The Arty Awards are here to stay – Times Herald Online

The Arty Awards, back last year a multi-year hiatus, was hosted by On Stage Vacaville for the first time in its 40-year history.

Later this month, local theater-goers are in for another night of performances and awards at the annual Arty Awards Gala.

Lisa Hilas, president of On Stage Vacaville, was “a nervous wreck” ahead of last year’s Arty Awards, but is confident this time around. “We feel like we’ve got it down now and we really know what to expect,” she says.

Over the past year, theater and musical theater performances across Solano and Napa counties have been reviewed and accordingly nominated for a variety of awards including best set design, best choreography and best lead actor.

All awards categories are broken up by the age group of the performers, with several shows nominated in multiple categories, such as Justin-Siena High School’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone, which received 11 nominations.

At the Arty Award Gala on Oct. 19, nominated productions will perform scenes and musical numbers between winner announcements.

Although the specific productions to perform at the gala are a secret even to Hilas, American Canyon High School’s production of “Hadestown Teen Edition” which was also nominated for multiple awards, will perform in some form.

The night will start off with an elaborate opening act directed by longtime Arty Award organizer Robert Ponce.

“Just knowing that we’ve got these partners that know what they are doing has been a real help,” says Hilas. Ponce is not the only “OG” Arty organizer to help out after the hiatus, she says. Their script writer and MC are returning for at least their second year.

Despite having behind the scenes help, it’s no small feat to put on the Artys, from finding judges to getting arts organizations to participate to coordinating the gala. Before taking it on again, Hilas first wanted to ensure there was community interest.

“That was one of my main concerns — ‘does the community want this?’ With a resounding ‘yes’, we heard from them and we’re thrilled to keep doing it,” says Hilas.

“It’s just so uplifting. There’s so much joy in the room,” she says of the annual gala. Hilas is excited to present the gala once again and honor shows from across Solano and Napa counties. “We’ve got a lot of great talent here.”

Organizers aren’t changing anything major about the gala this year, sticking to the old phrase: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. “I just feel like we have a pretty magic formula and so we’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing,” says Hilas.

One thing that Hilas hopes does change in future years however, is the number of participating judges. “We are in desperate need for more judges,” she says.

Judges help decide the winners of each nomination category by going to local theater shows throughout the year. Judges and their plus one can go to the theater for free by filling out information on the On Stage Vacaville website.

“It’s a really great opportunity to enjoy the arts and participate in shining the local talent,” says Hilas.