34 awards were presented in various categories

By Staff Report

With the return of its annual awards show after the pandemic, South Valley Civic Theatre celebrated the cast and crew of its 2021-2022 productions. In a tribute to local theater that gave the Tony’s a run for its money, the awards were presented at a gala dinner held Jan. 14 at Morgan Hill’s Granada Theater.

A total 34 awards were presented ranging in categories from performances in youth and adult roles, producers, directors, costume design, set design, music and vocal direction, and choreography,

Shows that were open for the awards were staged at the Limelight Theater in Gilroy, the Community Playhouse in Morgan Hill, and a video production. They are “Ripcord” (Limelight) – September 2021; “A Nice Family Christmas”  (Limelight) – November 2021; “The Night Before Christmas” (video staged reading) – December 2021; “Cabaret” (Playhouse) – March 2022; “Newsies JR” (Playhouse – Teen Production) – May 2022; “Tigers Be Still” (Limelight) – May 2022; and “Beauty and the Beast” (Playhouse) – June 2022.

The awards were picked from nominations in a “people’s choice” vote, with SVCT members making the selections.

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” won 18 awards including best show in the musical category. “A Nice Family Christmas” received five awards including best show in the play category. “Newsies Jr.” received six awards. “Cabaret” received two awards. “Ripcord” received two awards. “Tiger Be Still” received one award.

Speakers at the awards show also recognized the creativity and persistence that went into keeping SVCT alive during COVID-19. By leveraging ingenuity and technology, the nonprofit theater group produced and delivered a dozen online plays, some using a green screen at SVCT’s warehouse, some as fixed sets at their Limelight venue, and others through Zoom.

“We are grateful for the loyal members who maintained their membership and support of SVCT, even without live theater,” said board president Kimberly Lynch. “Those supporters helped ensure that, post-COVID, their community theater would again flourish.”

For the current season, SVCT has three shows remaining: “The Drowsy Chaperone,” (opening Feb. 24), “Sweeney Todd” (opening April 28), and “Matilda the Musical” (opening June 23). Limelight has one more show, “Becky’s New Car,” opening May 26. The current show, a romantic comedy called “Later Life,” runs until Feb. 12.