“Harvey” wins Best Play at 45th annual Irving Awards

The Eunice Players’ Theatre hosted its 45th annual themed, “Guys and Dolls” Irving Awards Saturday evening at the Liberty Theater.
Season ticket holders received their invitation and ballots to vote on the theater’s three shows presented last year.
They included “Tuna Does Vegas,” “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and “Harvey.”
The summer production of “Nick Tickle Fairy Tale Detective” was also recognized. The play, directed by Debi L. Crawford, involved a cast of 26 children. Crawford added, “It’s the most rewarding thing to do. Our theater children are our theater Future, and everyone are winners,” said Crawford.
Racking up many awards including the Best Play was “Harvey.”
The last show of the 45th season, “Harvey,” a play written by Mary Chase, follows Elwood P. Dowd, a kindly man with a friend named Harvey, who remains unseen and is presumably imaginary, but that he introduces to everyone.
“Harvey” won Best Hair and MakeUp, with recognition given to David Manuel, Cathy Dischler and Angelle Bellard.
Cathy Dischler, as Mrs. Chauvenet in “Harvey”, won Best Cameo.
Best Supporting Actress award in “Harvey” was presented to Kelly Pitre.
Gabe Ortego captured the Best Supporting Actor in “Harvey” as he portrayed Dr. Sanderson.
Charles Feucht won Best Actor in “Harvey” as his portrayal of Elwood P. David.
Debi L. Crawford won Best Director of “Harvey”.
Other Irving winners named included: Suzanne LaHaye, Cathy Dischler, Clara Pitre, Bonnie Pitre and Liz Bryan for Best Costumes in “Tuna Does Vegas” production.
Best Set for “The Diary of Anne Frank” went to Brett Faulkner, Jeremy Faulkner and Jerica Guillory.
Best Lighting and Sound for the “Diary of Anne Frank” recognition went to Ian Bellon, Noah Kittles and Keith Dorwick.
Shiloh Kittles as Anne Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank” won the Best Actress award.
The prestigious Tim Wooten Award given to an outstanding service and “over and beyond” the call of duty, dedication, and tireless hours of love, dedication to the Players Theatre went to Debi L. Crawford.
A tribute to Doris Stagg for past 28+ years career to the Eunice Players’ Theatre was part of the Irving Awards program.
Stagg’s theater career, from 1969 to 1997, involved 47 different programs. She directed 4 plays, “Luxury Cruise,”, “Star Spangled Girl”, “The Impossible Years,” and “Greater Tuna.”
She volunteered in many aspects of theater life, including, working back stage on props and costumes, and graced the stage with her presence 9 different times.
Stagg picked up numerous past Irving Awards; Best Supporting Actress, Best Cameo, Best Costumes, Best Director, and Best Play. She was also presented the coveted Tim Wooten Award in 1984.
David Manuel, president of the board, presented a book “A Book of Best Costumes”, to Stagg for her theater dedication and service. This book will be donated to the public library.
A surprise tribute was presented to Debi L. Crawford.
Crawford, a director, cast member, board director, and Icon of the theater for past 30+years, was pleasantly surprised by some of the cast of a past play, “Nunsense,” and Darrel LeJeune of “Camelot”. These cast members sang and portrayed scenes from the plays -- all dedicated to Crawford.
Crawford recently retired, along with her husband Laddie, from their 30+year business The Turning Point. The couple moved this past November to Georgia to be closer to their daughter and son and grandson.
Crawford’s love in theater began in 1980 with, as she recalls, “We moved from Texas, and I did not know a soul in Eunice. I did have a desire to become part of the community in some kind of way, and not just by my store.
“Becky Pucheu called me asking me to help her with choreographing a musical. Then, the next call was from Jody Powell saying that I would be terrific with costumes .. and then thereafter ..is History. My Love was found, and Evident with theater life!”
Crawford won numerous awards during her past theater years, including, Joan Kerstein award, Tim Wooten award, Best Director, Best Play and much, much more. Crawford “starred” in, and was involved in one way or another, over 70 different productions.
Crawford fondly remembers many past plays, one in particular, “The Sunshine Boys, directed by Jody L. Powell and Glenn Mentel, and Charles Feucht as one of the main characters.
“This was one of my first plays I was invoved with.. and now here tonight, many years later, Charles Feucht wins Best Actor in Harvey, and Harvey wins Best Play... what a Joy!”
Season tickets for the 46th season can be purchased from any board member in the near future.
The season opener “Other Desert Cities,” directed by Jody L. Powell and Joshua Carriere will open in April.
For more information about the season, follow the theatre on its website, www.euniceplayers.blogspot.com, or on its Facebook page.