Ghost Light Players Win Big at Regional Festival
Ghost Light Players, formed in 2015, took to Guelph to represent the Windsor/Essex region in the Western Ontario Drama Festival, with their production of George F. Walker’s Better Living. Having already received accolades from Pre-Festival Adjudicator, Lindsay Price, GLP performed strongly on Thursday March 16, before being adjudicated by Beatrix Quarrie.
On Saturday, March 18, WODL held their Awards Gala to recognize the theatrical efforts from the region. Both Adjudicators were present and announced the award for in and out of festival productions.
Lindsay Price remarked on the abilities of the cast and crew to hit on both the comedy and tragedy written into Walker’s script. Bea Quarrie, during her adjudication, commended the Company on creating a totally immersive world, where the audience couldn’t help but watch what happened next on the stage.
Among several awards recognizing acting and technical achievements, in an unprecedented move, Ghost Light Players took top honours in both In and Out of Festival, with Voices of Vimy and Better Living. Both productions were also nominated for the BRICKENDEN award which recognizes top productions of Canadian plays, but Better Living took the trophy.
“When I started Ghost Light Players, I knew I wanted us to be a part of the Western Ontario Drama League, for within it I found comrades in arms and a second family. I have learned so much from my experiences within those week long festivals and I’ve made great friends in the party rooms after. My time with WODL and the people I’ve met there informs all of the pieces I’ve done since.
I can only say I’m overwhelmed by the response we’ve received from WODL. A recognition of the passion and the hard work that’s gone into every production this Company has produced,” says Jeffery Bastien, Artistic Director.
We here at Ghost Light Players are excited and proud to represent our extended family at WODL with our production of George F Walker’s ‘Better Living.’
GLP’s production of Better Living will be moving on to Ottawa, featured in this year’s Theatre Ontario Festival. This festival will showcase productions from all four regions of Ontario and his held over the Victoria Day holiday weekend. The Festival is being held in Ottawa Little Theatre, Canada’s oldest theatre, founded in 1913.
2017 W.O.D.L. OUT OF FESTIVAL AWARDS
THE THEATRE SARNIA MEMORIAL AWARD
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Major Role
Winner: Jeff Bastien, Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
THE REPUSKI AWARD
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Nomination: Chris Lanspeary, Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
THE MOONEY AWARD
Outstanding Direction
Winner: Dean Valentino, Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
THE INEZ HAYES MEMORIAL AWARS
Outstanding Ensemble Work
Nomination: Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
THE ELMIRA THEATRE COMPANY AWARD
Best Visual Production
Winner: Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
THE KAY MCKIE MEMORIAL AWARD
Best Production Out of Festival
Winner: Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
2017 W.O.D.L. IN & OUT OF FESTIVAL AWARDS
THE PALACE THEATRE AWARD
Outstanding Lighting Design and Execution
Nomination: Ian Loft, Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
THE HARMONY AWARD
Outstanding Set Design
Nomination: Dean Valentino, Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
Nomination: Jacqueline Tinus, Better Living, Ghost Light Players
THE CATHARINE BRICKENDEN AWARD
Best Production of a Canadian Play
Nomination: Voices of Vimy, Ghost Light Players
Winner: Better Living, Ghost Light Players
2017 W.O.D.L. IN-FESTIVAL AWARDS
THE ANNE WILSON AWARD
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Nomination: Kristen Lamoure-Dias as Maryann, Better Living, Ghost Light Players
THE PLAYERS GUILD AWARD
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Winner: Dean Valentino as Tom, Better Living, Ghost Light Players
THE SPANIK AWARD
Best Visual Production
Nominations: Better Living, Ghost Light Players
THE HAROLD P. SELLERS MEMORIAL AWARD
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Winner: Better Living, Ghost Light Players
THE BONANNO AWARD
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Major Role
Winner: Michele Legere as Nora, Better Living, Ghost Light Players
THE PAT & VINCENT MATHEWSON MEMORIAL AWARD
Outstanding Ensemble Work
Nomination: Better Living, Ghost Light Players
SPECIAL ADJUDICATOR’S AWARDS OF MERIT
For Outstanding Producing:
Winner: Jeff Bastien, Better Living, Ghost Light Players
For Esprit de Corps,
Nominations: All companies
Winner: Better Living, Ghost Light Players
THE VISIONARY AWARD
Outstanding Direction
Nominations: Jacqueline Tinus, Better Living, Ghost Light Players, Windsor
THE D. PARK JAMIESON MEMORIAL AWARD
Best Production in Festival
Winner: Better Living, Ghost Light Players
WESTERN ONTARIO DRAMA LEAGUE REGIONAL TROPHY
Presented by WODL to the Winner of the Best Production
(To be presented annually and kept by the winning group for one year.)
Winner: Better Living, Ghost Light Players
Theatre Ontario is a charitable, not-for-profit association of individuals and organizations in the professional, community, and educational theatre sectors. Theatre Ontario provides programs, training, and resources, and hosts an annual festival showcasing theatre from across the province.
Ghost Light Players is a non-profit theatre company, takes their name from the Ghost Light used to keep the stage alive and honour those that were there before, and Players like those troupes of old, as they have no urge to settle in one spot, instead they keep moving and learning and discovering. Ghost Light Players engage, inspire, challenge and entertain audiences with theatrical productions that range from classical works to new productions from local playwrights and everything in between; we are supporting and promoting our current generation of artists while paving a path for future generations from within the community; we provide artistic opportunities that promote a life-long learning to a diverse community; and are constantly celebrating the essential power of the theatre to illuminate and illustrate our common humanity. In short, creating theatre without fear!
Feature photo: (L-R, T-B) Shayla Hudson, Peter Billing, Marg Renaud, Marnie Gare, Babs Pendragan, Michele Legere, Dean Valentino, Kristen Lamoure-Dias, Jeffery Bastien, Michael J Krym, Ian Loft, Anna Rosati-Loft, Brenda Bastien. Photo courtesy of Ghost Light Players.