Published on May 14, 2018 by Ashley Smith  
Bonie Awards Performance

Samford Theatre celebrated a busy year with the annual Bonie Awards.  The theatre department featured more than 10 productions along with outreach and traveling performances during the 2017-18 season.  According to Mark Castle, “It was a tremendously successful year. We are so proud of the accomplishments of these students and blessed to have the opportunity to work with such a talented group.”

 Congratulations to these individuals for receiving the faculty designated awards which include the following recipients: Gail Patrick Directing Award, Ann-Houston Campbell ‘18; Jesse Bates Award, Emily Pitts ‘18;Best Playwright, Anna Beth Riggs ‘18; Best Playwright for the Youth, Ann-Houston Campbell; Tony Sparks Excellence in Theatre, Alex Roberts  Dec. ‘18; Trailblazer Award, Claire Wells ’18 (for her work with Unless U) ;Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, Chelsea Nicholson ‘10;Outstanding Technical Theatre Award, Jonathan Skaggs ‘19/Ann Houston Campbell; Outstanding Theatre Major Award, Catherine Patton ‘18; Best Freshman, Chloe Tower.

In addition to the faculty awards, students vote on the 2018, Bonie Main Stage Awards.  This year, the winners are: Best Main Stage, Children of Eden;Best Stage Manager, Alex Roberts Dec. ‘18- Children of Eden; Best Assistant Choreographer, Anna Beth Riggs’18 – Children of Eden; Best Female in a Leading Role in a Play, Madison Merkel ’20 in Caucasian Chalk Circle;Best Male in a Leading Role in a Play, Nic DiPrima ‘21 in True West; Best Female in a Leading Role in a Musical, Shelby Terrell ‘18 in Children of Eden; Best Male in a Leading Role in a Musical, Ben Tidwell ’19 in Children of Eden;Best Female in a Supporting Role in a Play, Emily Pitts ‘18 in Caucasian Chalk Circle; Best Male in a Supporting Role in a Play, Alex Joyel ’19 in Caucasian Chalk Circle; Best Female in a Supporting Role in a Musical, Morganne Best ’18 in Children of Eden; Best Male in a Supporting Role in a Musical, Reed Hillis ‘18 in How I Became a Pirate; Best Featured Dancer, Sara Copley ’18 in Children of Eden; Best Ensemble, Children of Eden; Best Set Design, Jack Dowey ‘18- How I Became a Pirate; Best Costume Design, Abby-Shelton Storey ‘20- How I Became a Pirate; Best Lighting Design, Alex Roberts Dec. ‘18– Dance Concert; Best Makeup & Hair, Chloe Tower ’21;Best Male Newcomer, Nic DiPrima ’21; Best Female Newcomer, Anna Medley ’21.

 Thanks to our sponsors Mike and Mary Anne Freeman and Emma Taylor for their support of this wonderful season and we look forward to seeing you at Samford’s Theatre and Dance productions in the fall when we kick-off with the Alabama Premier of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane September 28-30, which is part of the Emma Taylor Theatre for Youth Series. 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.