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Lead Actor in a Play
Tier 1
Geoffrey Kent, “Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company
Geoffrey Kent in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ | Photo: Michael Martin Photography
Lavour Addison, “Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Creede Repertory Theatre
Logan Ernsttal, “The Book of Will,” Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Erik Sandvold, “Franklinland,” Curious Theatre Company
Herbert Siguenza, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Tier 2
Lavour Addison, “The Royale,” BETC
Sam Gregory, “The Children,” BETC
Chris Kendall, “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Bob Moore, “You Can’t Take It With You,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Sean Verdu, “Hand to God,” Springs Ensemble Theatre
Lead Actress in a Play
Tier 1
Dana Green as Beatrice in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at the Denver Center | Photo: Michael Martin Photography
Dana Green, “Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company
Emily Bosco, “Native Gardens,” Creede Repertory Theatre
Narea Kang, “The Chinese Lady,” DCPA Theatre Company
Kate MacCluggage, “Hotter Than Egypt,” DCPA Theatre Company
Emily Van Fleet, “Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Creede Repertory Theatre
Tier 2
Jessica Robblee, “The Belle of Amherst,” Clover & Bee Productions
Jessica Robblee won for Lead Actress in a Play for the Clover & Bee production of ‘The Belle of Amherst’
Elizabeth Baugh, “Lost in Yonkers,” Bas Bleu Theatre Martha Harmon Pardee, “The Children,” BETC
Emily Paton Davies, “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Gina Walker, “The Children,” BETC
Lead Actor in a Musical
Tier 1
Mitchell Lewis, “Jersey Boys,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
Brian Bohlender, “Hair,” Miners Alley Playhouse
Michael Cárrasco, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Trevor James, “Jersey Boys,” Theatre Aspen
Elton J. Tanega, “Disney’s Newsies,” Town Hall Arts Center
Tier 2 A Tie
Miracle Myles, “Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
Jeremy Rill, “Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
Lars Preece, “Carousel,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Jeremy Rill, “The Headliners,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Ethan Walker, “Cabaret,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Lead Actress in a Musical
Tier 1
Maiesha McQueen, “The Color Purple,” DCPA Theatre Company
Johanna Carlisle-Zepeda, “In the Heights,” Fine Arts Center Theatre Company at Colorado College
Cassondra James, “Gypsy: A Musical Fable,” Theatre Aspen
Emily Van Fleet, “Always…Patsy Cline,” Creede Repertory Theatre Caitlin Wise, “Always…Patsy Cline,” Creede Repertory Theatre
Tier 2
GerRee Hinshaw, “Raised on Ronstadt,” Local Theater Company
GerRee Hinshaw, accompanied by Joe Mazza and Mari Meza-Burgos in ‘Raised on Ronstadt’ | Michael Ensminger Photography
Carolyn Lohr, “Carousel,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Emily Macomber, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” Ovation West Performing Arts
Katie Reid, “Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
Leiney Rigg, “Little Women – The Broadway Musical,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Supporting Actor in a Play
Tier 1 A Tie
Sammy Gleason, “It’s A Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play,” Fine Arts Center Theatre Company at Colorado College
Michael Lee, “It’s A Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play,” Fine Arts Center Theatre Company at Colorado College
Raúl Cardona, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Wasim No’Mani, “Hotter Than Egypt,” DCPA Theatre Company
Matt Zambrano, “Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Creede Repertory Theatre
Tier 2
Cris Davenport, “The Royale,” BETC
Cameron Davis, “The Royale,” BETC
John Hauser, “Proof,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Cajardo Lindsey, “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” Cherry Creek Theatre Augie Truhn, “The Royale,” BETC
Supporting Actress in a Play
Tier 1
Alexis B. Santiago, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Maggie Bofill, “Laughs in Spanish,” DCPA Theatre Company
Anne Faith Butler, “Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Creede Repertory Theatre
Anastasia Davidson, “The Book of Will,” Colorado Shakespeare Festival
eden, “Toni Stone,” Aurora Fox Arts Center
Krystal Ortiz, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Caitlin Wise, “Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Creede Repertory Theatre
Tier 2 A Tie
Sarah Sheppard Shaver, “The Revolutionists,” Springs Ensemble Theatre
Alicia “Lisa” Young, “The Royale,” BETC
Nina Gabianelli, “You Can’t Take It With You,” Thunder River Theatre Company Missy Moore, “Hurricane Diane,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Desireé Myers, “The Revolutionists,” Springs Ensemble Theatre
Sydney Parks Smith, “The Revolutionists,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Supporting Actor in a Musical
Tier 1
Colin Alexander, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Cordell Cole, “Into the Woods,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Robert
“Spence” Gabriel, “In the Heights,” Fine Arts Center Theatre Company at Colorado College
Kevin Hack, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Barret Harper, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Tier 2 A Tie
