The 2023 Broadway World Regional Award winners were announced this week, and faculty and students from the School of Theatre, Film & Television earned a total of six awards in various categories. The awards honor regional productions, touring shows, and more which had their first performance between October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.
Legally Blonde, the Arizona Repertory Theatre production that opened the school’s 2022/23 theatre season, was a major winner, achieving awards for Best Musical, Best Director, Best Costume Design, Best Performer and Best Supporting Performer. The light-hearted musical based on the movie of the same name was directed and choreographed by Christie Kerr. The production – TFTV’s first public presentation after quarantine – attracted over 2,500 attendees.
VAUD, an original work of visual theatre directed by Wolfe Bowart, earned the award for Best Ensemble. Co-created by Bowart with BA Theatre Studies students, the dialogue-free production was inspired by the Vaudeville era of live theatre and the culture that grew up around it. Employing magic, acrobatics, puppetry, circus skill, dance, comedy and music, the 15-member cast presented a poignant visual poem about finding home.
TFTV’s 2023 award winners are:
Best Musical
LEGALLY BLONDE
Best Ensemble
VAUD
Best Costume Design of a Play or Musical
LINDSAY McDONALD / LEGALLY BLONDE
Best Performer in a Musical
LILLIE LANGSTON / LEGALLY BLONDE
Best Supporting Performer in a Musical
GRACE GEBARA / LEGALLY BLONDE
Best Direction of a Musical
CHRISTIE KERR / LEGALLY BLONDE
