The Live Theatre League of Tarrant County proudly presents its thirteenth annual awards ceremony, Monday, May 14th, 2007. The League created this event in 1993 to recognize outstanding individuals, companies and organizations that support live theatre in Fort Worth and surrounding cities within Tarrant County.
Joe Brown, president of the Live Theatre League, announced that this year’s LTL Awards ceremony will take place at the William Edrington Scott Theatre. The Theatre is located in the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, at 1300 Gendy Street, in Fort Worth’s Cultural District.
LTL’s ceremony will be highlighted by the unveiling of a memorial case, honoring Bill Garber. This case will remain on permanent display in the outer lobby of the Scott Theatre. Also, for the first time, awards dedicated to Bill Garber (founder of Fort Worth Theatre) and Rudy Eastman (founder of Jubilee Theatre) will be presented at the ceremony.
Wine and appetizers are served at 5pm and the awards ceremony begins at 6pm. This special LTL event is open to anyone who wishes to show their support and appreciation for live theatre. There is no charge for admission.
2006/2007 Award Honorees
Jim Covault - Elston Brooks Lifetime Achievement
Jim has been a major contributor to the area’s professional theater scene for over 25 years. During that time he served, first as Stage West’s Associate Director and for the past ten years as the group’s Artistic Director. In the 90’s he was a regular director for Shakespeare In The Park’s summer season, staging many memorable productions, among them a bilingual production of Garcia Lorca’s “Blood Wedding”. He has directed over 80 productions for Stage West and has appeared often on stage, as well, recently as the quintessential butler “Jeeves”. Mr. Covault is truly a “Renaissance Man” serving Stage West as graphic designer and, frequently, as costume and/or scenic designer.
Gail Granek – Individual Patron of the Year
Gail has been a strong supporter of theatre in Fort Worth for many years. She serves on the board of Jubilee Theatre, is a member of the Live Theatre League, performs volunteer work for Amphibian Productions, and is a former Stage West and Shakespeare in the Park board member. Gail’s service to the arts goes beyond theatre. She also serves on the boards of the Fort Worth Symphony Association, Piano Texas, the Arts Council of Fort Worth, AIDS Outreach Center, and the community board of the Fort Worth Classic Guitar Society. She is also a docent at the Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Previously, she served on the boards of the Fort Worth Men’s Chorus, the Symphony League of Fort Worth, and the Jewish Federation. Gail has two children: Elise who lives in Portland, Oregon and Joshua who lives in Durham, North Carolina.
Sid Richardson Foundation – Philanthropic Organization of the Year
The Sid W. Richardson Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in Texas to help them fulfill their missions. Grants are made primarily in education, healthcare, human services, and cultural institutions. Sid W. Richardson (b.May 25, 1891-d.September 30, 1959) established the Foundation in 1947. Although his interests reached beyond Texas and his personal contacts were worldwide, he retained his utmost concern for the people in his home state. Throughout the years, the board of directors and staff have sought to fulfill his mission. Because of his interest in the West, Mr. Richardson became an avid collector of paintings by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.Today, these magnificent paintings are on permanent exhibit to the public in Fort Worth at the Sid Richardson Museum, which is supported by the Foundation.
Lawson Taitte – Theatre Arts Advocate
Lawson grew up in Harlingen, TX. He got his B.A. from Rice and Ph.D. from Princeton in English. He was a member of the English departments of York College of the City University of New York and at Hartwick College, upstate—where he taught modern drama, modern fiction and Shakespeare – and was essentially half of the theater department as well, directing a couple of shows a year. In 1974, Lawson moved back to Texas, and started writing for Texas Monthly. He was TM’s statewide theater, classical music and restaurant critic from 1977 through the early 1980s. He also edited nearly 20 years of the University of Texas at Dallas’ Andrew R. Cecil Lectures on Moral Values in a Free Society. He wrote reviews on music, theater and fiction for the New York Times Book Review from 1982 until 2002 and was D Magazine’s restaurant critic (off and on) from 1983 through 1992. From 1984 through 1992, Lawson was WRR-FM’s Critic-at-Large. He joined the staff of the Dallas Morning News in June 1992 and took over the theater beat in January 1996. Lawson and his wife, Suzanne, have three daughters and a two-year-old grandson.
