The South Florida Theatre League Announces the 2014 Remy Awards

The South Florida Theatre League
celebrates the theatrical community’s
Unsung Theatrical Heroes

For Immediate Release
October 30, 2014

The South Florida Theatre League’s Remy awards, named in honor of Remberto Cabrera, the former Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs’ Senior Cultural Administrator and Chief of Cultural Development, are given annually for Outstanding Service, and for Pioneering in South Florida regional theatre.

This year the League has announced that the number of Remy Awards to be presented will increase from six to eight. (Last year, in honor of the League’s 20^th anniversary, the number of awards given was increased from two to six.)The two added categories will once again honor those members of the South Florida theatrical community who are not usually recognized by more traditional artistic awards. The Remy Awards will be handed out at the League’s annual holiday celebration on December 1^st at Stache in Ft. Lauderdale.

“We are honored to be able to present these awards to people who are such important members or our community,” says League president Christopher Jahn. “These are individuals whose contributions are absolutely key to the success of our theatres and productions, yet they often go unrecognized. This is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’.”

Along with the Service and Pioneer Awards, Remys will be presented for Outstanding Theatre Company Board Member, Outstanding Contributor to Community Theatre, Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Theatre, and Outstanding Behind the Scenes Theatre Professional. The two newest awards to be presented will be the Civic Arts Leadership Award, and the Jay Harris Arts Leadership Award.

Theatres and theatre producers were asked to nominate individuals they felt were deserving of recognition, and a Theatre League committee was tasked with choosing the winners.

This year’s Remy Award recipients are:

The Pioneer Award – Paul Tei – Mad Cat Theatre Company

The Pioneer Award is bestowed upon individuals who have, over the years, taken the lead and contributed substantially to the health, growth and development of the South Florida theatre community.

Paul Tei is a playwright, actor, director, designer, and the founder of Mad Cat Theatre Company.   As he has stated, “To be safe and create art is a lie. There should be no separation from the art and the artist as well as the action on stage and the spectator. Theatre is a dialogue of deconstruction and within its limitlessness lie the key to a wide spectrum of illuminations.”  Under his leadership, Mad Cat has earned a reputation for exceptional and unique theatre, and has received countless awards (in every year of the company’s existence) and innumerable accolades. He has directed almost every one of Mad Cat’s productions; he wrote or co-wrote many plays for the company; he added design elements to all; and even acted in a few.  He has also directed in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Nevada, New Hampshire, Vermont, Manchester, U.K. and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland where he has always spread the word about Mad Cat Theatre Company and South Florida theatre scene.  He has guest directed at many other South Florida theatre companies, including Mosaic Theatre, The Naked Stage, GableStage, and City Theatre.   His theatre acting credits in South Florida (with the most recent being in MTC’s Hedda Gabbler) are numerous; he has received 5 acting Carbonell awards.  As a member of SAG/AFTRA Paul has appeared in a number of television shows including: American Horror Story, Franklin & Bash, CSI Miami, Disney’s Zeke & Luther. His most notable role was as Barry the money launderer on Burn Notice.

The Service Award – Christine Dolen – Miami Herald

The Service Award is given to either individuals or organizations in recognition of their invaluable and outstanding contributions made through time, talent, service, and expertise by taking the initiative and actively participating and contributing to the growth and development of the South Florida Theatre League.

Christine Dolen’s contribution to the South Florida Theatre community has been ongoing and constant since she became Miami Herald’s theatre critic in 1979. She has earned the respect of the entire theatrical community, not to mention her peers – 1997, she was a member of the Pulitzer Prize drama jury; in 1999 she was a senior fellow in the National Arts Journalism Program at Columbia University.  Chrstine is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, and she was recently named as one of the top 12 influential theatre critics in the nation. Her reviews, articles, and blog posts are highly anticipated; a pre-show article, a selection as a ‘Pick of the Week’, or even a mention in one of her columns can do wonders for a production.   Christine’s reviews are thoughtful and thought-provoking, and have consistently inspired theatres, companies, and performers to strive to meet the standards she expects from them.  Her genuine passion and love for theatre is evident in all she does; her dedication to the South Florida Theatrical community is deep – and deeply appreciated.

The Civic Arts Leadership Award – Lois Frankel

The Civic Arts Leadership Award is a new award given to individuals in public service who have significantly supported the arts.

Lois Frankel has been a lifelong patron of the arts. As mayor of West Palm Beach, she recruited the Palm Beach International Photographic Museum, and brought the Ann & Don Brown Theatre, where Dramaworks now performs, to the city. She was a key participant in the revitalization of the downtown district – fueled by cultural events and the addition of performance and exhibition space at the Waterfront Pavilion.
Lois Frankel is a strong supporter of the NEA, and as mayor of West Palm Beach, she invested in the arts and sought out opportunities to bring the arts to the city. The 70 new businesses she recruited to downtown added a new vitality to the city, and that vitality is due at least in part to the positive impact of the arts in the area. She is a firm believer in arts education, and has long been a strong supporter of the Bak Middle School of the Arts in Palm Beach County.