Jeffrey Parker, “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Carter Edward Smith, “Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
Zayaz Da Camara, “Small Ball,” The Catamounts
Bill Diggle, “Carousel,” Performance Now Theatre Company Jordan Leigh, “Small Ball,” The Catamounts
Supporting Actress in a Musical
Tier 1
Adriane Leigh Robinson, “Damn Yankees,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Rae Leigh Case, “The Spongebob Musical,” BDT Stage Shea Gomez, “Gypsy A Musical Fable,” Theatre Aspen
Megan Van De Hey, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Taylor J. Washington, “The Color Purple,” DCPA Theatre Company
Tier 2
Danielle Hermon, “Sound of Music,” Sasquatch Productions
Jennifer Burnett, “Carousel,” Performance Now Theatre Company Suzanna Champion, “Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts Amy Condon, “The Addams Family,” Sasquatch Productions
Jennifer Grahnquist, “Carousel,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Ensemble
“The Royale,” BETC
“The Children,” BETC
“Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Creede Repertory Theatre “Steel Magnolias,” Creede Repertory Theatre
“It’s A Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play,” Fine Arts Center Theatre Company at Colorado College
“Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company
Choreography
Jessica Hindsley, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Marissa Herrera, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Nick Jones, “Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company Christopher Page-Sanders, “Sophisticated Ladies,” Vintage Theatre
Teonna Wesley, “Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Creede Repertory Theatre
New Play or Musical
Kate MacCluggage and Gareth Saxe in the Denver Center Theatre Company production of ‘Hotter Than Egypt’ | Jamie Kraus Photography
“Hotter Than Egypt,” Written by Yussef El Guindi, DCPA Theatre Company
“Acts of Faith,” Written by david yee, Aurora Fox Arts Center
“The Headliners,” Written by Jeff Neuman, Cherry Creek Theatre
“Laughs In Spanish,” Written by Alexis Scheer, DCPA Theatre Company “Raised on Ronstadt,” Written by GerRee Hinshaw, Local Theater Company
Costume Design
Tier 1
Helen Q. Huang, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Meghan Anderson Doyle, “The Book of Will,” Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Kevin Copenhaver, “Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company
Clare Henkel, “Into the Woods,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Sarah Stark, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Tier 2
Sarah Zinn, “The Royale,” BETC
Caitlyn Clark and Karen Krause, “Carousel,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Steffani Day, “You Can’t Take It With You,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Nicole Harrison, “Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
Linda Morken, “The Headliners,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Lighting Design
Tier 1
Pablo Santiago, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Robert J. Aguilar, “Hotter Than Egypt,” DCPA Theatre Company Isabella Byrd, “The 39 Steps,” DCPA Theatre Company
Jon Dunkele, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Paul Whitaker, “Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company
Tier 2
Emily A. Maddox, “The Royale,” BETC
Jess Buttery, “Dance Nation,” square product theatre
Emily A. Maddox, “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” Cherry Creek Theatre Neil Truglio, “A Great Wilderness,” Benchmark Theatre
Colin Young, “The Children,” BETC
Scenic Design
Tier 1 A Tie
Brian Mallgrave, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Efren Degadillo, Jr., “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Lex Liang, “The 39 Steps,” DCPA Theatre Company
Brian Mallgrave, “Into the Woods,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Lisa M. Orzolek, “Hotter Than Egypt,” DCPA Theatre Company
Klara Zieglerova, “Much Ado About Nothing,” DCPA Theatre Company
Tier 2
Colin Tugwell, “You Can’t Take It With You,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Tina Anderson, “Eden Prairie, 1971,” BETC
James Brookman, “Clue: On Stage,” OpenStage Theatre and Company Brian Mallgrave, “Footloose,” Give 5 Productions and Parker Arts
Ron Mueller, “The Children,” BETC
Sound Design
Tier 1
David R. Molina, “Hotter Than Egypt,” DCPA Theatre Company
Jason Ducat, “The Book of Will,” Colorado Shakespeare Festival Brian Freeland, “Franklinland,” Curious Theatre Company
Lindsay Jones, “The 39 Steps,” DCPA Theatre Company
David R. Molina, “Quixote Nuevo,” DCPA Theatre Company
Max Silverman, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Tier 2
Cece Smith, “The Royale,” BETC
Andrew Metzroth, “Eden Prairie, 1971,” BETC
Missy Moore and Dani Taylor-Moxon, “You Can’t Take It With You,” Thunder River Theatre Company
Max Silverman, “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” Cherry Creek Theatre
CeCe Smith, “The Children,” BETC
Bailey Trierweiler, “Dance Nation,” square product theatre
Youth Performer 3 Awards
Jackson Baldwin, “A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol,” Steel City Theatre Company
Jacob L. Johnson, “A Christmas Story,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Nolan McDowell, “The Addams Family,” Sasquatch Productions
Sadie Crain, “Sound of Music,” Sasquatch Productions
Hayden McDonald, “Lost in Yonkers,” Bas Bleu Theater Company
Lifetime Achievement
Jeffrey Wayne Nickelson
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