Larry Cure – Theatre Arts Educator
Larry has been a high school theatre director for 31 years. He was the theatre director at Azle High School for six years and has been a theatre director at James Martin High School in Arlington for the past 25 years. All told, Larry has directed over 100 plays, has directed 30 musicals, and 31 UIL One Act Plays. In his twenty-five years at Martin, the school has been represented at the State UIL One Act Play contest 12 years, with two of the shows being selected first runner-up in 1990 and 1999 and two of the shows winning the State championship in 1996 and 1998. Larry was Martin High School’s Teacher of the Year in 1990. He was a recipient of the Southwestern Bell-Denius UIL Outstanding Sponsor Award in 1999 and was chosen by the UT-Texas Exes as one of the top ten outstanding high school educators in the state of Texas in 2003. Larry is proud to have taught hundreds of theatre students who are now involved in theatre all across the country from the college level, to community theatre, to professional theatre and film, as well as all of those ex-students who are now theatre directors and educators. Larry has been married to wife, Terri, for 32 years and has two children, Cassie (Age 23) and Cameron (Age 20).
Mark Walker – Technical Theatre Excellence
In addition to 35 years designing and painting sets, Mark is an artist, illustrator, and author. He has a degree in Visual Communications from the Art Institute of Dallas, and trained in scenic design at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, interning with the Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company. He was resident designer for many years with both Casa Manana and Stage West. As a guest designer, he has created sets for many local theatres, as well as area schools such as Fort Worth Country Day and Trinity Valley.Mark has been a long time illustrator for Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and has illustrated for many ad agencies, schools and publications including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. His illustrated book of short stories co-authored with Michael H. Price, What You See May Shock You, will be published later this year, and contains one “backstage yarn.”
Jaime Castañeda - Bill Garber Young Theatre Artist
Jaime has gathered impressive critical acclaim and credentials early on in his career as an emerging theatre artist from Texas. He received his bachelor’s degree in theatre from Texas Christian University and recently earned his master’s in directing from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2006, he was selected, out of hundreds of applicants, as one of four finalists to participate in the Drama League’s Fall Directing Program in New York City. In 2003, he was awarded a directing fellowship at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mr. Castañeda is the Founder and Artistic Director of FireStarter Productions (Fort Worth). At FireStarter, he produced and directed Crave; Closer (2004 Dallas/Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum Award, Best Ensemble); Momentahn; Blue/Orange and Nocturne. His off Broadway directing credits include Welcome to Arroyos and One for the Road. Jaime recently directed Red Light Winter at the Perseverance Theatre (Alaska) and assistant directed productions for the Atlantic Theater Company, Old Globe (San Diego), Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and South Coast Repertory (Coast Mesa, CA). Jaime just directed Circle Theatre’s production of Lincolnesque and will be directing This is How It Goes by Neil LaBute, July 26 – 28 & August 2 – 4, for Amphibian and Sonnets for an Old Century by Jose Rivera, May 31-June 2, at FireStarter.
Marian Eastman – Rudy Eastman Diversity
Marian first became involved in the Fort Worth theatre community through the Sojourner Truth Players in the early 70s. She founded, with her husband Rudy, the Jubilee Theatre on June 19, 1981. Marian worked with Jubilee for many years, doing everything from costumes to lights to helping develop scripts. In fact, during its first decade, she helped guide the theatre’s direction and philosophy – which make it the artistic place it is today. Marian remained active in Jubilee through the years, working with Rudy to develop ideas for shows and scripts – in effect formulating the unique Jubilee experience. She worked as a Research Associate at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth for many years. While there, she was active in coordinating Black and Hispanic art exhibits at the center. Marian continues to be an advocate for Theatre in our community. She has been a member of the Fort Worth Zoological Association Board of Directors for the past 15 years and was also on boards for Sister Cities International, Fort Worth Men’s Chorus and the United Community Centers. She currently serves as Interim Director of the Bethlehem Community Center in Fort Worth.
