Stage Center presented its 2014 Awards on Jan. 11 at East Bank Theatre to recognize the performers and productions voted “favorite” by the public in the troupe’s 2014 season.

The awards presentation was preceded by a cocktail and hors d’oeuvre hour in the Bossier Arts Council Gallery. Actors, friends of Stage Center and supporters then adjourned upstairs to the theater for the presentations.

Stage Center Artistic Director Jared Watson said awards were handed out in a number of categories in which voters could indicate their favorites. He emphasized that Stage Center was trying to make these awards more about pleasing patrons than deciding who was the best in any given role.

He said the actors and nominated crew and support personnel for the season were listed on the Stage Center website, and the public was invited to vote for their favorites. The top five nominees were culled from that list, and a final winner or winners was then chosen. The overall winner for the evening appeared to be “Ragtime.” Caddo Magnet High School’s Drama Department director, Patti Reeves, said “‘Ragtime’ was a beautiful production, possibly the best one I have ever seen in this area.”

New last year was the Favorite Onstage Pair-Romantic, which was won by Nia Savoy and Thomas Eugene Keys III, for their portrayals of Sarah and Coalhouse in the musical “Ragtime.”

Favorite Choreography was presented to Tamara Mayer and Jared Watson for their collaboration on “A Chorus Line.”

Caitlin Lux was the audience favorite for costume design for her work on “Ragtime.”

There was a tie for favorite on-stage moment-performance between the shows “Tarzan” and “Ragtime.”

Barbara Holmes and Zac Rowe took the honors for their rendition of “You’ll Be in My Heart.” The entire cast of “Ragtime” was recognized for their work in the show’s “Prologue.”

Bryan Grisham was chosen as the favorite Support Male for his performance as Father in “Ragtime.” The favorite Featured Female prize went to Lindsey Fileccia as Emma Goldman in “Ragtime.”

Stage Center co-founder Seth Taylor and board President Missy Wise took honors as Mother and Tateh in “Ragtime.”

The top three vote-getters for favorite Ensemble Male went to John Peyton Pou, “Tarzan,” “Ragtime,” “A Chorus Line,” “Noises Off”; Daniel Salazar, “Ragtime,” “A Chorus Line,” “A Christmas Story: The Musical”; and Jason Shidiskis, “Ragtime,” “A Christmas Story The Musical.” The top three vote-getters for favorite Ensemble Female, according to Stage Center voters, were Katy Allred, “Ragtime,” “A Christmas Story: The Musical”; Mary King, “Tarzan,” “Ragtime,” “A Christmas Story: The Musical” and Sarah Wise, “Ragtime.”

Wise was unable to attend the ceremony in person but sent a message for the gathering. She said she was heartened by the growth and success of Stage Center and thanked all the volunteers who made the 2014 season successful.

Next up for Stage Center is its second show of the 2015 season, “Bonnie and Clyde,” directed by Daniel Salazar.

At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies in West Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes and the Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmares. Their story of love, adventure and crime captured the excited attention of an entire country. Now, the most notorious couple of the 20th century takes on a whole new adventure: the stage. 

Auditions 

The Bossier Parish Community College Theatre Program and the Cavalier Players have announced auditions “Nicholas Nickleby.” Adapted by Tim Kelly, the play is based on the Charles Dickens’ novel.

Auditions are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 in the Performing Arts Theatre, Building C on the BPCC campus at 6220 E. Texas St. in Bossier City.

Dr. Ray Scott Crawford, dean of Communication and Performing Arts and professor of theater, will direct the production.