2017 DFW Theater Critics Forum Awards: Meadows Theatre Faculty, Alumni and Current Students’ Productions Honored

Meadows theatre faculty, alumni and current students were all part of productions that won 2017 Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum Awards, announced on September 12. Multiple winners were honored in each of seven categories.

In the Best Actress category, alumna Sally Nystuen Vahle won for her work in two shows at the Tony-winning Dallas Theater Center: A Christmas Carol, in which she played the first female Scrooge in DTC’s history, and Electra.

In the Best Actor category, alumnus Cameron Cobb won for Trevor at Kitchen Dog Theater, and Associate Professor Blake Hackler won for three roles: Richard III and Measure for Measure at Trinity Shakespeare Festival, and so go the ghosts of méxico, part one: a brave woman in méxico at Undermain Theatre.

In the Outstanding New Play or Musical category, Blake Hackler won for his new play The Necessities, produced at Second Thought Theatre. In addition, Br’er Cotton, produced at Kitchen Dog Theater, featured current Meadows student Kyle Fox Douglas.

In the category Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast, several winning productions had Meadows connections. Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure, produced at Dallas Theater Center, included performances by current student Luke Longacre and alumni Ricco Fajardo and Tiana Johnson, with fight choreography by alum Jeff Colangelo. Inherit the Wind at Dallas Theater Center featured performances by alumni Adam Anderson, Chamblee Ferguson andBrandon Potter, current student Luke Longacre and Associate Professor Michael Connolly. And Richard III and Measure for Measure at Trinity Shakespeare Festival featured alumnus Isaac Youngin the former and Blake Hackler in both productions.

In the Outstanding Design or Creative Contribution category, alumnus and magician Trigg Watsonwon for magic consultation for Midas at Prism Co., a movement theater company co-founded by alumni Jeff Colangelo and Katy Tye.

Dallas Theater Center also earned a special citation for launching Public Works Dallas, in partnership with SMU Meadows and Ignite/Arts Dallas. The inaugural Public Works show, The Tempest, featured alum Adam Anderson as one of the five professional actors performing alongside 200 members of the community. In addition, some 27 Meadows theatre students, as well as alumni, faculty members and SMU students from other disciplines, worked on the show in roles ranging from teaching fellows to production assistants to volunteer coordinators.

Nine regional theatre critics picked the winners. For a full list, visit here.