2012 Youth Elly Awards announced by Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance
Three actors from Yuba City's The Acting Company receive awards
The Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance announced its 2012 Youth Elly Award winners on Sunday.
For The Acting Company in Yuba City, Joanna Jarvis, 10, won a supporting actress, child, young people's play Elly for her roles in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" and "Rumplestilzkin."
"I was amazed when I found out that I tied with myself for best supporting child actress, and I am very thankful for the help of my directors, the casts of 'Rumplestilzkin' and 'Best Christmas Pageant Ever' and my family for supporting me and helping me be a better performer," Jarvis said.
To other children, she advised: "I think that anyone who wants to be involved in acting should give it a try because you just have to be yourself, keep trying and, most of all, have fun. For me, there's really nothing quite as fulfilling as walking out on stage and stepping into another character's shoes. It's a great experience," Jarvis said.
Keith Matthew Gagnon tied with Runaway Stage Productions' Kevin Sowels for a supporting actor, adult, young people's play Elly for his role as Sir Jun (a pun for "surgeon") in the Magic Theatre's "The Princess And The Porcupine."
Gagnon said this was the first time he had been nominated for an Elly.
"I came into the role at the very last minute — it was like a week before the production opened — and it was the second production that I've been tagged to do with Jeff Graham and his son, Brandon Graham. I just love working with them; they're great people," Gagnon said.
Betsy Johnson also won an Elly for supporting actress, adult, young people's musical for her role as Ms. Lynch in "Grease."
Jeff Graham — who co-directed "Grease" with Debbie Collier; "Porcupine" with Dianna DeLashmutt; and "Rumplestilzkin" with Brandon Graham — said, "I am feeling like a proud papa that actors from three shows I was involved with directing won Elly Awards. All three did a fantastic job with their characters and were great to work with. The definitely deserve their awards.
"It is also gratifying that our little local theater is starting to get a little recognition," Graham added.
