Best Comedienne Award for Gwen Bagnall
Trim Musical Society's Gwen Bagnall has won Association of Irish Musical Society's (AIMS) award for her role as Felicia in 'The Witches of Eastwick'. She was named Best Comedienne in the Sullivan Section at the annual AIMS/HB Awards 2012/2013 on Saturday night last in the INEC, Gleneagle’s Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry.
AIMS president, Richard Lavery, from St Agnes’ Belfast and Stephen Shallow, HB, presented the awards. There were two sections for the awards: Gilbert and Sullivan, and Wexford Light Opera Society took the top award on the night, Best Overall Show in the Gilbert Section, for their production of 'The Witches of Eastwick'. WLOS also picked two other awards, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, for Catherine Walsh, who played the part of Felicia, and Sharon Clancy, playing the role of Jane Smart picked up the Best Comedienne award.
St Michael’s Theatre, New Ross, Co Wexford, won the Best Overall Show award in the Sullivan Section for 'The Producers' and Kevin Reade, won the Best Comedian Award for his part as Roger de Bris. Keith Flanagan playing the part of Franz Liebkind won the Best Actor Award for the group also.
Other societies to figure strongly were Birr Stage Guild, with their production of 'Oliver' in the Sullivan section who picked up the awards for Best Chorus, Best Actor in a Leading Role Michael Donegan who played the part of Fagin, a part previously won by award winning actors Simon Delaney and Richie Hayes, Paul Norton won the Best Director Award for the society. Teachers Musical Society staged 'Michael Collins – A Musical Drama' and won the awards in the Gilbert section for Best Chorus, Best Actor in a Supporting Role where Sean McMahon played the part of Emmett and Eoin Cannon won the Best Director Award. Brian Flynn, writer and creator of 'Michael Collins – A Musical Drama' was also at the awards weekend to witness these achievements. Clane Musical society won three awards for their production of 'Sweeney Todd' in the Sullivan Section, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Helena Reynolds Begley who played the part of Mrs Lovett, Rory Dunne who played the part of Sweeney and the society also won the Best Musical Director Award, where Dave McGauran was Musical Director.
Joan Duignan, Gorey Musical Society won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role as Matilda Hyde in 'All Shook Up' also in the Sullivan Section. Jackie O’Mahony, Light Opera Society of Tralee won the Best Female Singer in the Sullivan Section for Lucy in 'Jekyll & Hyde' and in the Gilbert Section Sinead O’Callaghan, SONG, Dundalk, playing the role of Grania in 'The Pirate Queen' won the Best Female Singer.
The Mary Kelly award for Unsung Hero went this year to Angela Webb, Castlerea Musical Society, and a very worthy recipient, who has been in many roles down the years from on stage lead roles, to behind the scenes, front of house, props, costume department and so on. Castlerea MS also won the Best Ensemble award in the Sullivan section for The Rumble in 'Fiddler on the Roof'.