The Twin City Players community gathered recently to celebrate its 34th Annual Tiffany Awards and recognized the performances and achievements from its 2021-2022 Mainstage Season shows: The Women of Lockerbie, Fun Home, The Haunting of Hill House, Elf the Musical, Silent Sky, Angel Street/Gaslight, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
In addition to the awards attendees were entertained by cast members of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Fun Home, and TCP’s upcoming Monty Python’s Spamalot. The evening’s festivities included a Backyard BBQ Party dinner of southern-style smoked meats from Piggin’ N’ Grinnin’, sides, desserts, cash bar, and a silent auction.
The Tiffany Performance Awards are named after the late Marion Tiffany, an actress, volunteer and charter member of Twin City Players. A secret panel of judges selects each year’s winners. Backstage and volunteer contributions are also recognized with various special awards.
Best Lead Actor went to Jake Zapor for his performance in Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Jim Richards for his performance in Angel Street/Gaslight. Best Lead Actress went to Mariah Rifenberg for her performance in Fun Home. Best Supporting Actor went to Nathan Neidlinger for his performance in Fun Home and Best Supporting Actress to Sarah Simmons for her performance in Fun Home. Named Best Character Actor was Michael Bond for his performance in Fun Home and Best Character Actresses went to Sherry Douglass for her performance in The Women of Lockerbie.
Golden Neophyte Awards, presented for best “first-time” performances in a TCP production, went to Joe Daniel for Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Mariah Rifenberg for Fun Home. The Youth Award, given for one or more outstanding performances by an actor under the age of 19, went to Whittaker L. for Fun Home and Lucia V. for Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Honored with the Outstanding Ensemble Performance Award was the cast of The Women of Lockerbie.
The What a Ham (Hammie) Award was presented to Michael Bond for his performance in Fun Home and the Milking it Award was given to Joe Daniel for his performance in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
From each show, cast and crew members select one fellow cast member and one crew member for the highly prized Unsung Hero Awards. The following were recognized with this distinction: The Women of Lockerbie: Cindy Jakeway (crew) and Cassi File (cast); Fun Home: Jessica Lewis (crew) and Michael Bond (cast); The Haunting of Hill House: Cassi File (crew) and Avery Saylor (cast); Elf the Musical: Tammy Green (crew) and Jason Woosley (cast); Silent Sky: Reta Trux and Barb Stepka (crew) and Melissa Van Omen (cast); Angel Street/Gaslight: Grant Wilson (crew) and Caitlin Sampsell (cast); and, Disney’s The Little Mermaid: Wendy Golob (crew) and Cassi File (cast).
The award for Outstanding Costume Design went to Reta Trux and Barb Stepka for their work on Disney’s the Little Mermaid. Cassandra Hora, Bill Bartloft, and Juliet Golob received awards for Outstanding Set Design for The Haunting of Hill House. Scott Bradford was recognized with the award for Outstanding Lighting Design for Silent Sky.
Singled out for special service to the organization during the 2021-2022 season were Kim Kidd (Bob Grace Service Award), Reta Trux and Barb Stepka (Dottie Griffith Distinguished Volunteer Award), Larry Nielsen and Cindy Jakeway (The Player Award), and Paige Smillie and Sarah Simmons (President’s Award).
The Twin City Players also recognized this year’s recipients of the Brian Swiger Memorial Scholarship: Elise Bradford and Alyssa Hyska.
About Twin City Players
Formed in 1932, Twin City Players is one of the oldest, continuously operating community theaters in Michigan. It is a volunteer based nonprofit organization that strives to engage the community in quality theatre that changes lives and to be recognized for organizational excellence producing quality performances in southwest Michigan. The TCP Playhouse is located at 600 West Glenlord Road, St. Joseph, MI. For more information about TCP, call 269-429-0400 or visit twincityplayers.org.
