Benicia High School takes home 3 awards

Paul Hughes (Left) and Callie Heyer act out a scene from Benicia Old Town Theatre group’s production of “The Game’s Afoot” at Sunday night’s Arty Awards. The play and Hughes received awards for Outstanding Adult Comedy Production and Best Leading Actor in an Adult Comedy respectively. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

Benicia Old Town Theatre Group (BOTTG) had a good evening Sunday night. The local theater company took home five trophies in the Arty Awards for its fall and spring productions, including the top prize for its Sherlock Holmes-inspired comedy “The Game’s Afoot.”

“Game” took home three awards in the ceremony honoring theater productions in Solano and Napa counties, held this year at Solano Community College’s theater. It was voted as the outstanding adult comedy production, and Paul Hughes and Natasha Harris took top honors as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively.

BOTTG’s other production of the year was “Intimate Apparel,” an adaptation of Lynn Nottage’s play about a young African-American woman who travels to New York to fulfill her dreams of becoming a seamstress. Dan Clark won top honors for directing, and Chelsea Bearce– herself a Benicia High School graduate– was named as the best leading actress. Due to a tie in the voting, the award also went to Heather Buck for her performance in Lucky Penny Productions’ “The Miracle Worker.”

Benicia High also was honored for its productions of “12 Angry Men” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Vivian McLaughlin and Daniel Manzo won awards for musical direction and acting, respectively, in the latter production, and Lucas Babot was honored for his performance in the former production.

The evening also was a strong showcase for Benicia talent by allowing them to perform in between the award presentations. Hughes acted out a scene from “The Game’s Afoot” with Callie Heyer, and Benicia High students performed a scene from “12 Angry Men” as well as “Pandemonium” from “Spelling Bee.” Manzo also got to perform the show’s opening number “We’re at the Artys”– sung to the tune of “We’re in the Money”– alongside former Benicia High drama teacher Christine Mani and 2006 BHS graduate—and current Armijo High School drama teacher– Sheena Beeson.

For the full list of winners, go to pan-arts.org/the-arty-awards.

Sharing is caring!