The 38th Annual Ruby Griffith Awards Ceremony
by Heather Sanderson
The British are known for their love of customs, culture and traditions, all three of which came together under the roof of Bretton Woods Country Club in Potomac on July 15, 2007, when the British Players held their 38th Annual Ruby Griffith Awards Ceremony.
Ruby Griffith
|
The Ceremony is named for an early mentor of the Players, Ruby Griffith, who on the opening night of the group's 1968 Old Time Music Hall, which she produced and directed, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. She died a few days later. In honor of Ms. Griffith's commitment and contributions to community theatre, the British Players instituted an annual award competition for All-Round Production Excellence. Initially, the Washington Theatre Alliance, then consisting of fourteen theatre groups including the British Embassy Players, administered the award, but the administration of the competition was assumed by the Players in 1971 and eligibility was expanded.
In 1991, two new achievement awards were added: the Ruby Griffith Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Musical, and the Ruby Griffith Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Non-Musical production. Each year the competition attracts entries from over 30 local community theatre groups.
Albert Coia of the
British Players |
This year's award ceremony was presided over by British Players' Old Time Music Hall favorite, Albert Coia, whose first task of the afternoon was to present Lady Catherine Manning, wife of British Ambassador, Sir David Manning, with a certificate of appreciation for her efforts over the last few years as Patron of the organization. Next up was Eileen Kent, organizer of the event, and secretary for the British Players. Kent introduced the ceremony's guest speaker, long-time British Player's member, Robert Leembruggen.
The jovial northerner regaled the audience with tales from his days as a schoolboy from a working class family in Nottingham, England, whose ambitions to become an actor would never have been fulfilled had it not been for his introduction to the British Players in 1991. In 2005, Leembruggen became a member of Actor's Equity. Since that time he has continued to work professionally and is currently working at the Olney Theatre Center in Maryland on a production of Of Mice and Men. Leembruggen's tale of success stemming from community theatre was, no doubt, inspiring to his audience, which consisted of the cream of the community theatre crop...many of whom may themselves be hoping to turn professional one day.
Director Ron Giddings accepts the
All-Round Production Excellency Trophy, for Urinetown, from Lady Catherine Manning |
In what was probably her last engagement for the British Players before she and her husband return to the United Kingdom, Lady Manning presented the awards and expressed her enthusiasm for the important role theatres, such as the ones gathered that afternoon, play in our community. Receiving awards from Her Ladyship were the following:
All-Round Production Excellence
» Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre - Urinetown
Outstanding Achievement in a Musical
» Potomac Theatre Company - Nunsense
Outstanding Achievement in a Play
» The Montgomery Playhouse - Chapter Two
Director Cecellia Rogers
accepts a plaque for Outstanding Achievement Award in a Play, for Chapter Two, from guest speaker Robert Leembruggen. |
The All-Round Production Excellence Award is represented by a particularly magnificent trophy. Made of sterling silver and depicting the masks of comedy and tragedy below the British Lion, the trophy was crafted by Garrard's of London from an original design provided by an early member of the British Embassy Players. The two Outstanding Achievement Awards are plaques with the representation of the Lion and masks from the All-Round Excellency trophy.
A particular highlight of the afternoon was the fabulous spread the British Players laid out for their guests: roast beef, ham, devilled eggs, tea sandwiches, quiche...a perfect Afternoon Tea.
Participation in the Ruby Griffith Award program is open to any amateur theatre group meeting the established criteria. For more information about that and the 2007/08 season of the British Players, visit www.britishplayers.org.
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