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News-Sun photo by CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY Rebecca Luepschen accepts the best performance by an actress in a lead role for her protrayal of Anne Frank.

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published: Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Diary of Anne Frank wins 9 Zenon Awards

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- "The Diary of Anne Frank" dominated the 27th annual Zenon Awards with nine honors Saturday night at the Highlands Little Theatre.

Bill Farmer, Gloria Coffey and Rhonda Wilson were individual multiple award winners.

"The Diary of Anne Frank" received honors for best play, best director (Allan Grosman), best actress in a leading role (Rebecca Luepschen), best set design (Bob Hippchen and Allan Grosman), best costumes (RoseMarie Tippins Beringer), best lighting (Thor Knutson) and best sound (Rhonda Wilson).

Two outstanding technical production awards also went to "Anne Frank" crew members. One was shared by the brother and sister stage crew team, Jonathan Finney, 15, and Moriah Finney, 12. Bob Hippchen was recognized for constructing the house-on-the-stage set.

The production of "Nunsense" received four awards: Margie Pollard won for best performance in a cameo role, Danny Wilson for best stage manager, Rhonda Wilson for best production assistant and Ruth Ann Esseline for outstanding artistic production for her work as the accompanying pianist in the production.

Bethany Finney, who is Jonathan and Moriah's older sister, received a Zenon for her work as choreographer of "The Drowsy Chaperone."

Farmer and Ellen Lemos received best supporting acting roles, both for their work in "The Drowsy Chaperone," -- Farmer stepping in at the last minute when the original cast member left town unexpectedly.

Farmer also received the best male leading performance award for "How the Other Half Loves."

Gloria Coffey has been, and remains, a key volunteer at HLT. She first appeared in the chorus of "Hello Dolly" in 1990. Since then she has been involved in at least 60 shows. About the only job she hasn't done is direct. She is, or has been, a producer, the house manager, a bartender, a Glad Hatter and worked the 50/50 and the Fourth of July.

She was recognized twice Saturday night for her many years of service, receiving one of the four Board Service Awards and the prestigious Janelou Buck Significant Achievement award -- the highest accolade HLT can bestow.

Three other individuals were honored by the HLT board: Becky Ludacer for her work as box office co-chairperson; Ann Roehm for her work in the box office and as Glad Hatters Co-chairperson and Dee Dee Schmalz for her work as house manager co-chairperson, the Fourth of July and the Beautification Committee.

HLT's 2012-2013 season opens Nov. 9 with a production of "Annie." That will be followed by "Auntie Mame," "Sex Please We're Sixty," and "Lend Me a Tenor."

The HLT box office number is 382-2525.

The web site is www.highlandslittletheatre.org