Category Archives: 2020-2021

2020-2021 Herman Awards

Congratulations to our winners!

Best Show of the Season: Play On

Best Direction of a Play or Musical: Keith Parrish, Play On

Best Set: Nick Hamm, Play On

Best Costuming: Rebekah Fitzgerald Dunn, for The Great Gatsby

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play or Musical:
Keith Parrish as Scrooge in A Covid Christmas Carol

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play or Musical:
Alyssa Bayless-Tiburcio as Several Characters in A Covid Christmas Carol

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play or Musical:
Kenan Stewart as Saul Watson “Dr. Rex Forbes in Play On

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play or Musical:
Alyssa Bayless-Tiburcio as Violet Imbry “Dianna Lassiter” in Play On­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Best Special Performance by an Actor in a Play or Musical:
Martin Mejia  as Billy Carewe “Stephan Sellers” in Play On

Best Special Performance by an Actress in a Play or Musical:
Audra Albert as Polly Benish “Lady Margaret” in Play On

Best Newcomer: Chad Cross

The Rich and KJ Bernstein Production Team Award:
Rich and KJ were a young couple who loved technical theatre and didn’t hesitate to step on stage if needed. They used very innovative techniques behind the scenes whenever working on a play. Both were eager to lend their tech skills to improve any production with loads of energy, always putting in extra hours to “get it right”. Both Rich and KJ enjoyed teaching, always helping young thespians learn more about the tech side of theatre.
The Great Gatsby: Karen Parrish; Producer, Wanda Becton; Stage Manager, Gina Rikard; Props, Tom &Rosana Anderson; Sound & Lights

Shannon Horton Award: Ash Arends
The Shannon M. Horton Award is presented each year to recognize a youth member of Center Stage Theater who has shown unusual dedication to the organization through the continued pursuit of excellence, team spirit, and service beyond self. The recipient must be under the age of nineteen at the time of nomination and must have shown a willingness to put personal desires aside for the benefit of the group. The recipient must demonstrate the resolve to cheerfully carry out whatever task or part is assigned them, both on and off stage, and the initiative to volunteer to help when they see something that needs to be done.

Director’s Award:
A Covid Christmas Carol: Gene McLendon
Play On!: Cathy Woods
The Great Gatsby: Bruce Mahlstadt


The President’s Award: Karen Parrish
One Award presented to an individual of the President’s Choice

Fran Newby: Tom and Rosanna Anderson
Named after former CST member, Fran Newby, for her selfless service to CST, nominees for the Fran Newby Award should be a CST member that has gone “above and beyond” for the current season. Fran Newby currently resides in the mountains of NC.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Craig Millard