Oxford County community theatre sweeps WODL awards

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

Oxford County community theatre groups are well-decorated following lots of wins for Theatre Woodstock’s Little Women and additional productions in the area.

Theatre Woodstock’s production of Little Women earned four awards for its performance at the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Awards Gala in Hanover the weekend of May 17.

Rendall Lackenbaurer earned the Outstanding Actor in a Major Role Award for his performance as Laurie, both Katie Raymond and Alison Enns won the Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role Awards for their performances of Amy March and Aunt March, respectively. A Special Adjudicator’s Award was granted to the Parrot created by Jeff Major and voiced/operated by Karen Trick.

"It feels really good. We were all pretty excited to win these awards,” said Lenore Butcher, director of Little Women, said of the wins.

The production also earned two additional nominations; Lauren Tucker was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Major Role for her portrayal of Jo March, and Alyssa Dutton, the original performer for Meg March, was nominated for a Special Adjudicator’s Award for Best Newcomer. Dutton was unable to perform in Little Women during the WODL Awards weekend as she’s pregnant with twins – much like Meg in the story.

“We all teased her when we found out about it. We were all teasing her about her art imitating her life,” Butcher said.

Butcher also said that she’s always grateful for those who go out to support community theatre.

“We work really hard to put a show together. We rehearse for months, we're in constant work with our props people and our costumers and hair and makeup consultations and set builders,” she said. “To put it all together, it means nothing if people don't come through the door and watch the show and our cast and crew poured their hearts and souls into this show for the better part of a year, for some of them."

Butcher said she was nervous ahead of the performance in Hanover, but it was well-received.

“After the show so, many people came up to us with tears in their eyes and told us what an amazing show it was and how much they truly enjoyed it, so it's just such a gift that people come to the show and really enjoy it.”

Oxford County’s theatre players also collected several WODL out-of-season awards. Theatre Woodstock earned the Outstanding Set Design and Execution Award for Pete Dunbar, Michael Henley-Dunbar, and Nelson Simard’s work for Jesus Christ Superstar. Thistle Theatre received the Outstanding Cameo Performance Award for Shrirang Raval’s performance as Francis Hinckley in The Perils of Persephone.

Theatre Tillsonburg won three WODL awards for ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, including Most Promising Newcomer for Tori Bremner’s performance as Emily, Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role for Angela Carvehlo’s performance as Calliope and Brittania Seed, and Joe Sheik earned a Special Adjudicator’s Award for preshow and intermission musical selections.

One Act Players Community Theatre won the Special Adjudicator’s Award for Theatre in Space of Limited Means for Whimsy State.

“We won the Special Adjudicators Award proving that innovation, creativity and cooperation can create award winning theatre in any space,” director Ted McLauchlin said to the Echo. “We want to thank our venue partner St. David's United Church and the entire cast and crew of Whimsy State who made it possible."

The next WODL Awards will be held in Woodstock in May 2027 during the long weekend.