The Timekeepers Wins Big at 38th Annual Carbonell Awards

The work of artists at several of South Florida's newer theatre companies was celebrated on Monday, March 30 at 38th annual Carbonell Awards in a ceremony at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Of the four awards presented to designers, three went to Island City Stage for its production of The Timekeepers.

Island City Stage bested many of the region's older, bigger companies by winning six Carbonells for its production of Dan Clancy's piece, three of which were design awards. Presented at Empire Stage, the three-character drama about two concentration camp prisoners and their brutal guard resulted in awards for set designer Michael McClain, lighting designer Preston Bircher, and sound designer David Hart.

Palm Beach Dramaworks claimed one design award, for best costume design, which went to Brian O'Keefe for The Lion in Winter.

The Carbonells also recognized the work of varied artists with special awards. The winner of this year's George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts was Patrick Dupré Quigley, founder and artistic director of Miami's vocal ensemble Seraphic Fire. The Ruth Foreman Award was given to GableStage, Miami playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and New York's Public Theatre for its collaborative production of the McCraney-adapted Antony and Cleopatra. The Bill Hindman Award was given posthumously to actor Don McArt, whose actress/producer sister Jan McArt accepted on his behalf.

The late Theatre League founder and director Barry J.W. Steinman, actor Jerry Gulledge, and Broward Stage Door co-founder David Torres, whose death the day before the Carbonell ceremony was a still-raw wound to many in the crowd, were also remembered during the evening.

Carbonell scholarships of $1,000 each were presented to Gabrielle Perez of Miami's Coral Reef High School, Taryn Noble of Davie's Western High School, and Eliana Meyerowitz of Boca Raton Community High School.