{"id":11239,"date":"2023-05-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=11239"},"modified":"2023-05-19T00:05:32","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T00:05:32","slug":"shape-theater-recognized-with-award-filled-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=11239","title":{"rendered":"SHAPE theater recognized with award-filled night"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n
\n
\n Claire Rumery performs at Installation Management Command Europe\u2019s Tournament of Plays award ceremony at Clay Kaserne, Germany, April 29, 2023. Rumery played character Sally Bowles during the SHAPE Players performance of \u201cCabaret,\u201d and was nominated for Outstanding Lead Performance of a Female Role in a Musical. (Photo by Sandra Roemer, EMC)
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

SHAPE, Belgium \u2013 Following months of practice and numerous performances, the SHAPE Performing Arts Centre concluded their 2023 competition season with a night full of music, glamour and community accolades during the 62nd annual Tournament of Plays, or TOPPERs, award ceremony on April 29.<\/p>\n

Hosted by Installation Management Command Europe (IMCOM-E) at Clay Kaserne, Germany, the event recognized the best theatrical achievements across eight Army Entertainment and Air Force community theater programs throughout Europe.<\/p>\n

By the end of the night, the SHAPE Performing Arts Centre received 40 nominations and 14 individual and team awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a magical night for us,\u201d said Brett Harwood, artistic director for the centre. \u201cCertainly one of our top years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The organization put on two shows for this year\u2019s TOPPERs competition, with both winning awards.<\/p>\n

\u201cCabaret,\u201d a musical put on by the all-volunteer SHAPE Players, won five awards, while \u201cMatilda Jr.,\u201d a youth musical put on by students of the SHAPE Performing Arts School, won nine awards, including the best overall musical in the competition.<\/p>\n

According to Harwood, the two musicals helped showcase how diverse the centre\u2019s performances could be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think one thing that struck the judges\u2026and made a mark with our community too is that we had \u2018Matilda Jr.\u2019 which was bright and colorful,\u201d Harwood said, \u201cand a month later [\u2018Cabaret\u2019] was a very stark, dark piece about Nazism and anti-Semitism. We were able to go from one extreme to another.\u201d<\/p>\n

While winning the awards was an amazing achievement, centre employees said the amount of support present from the local community was what made the event truly special for them.<\/p>\n

According to Ryan Rigazzi, theater specialist for the SHAPE Performing Arts Centre, over 118 individuals from SHAPE and U.S. Army Garrison Benelux attended the awards ceremony.<\/p>\n

\u201c[It] just felt different because we had such a huge support group coming and all these people who were just abuzz to be there,\u201d said Rigazzi. \u201cEvery time that \u2018Matilda Jr.\u2019 won anything the kids would wrap around whoever won and it was just lovely\u2026watching their faces was enough to make your heart melt.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Harwood, having so many cast members attending the ceremony was especially poignant given the difficulties both shows had gone through during the season.<\/p>\n

While \u201cMatilda Jr.\u201d was originally scheduled to debut in December 2022, many of the initial performances had to be delayed until February 2023 due to issues with COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Matilda
\n <\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Members of the \u201cMatilda Jr.\u201d musical cast perform at the SHAPE Performing Arts Centre in February 2023. (Courtesy photo by Chris Wright)
\n (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cAdults, we sort of roll with the punches,\u201d Harwood said. \u201cBut kids, they work for 10 weeks on performing something and then you take away their opening night\u2026we had 47 kids in tears.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCabaret\u201d likewise ran into issues with its initial development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids take [theater] as a class, so they are in the show no matter what,\u201d Harwood said. \u201cBut for the adults, there is no class to take \u2013 they come and we audition and do a musical. And Cabaret almost didn\u2019t happen because we almost didn\u2019t have the volunteers, especially men, to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the setbacks, both shows ending up performing well.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom beginning to end it was a very special event,\u201d he said. \u201cThe performances were special, and it was the perfect crowning end for \u2018Matilda Jr.\u2019 and \u2018Cabaret.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The SHAPE Performing Arts Centre staff hopes to use the success of this year\u2019s TOPPERs competition to continue building back their relationship with the local community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe lost a lot of people between the time COVID[-19] hit and the time we were able to reopen the theater,\u201d said Olivier Galloo, administration and technical assistant for the centre. \u201cThe program went down drastically, we had to rebuild\u2026almost from scratch.\u201d<\/p>\n

For him, the competition and award ceremony was an opportunity to showcase how far the centre has come since the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese two shows are a good [example] of the program and what it is right now,\u201d said Olivier Galloo. \u201cPeople who have seen these two shows know\u2026what we are capable of and what the future will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next musical for the Performing Arts School, Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr., begins showing on May 26, and the leadership team is already planning more SHAPE Players performances for the fall.<\/p>\n

Volunteers are always needed with all aspects of the program, including performers, technical assistants, support with designing sets and costumes, and more.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

The full list of awards received by the SHAPE Performing Arts Centre includes:<\/p>\n