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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 22, 2007 - 29 The Secret Garden big winner at Drama Series awards night The Oakville Drama Series theatre community celebrated its 28th season with the annual Awards Night Friday at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. Mayor Rob Burton was on hand to present the Scott Shepherd Memorial Award for "long-standing contribution to Oakville community theatre" to costume designer Lorraine Cooper-Grenke. "The variety of live theatre that you bring in an effective way," said Burton, "It's just amazing. You are a key component in the cultural life of our town." Ronnie Brown, head of development and marketing at the Oakville Centre, addressed the members, saying their heart and passion is what makes their productions excellent. "The popularity of the Oakville Drama Series comes from that passion," he said. Brown presented the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Appreciation Award to Jim Clemens, Past President of The BurlOak Theatre Group (BOTG). The Colette Morgan Award for Backstage Excellence went to Susan Forde for her contributions to set painting on many of the productions over the last five years and for her numerous other backstage activities. The Oakville Drama Series Awards, selected by a panel of judges after the final show of the season, are some of the most coveted awards. These `Oakville Oscars' were presented by Claire Loughheed, the Town of Oakville's Manager of Cultural and Heritage Services. The Paddy Stewart Award for Best Individual Performance ­ Male was awarded to Doug Massey, who played Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden. The Paddy Stewart Award for Best Individual Performance ­ Female went to Catherine Fitzgerald for her role as Cora in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs. The Oakville Drama Series Award for Best Production could have gone to any of the four nominated productions: Perfect Wedding, Dark Victory, The Secret Garden and The Noble Pursuit. The award went to West End Studio Theatre's The Secret Garden, produced by John O'Hara and directed by Paul Groulx. "It was a wonderful experience to see the play brought to life vividly and very meaningfully by our cast," said an emotional Groulx. Other awards were presented for excellence in a variety of production categories, including costume, sound, lighting, set design and supporting male and female performances. Special achievement awards were also presented to individual Burl-Oak Theatre Group members by President John Smissen, and four members of The Oakville Players were recognized with awards presented by President David Nash. Best Sound Design went to Solange De Santis for A Bad Year for Tomatoes, while Best Lighting Design was picked up by Zoran Zivkovic for Dark Victory, another TOP production. PHOTOS BY DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER WINNING PERFORMANCES: Paul Groulx (above) director, and John O'Hara, producer, won Best production for The Secret Garden. Catherine Fitzgerald, (below left) won Best Individual Performance, Female for her role as Cora in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, and Doug massey (below right) won Best Individual Performance, Male at The Oakville Drama Series Annual Awards Night. See Drama page 30 W H E R E C A N I F I N D U P - TO - D AT E L O C A L S A L E S A N D S P E C I A L OF F E RS ? AS K T H E G OR I L L A .