Herberger students, faculty, alumni win ariZoni Awards; launch season


Faculty, students and alumni of the ASU School of Music's Lyric Opera Theatre and the School of Theatre and Film in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts took home an impressive number of ariZoni Awards during the theatre organization’s 2012 awards ceremony that honors professional and non-professional theatres in the greater Phoenix area.

ASU School of Music’s Michael Barnard, faculty associate, won Best Director for a musical for Phoenix Theatre’s production of "Gypsy" and Robert Harper, School of Music faculty associate, won Best Actor in a Major Role in Actors Theatre’s production of "Next Fall."

Rachel Bowditch, School of Theatre and Film assistant professor, won best director for "The Sun Serpent," the epic tale of Aztec culture and the conquest of Mexico that she co-wrote and that was staged to rave reviews during its run at Childsplay last spring. Associate Professor Connie Furr-Soloman, costume designer, won for costume design for "The Sun Serpent," which also took home the Best Overall Production for a Contracted Theater.

ASU School of Theatre and Film Professor David Barker was recognized for his choreography of "Romeo and Juliet" produced by the Southwest Shakespeare Company and MFA student Brunella Provvidente took home the award for Scenic Design of a Non-contracted Play for her work in the ASU MainStage production of "The House of the Spirits." School of Music student Katie Frederick won Best Supporting Actress in a Musical of a Non-contracted show for the Mesa Encore Theatre’s production of "Hairspray."

Alumni from both schools winning ariZoni awards included Mollie Flanagan, Alfredo Macias, Steve Christensen, Anthony Jannuzzi, Jere Van Patten, Alyssa Chiarello, Sam Henderson and Lynette Kidman Nunez who won for their contributions on productions that took place on stages at ASU and across Maricopa County. In addition, newly appointed School of Music Lecturer Toby Yatso served as one of three hosts for the ariZoni Youth and Adult Awards 2012 ceremony.

The ariZoni Awards ceremony came as ASU MainStage and Lyric Opera Theatre are launching their ambitious 2012-13 seasons. The first of two world premieres, "POVV" by Punctum, opens the MainStage season Sept. 28. This provocative, mind-bending show created by 13 graduate students from the School of Theatre and Film explores questions of human connectedness in the digital age. For more information and to buy tickets for the season visit MainStage.

Lyric Opera Theatre begins its 49th season with a lively romp through an English village with its production of "Albert Herring" that opens Oct. 4. Its season includes the full production of Die Fledermaus, the musical version of "Little Women" and the fantastical, "Bat Boy: The Musical." For ASU students, faculty and staff are eligible for discounted tickets to the Herberger Institute’s complete performing arts series. Buy tickets online at the Herberger Institute Box Office, calling 480.965.6447 or by visiting the Box Office at Nelson Fine Arts Center on the ASU Tempe campus.