The results of the first-ever Carolina Curtain Call’s Readers Choice Poll are in and there are a few predictable winners as well as some delightful surprises. There were 260 registered voters and 135 actual voters. Not too shabby for the first poll testing a free online ballot system known as BallotBin.com.
The Warehouse Theatre’s “Spring Awakening” wins Best Musical by a Professional theatre, while Spartanburg Little Theatre’s “Beauty and the Beast” takes the crown for Large Community Theatre, and “Next to Normal.” in a landslide, garners the prize for Best Musical (Small Community Theatre) for The Market Theatre Company in Anderson.
The Market Theatre Company also wins Best Play for “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” while the Upstate Shakespeare Festival’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” also flew away handily with the Best Shakespeare Production.
The Mill Town Players’ “Christmas in Dixie” in a squeaker edges out the tied duo “Jukebox Heroes” at Centre Stage and “I Feel the Earth Move” at Greenville Little Theatre.
Only one vote separates the Best One-Night-Only Show category with Spartanburg Little Theatre’s “Broadway Backwards” leading “Love is Love is Love” by Glow Lyric Theatre.
Runner-Ups in the Professional theatre are “HAIR! “by Glow Lyric Theatre and “Sister Act” at Centre Stage, while Greenville Little Theatre’s ”Hairspray” takes the second spot in the Large Community Theatre section, followed on its heels by “Always…Patsy Cline” and “Bye Bye Birdie” by the Mill Town Players tied for third place.
Greenville Little Theatre’s ”Peter and the Starcatcher” and “All My Sons” at The Warehouse Theatre are runner-ups in the Best Play category, and The Warehouse also scored the number two Shakespeare production with “Othello.”
And 85 percent of respondents support the formation of the Upstate Theatre Awards, though this survey question only appeared on the ballot for the last 3 days of voting.
For Carolina Curtain Call’s Critics’ Picks, click HERE.