Everyone was dressed to the nines and ready to holla — very loudly — for their fellow cast and crew members at the 42nd annual Memphis Ostrander Awards. Sunday night’s event was the first time it had been held at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, but the format was as it has been for years: the announcing of awards interspersed with performances from some of the year’s notable productions.
A new award was created this year: the Karl Robinson Sunshine Award, named in honor of a young local actor who died this year. Robinson won the Larry Riley Rising Star Award at at the Ostranders in 2019, and had a powerful impact on the theater community. He was beloved for not just his considerable talent, but his kindness, devotion to theater, and inspiration to his fellow performers. His spirit inspired the creation of the award, which was presented to Charles Hunter, an associate resident company member at Playhouse on the Square.
The event was organized and hosted by Elizabeth Shelly Perkins, the executive director of the Ostranders. “Memphis boasts a level of theatre talent that is truly unparalleled,” she said. “The goal of the Ostrander Awards is to create an unforgettable evening that both
applauds this vibrant cornerstone of our arts community and allows theater lovers and newcomers alike equitable access to the best of the best of local theatre at all levels.”
Photos by Jon W. Sparks. The list of winners is here.
