Magnolia Awards - Congrats and Thank You!
Congratulations to the winners of this year's Colonial Playhouse Magnolia Awards!
Best Sound Design: Ron Hill, Calendar Girls
Best Costume Design: Catherine Fallon, A Christmas Carol
Best Set & Lighting Design: R Bruce Warren, Born Yesterday
Best Stage Manager: Robin Cashin, A Christmas Carol
Best Cameo: Gabby O'Neill, "Brenda Hulse & Elaine" Calendar Girls
Best Supporting Actor: Mike Raimondo, "Lawrence" Calendar Girls
Best Supporting Actress: Kayla Teplica, "Huck Finn" The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Best Leading Actor: Jake Sloss, "Mark Twain" The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Best Leading Actress: Gabrielle Affleck, "Ruth" Calendar Girls
Best Director: Ron Hill, Calendar Girls
Best Overall Production: Calendar Girls
Special Congratulations to James R. Copeland,
recipient of this year's "Rolf and Peg Gane Memorial Award"
The Rolf and Peg Gane Memorial Award
Jim Copeland is the 2018 recipient of our Rolf and Peg Gane Memorial Award. Jim is one of the longest-running active members at Colonial Playhouse. He was introduced to our theater in the late 70s by Colonial legends like Pat Molla, another longtime fixture, along with Barbara Scanlon, John Furey, and the late Peggy Ellis, when he worked with them at the Barnstormers, and also at the community theater of DCCC.
He and Pat Molla auditioned for and were cast in our production of Accommodations in April of 1977, coincidentally directed by Peg Gane, in whose name we honor him tonight. Tragically, his mother unexpectedly passed away just days after the show opened, but he remained in the show at his family’s urging. He says his aunt reminded him that his mom always referred to him as “My son, the actor.” Remarkably, Jim told none of his fellow cast members, since he didn’t want to be a distraction, and only a few knew what had happened until after the show.
Jim has appeared in 27 plays on our stage, including Boeing Boeing later that same year, which was the final production directed by another early Colonial legend, Harry Cafferty.
He took a 15-year hiatus between 1982 and 1997 to move to California. His last show was Arsenic and Old Lace, and his first show back was The Nerd, directed by Dick Croft, one of our previous Gane Award winners; Jim went on to be directed by Dick in 10 plays out of 11 years.
In addition to his mainstage work, Jim has appeared in 18 years’ worth of Quickies, and directed a dozen of them. He’s also done tech work, built our sets, served on committees, and since he’s been in the food business forever, has personally catered here on more occasions than we can count. He’s provided food for every show he’s ever been in, caters the closing night party for all our Quickies, and has even done food for a number of our Galas, although since he’s being honored tonight, we gave him the night off!
We are pleased to present the 2018 Rolf and Peg Gane Memorial Award to Jim Copeland.