RMT and ROAR up for 18 ‘Palmies’

Photos: BEAK Photographics

Redcliffe Musical Theatre and ROAR Academy are in the running for 18 awards at South East Queensland Musical Theatre’s equivalent of the Logies, The Gold Palm Awards, on December 5.

President Madeleine Johns says it’s testament to their resilience in a year in which they overcame obstacles including COVID-19 and floods.

The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony at Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant, Broadbeach Waters.

RMT and ROAR received 59 nominations in the awards for all of their 2022 shows – Grease; Into the Woods; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert; Oliver!; and Newsies Jr.

“2022 has been the most challenging and tumultuous year ever for RMT and ROAR Academy – look at what we continue to achieve in our field of community theatre,” Madeleine says.

“Surely this alone has to speak volumes for what we achieve as a company – this is peer reviewed acclaim. (It reflects) absolute consistency in our goal to achieve excellence – despite the obstacles.

“This is an achievement – and a company – that Moreton Bay should be super proud of.”

The Gold Palm Theatre Awards recognise the contribution made by community and non-professional performers in theatre groups and high schools, and encourages the pursuit of excellence.

“It’s a big deal,” Madeleine says.

Recognition of four big shows

Four shows have made the finals: Into the Woods (nine categories); Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (five categories); Grease (three categories); and Oliver! (one category).

“That is a testament to the quality that we’re providing,” she says.

It is also recognition of the efforts of those involved in each production.

Madeleine is particularly proud of Into the Woods and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for being two of the four finalists in the Outstanding Community Theatre Production category.

“I would like to see Priscilla get up … that was such a big thing to take on in the middle of COVID and floods. The fact we got that show at all was amazing,” she says.

Into the Woods faced similar challenges with flooding affecting its run of shows.

“It was amazing the way we could pull together and make it all work,” Madeleine says.

“People were cut off by floods or had COVID. It’s been insane.”

Celebrating huge effort

Madeleine is planning to take a large contingent from RMT and ROAR to the awards to celebrate their achievements.

RMT will perform on the night, reviving It’s Raining Men from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

How does she rate their chances of bringing home a swag of awards?

“It depends on what they (the judges) are looking for,” she says.

While the community can’t influence the judges’ decisions, they can continue to support community theatre by going to their shows.

The next one is Frozen at Redcliffe Entertainment Centre from February 3-5.

Redcliffe Musical Theatre’s program for the first half of 2023 will be revealed on December 1. It will include the play Cosi.

“Local patrons should be coming to our shows. They don’t have to go to QPAC, they can see shows that are just as good locally,” Madeleine says.

RMT and ROAR Academy are finalists in the following categories:

Best set design: Into the Woods - Ruby Thompson

Best costumes: Into the Woods - Karen Van Den Bos, Deborah Rubendra, Elodie Boal, Ella O’Brien

Best lighting design: Into the Woods - Tony Kerr

Best sound design/operation: Into the Woods - Jonathan Harrison

Best program: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Angela Arkinstall

The Jock and Beverley McIlwain Special Encouragement Award: Oliver! – Max Eilola

Best vocal or musical director in a youth production: ROAR Academy’s Grease - Meg Kiddle / Lachie Stuart

Best choreographer in a youth production: ROAR Academy’s Grease – Jennifer Morrison

Best actor or actress in a supporting role in a youth production: ROAR Academy’s Grease - Elliott Gough

Best vocal director in a community theatre musical or musical revue: Into the Woods - Meg Kiddle;

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - Sherree Drummond

Best director of a community theatre musical or musical revue: Into the Woods - Elodie Boal; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert - Madeleine Johns / Taylah McLennan

Best actor in a supporting role in a community theatre musical or musical revue: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Adrian Carr

Best actor in a leading role in a community theatre musical: Into the Woods - Christopher Batkin

Best actress in a leading role in a community theatre musical or musical revue: Into the Woods - Jennifer B. Ashley

Outstanding community theatre production: Into the Woods; Priscilla, Queen of the Desert