The Jay Harris Arts Leadership Award – Kathy and Joe Savarese – Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Named in memory of one of South Florida’s most dedicated arts patrons, the Jay Harris Arts Leadership Award honors those who have made a substantial contribution to the theatrical community in the ways that Jay Harris did – through leadership, on-going volunteerism, and financial support.

Kathy and Joe Savarese have played an integral role in the success of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Not only have they generously supported the theatre since 2006, but they have also touched the hearts of many, and contributed to the awareness of the magic and charm the theatre brings to the local community. Their commitment has helped shape artistic excellence in our community for generations to come.
The Savarese’s love of sharing the arts has inspired them to sponsor a major production each year for the past five years. They consistently support all major events, not only financially, but enthusiastically. Their contributions have created opportunities for the entire region to not only experience the arts live, up close and in person, but to inspire, educate, and entertain. Thanks to their hands-on commitment and financial support  the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has achieved recognition for artistic excellence. The Savares’s enthusiasm, passion, and outstanding presence at every event, every show, and every theatre milestone is truly what makes them deserving of this award.

Outstanding Board Member – Steven M. Weinger, Esq. – GableStage

GableStage Board of Directors President Steve Weinger is nationally recognized for his successful litigation on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities. Yet while maintaining his active practice, Mr. Weinger manages to donate significant time to a number of not for profit organizations, including cultural and educational institutions, advocacy groups for the disabled, and non-profit health care providers. His contributions to GableStage include being a driving force behind raising funds to co-produce Tarell Alvin McCreney’s production of Anthony and Cleopatra with The Royal Shakespeare Company in London and The Public Theatre in New York.
“Steve Weinger has been the best President of our Board of Directors in the 16 years that I’ve been at GableStage”, says Producing Artistic Director Joe Adler. “He’s an attorney with a full practice — and yet he always makes time for my issues and concerns.  His advice and counsel are invaluable — and I know I can always count on him.”

Outstanding Contributor to Children’s Theatre – John & Maria Rodaz – Area Stage Company

Although Area Stage had been a well-known theater production company staging professional productions for many years, in 2009 Maria and John Rodaz decided to create an acting conservatory for children and young adults that would carry all the rigors of a professional company. Area Stage’s conservatory program regularly produces student productions of the highest quality. Being part of these productions allows students to learn a high level of professionalism which takes them far when they graduate and leave the program, or branch out to perform outside of AreaStage even while still training there. Area Stage has also instituted a program of scholarships for young actors that do not have the financial means to pay conservatory rates.

Outstanding Contributor to Community Theatre – Alvin Entin – Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts (PPTOPA)

 Alvin E. Entin’s service to community theatre in general, and to Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts in particular, has been continuous, persistent, and exemplary. As Chairman of the Board of PPTOPA for 17 years, Alvin has been one of the guiding lights of the company. He forged the agreement with the City of Pembroke Pines which enabled PPTOPA to maintain a healthy financial outlook, and remains the on the Liaison Committee to the City to this day. Alvin chaired the PPTOPA play selection committee from the beginning; he has been the company’s principal fundraiser, marketer, and legal counsel. He is also the face of PPTOPA, maintaining the company’s ticket booth at all productions. Alvin has served as an actor, assistant director and/or director, as well as artistic consultant on numerous PPTOPA productions.   His high standards are reflected in the company’s productions, which are judged by critics and professionals in the area to be far beyond the normal perception of community theatre.

Outstanding Behind the Scenes Contributor – Gene Seyffer – Actors Playhouse

Gene Seyffer has been a behind the scenes man at Actors’ Playhouse nearly 20 years.  Though he has designed sets here and there when called upon, his primary focus has been as Technical Director (which includes overseeing the scene shop) – making sure production design elements are linked together and built just right.  He and his team of behind the scenes builders and technical personal at the theatre and in the shop constantly work under extreme pressure and deadlines.  Some of Gene’s rewarding technical challenges have included August, Osage County, Miss Saigon, 1776, and Les Miserables.  The job of a technical director can be a thankless one, and mostly unknown and unappreciated by the general public, but all who work in theatre know this job is critical to making a production work.   Gene holds a MFA in Theatrical Design and Production from Northwestern University.

The South Florida Theatre League’s Annual Holiday Party promises to be an exciting event, as the Silver Palm Awards will also be presented that evening. The party will take place at STACHE at 109 South West Second Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, on Monday, December 1st at 7:30 pm. Admission is $25 for non-Theatre League members; there is no charge for League members in good standing.

For further information about the South Florida Theatre League andThe Remy Awards please contact Executive Director Andie Arthur at 954-557-0778 and/or visit the South Florida Theatre League website at: www.southfloridatheatre.com
For more information about the Remy Awards, visit:  http://www.southfloridatheatre.com/remy.php

2014 Remy Award Recipients:
Civic Arts Leadership Award — Lois Frankel
Pioneer Award — Paul Tei
Service Award — Christine Dolen
Jay Harris Arts Leadership Award — Kathy and Joe Savarese
Outstanding Board Member – Stevn M. Weinger, Esq.
Outstanding Behind the Scenes Contribution — Gene Seyffer
Outstanding Contribution to Community Theatre — Alvin Entin
Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Theatre — John and Maria Rodaz