Margaret Bush was named Best Actress and Jim Grace was named Best Actor for starring roles this Royal Palm Players' season in “A Bench in the Sun.” The awards were given out by Managing Artistic Director Michele Strauss at the Anna Awards ceremony attended by nearly 100 people at the Boca Grande Beach Club April 14. The Anna Awards are the RPP equivalent of the Tony Awards given for Broadway plays. Strauss said the caliber of talent and involvement in the productions improved appreciably in her third season at the RPP helm. The Anna Awards are determined by vote of qualified Royal Palm Players contributors and actors Other award winners included: • Charlie Tyler as All-Time Favorite Male Actor for his body of work with the Royal Palm Players. Tyler was managing artistic director before Strauss until health issues forced him to step down. But he's been a healthy and steady presence on stage appearing in three plays this season (“A Bench in the Sun,” “Gangster Apparel” and “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.”)
• Ann Fletcher as All-Time Favorite Female Actor. Fletcher stole the show in this year's “Belles” and is always a crowd favorite.
• Strauss was named Director of the Year after piloting the last two plays “A Bench in the Sun” and “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.”
• Dan Headington won Best Supporting Actor for “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.”
• Michelle Neitzel won Best Supporting Actress for “Belles.”
• Vivian Rice won Best Female Cameo for “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.”
• David Jenkins won Best Male Cameo for “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.”
• Marcia Spencer won Stage Manager of the Year for “Belles.”
Other honors went to behind-the-scenes assistance from Connie Gregg and Carol Forrester as Volunteers of the Year, Jackie York took the Managing Artistic Director Award and Nancy Lyons and Jack Hall were recognized for Service on the RPP Board.
Strauss praised York for helping RPP stay on course as it upgraded its technology and maneuvered through another busy season.
“She's always given such great service and this year wouldn't have been as successful without her,” Strauss said.
Article Photos
Margaret Bush was named Best Actress.
Jim Grace was named Best Actor.
Charlie Tyler was named All-Time Favorite Male Actor.
Attendees at the Royal Palm Players Anna Awards April 14 included: from left: Linda Rollyson, Carol Forrester, Edie Gardner and Nancy Lyons.
Michele Strauss, artistic director for the Royal Palm Players, left, and former Board Chairwoman Nancy Lyons enjoying the April 14 Anna Awards function at Boca Bay Country Club.
