Bret Harwood, left, artistic director of the SHAPE Players Performing Arts Centre, receives a TOPPER Award on behalf of the SHAPE Players for outstanding play from Tommy Mize, director of Installation Management Command – Europe, during the Tournament of Plays, or TOPPERs, award ceremony April 30, 2022. The SHAPE Players’ performance of Art received 13 nominations and 6 awards during the TOPPERs including for outstanding play. (U.S. Army photo by Sandra Roemer, EMC-VISE)
SHAPE Players take ‘TOP’ honors for Art, Annie
By Bryan Gatchell, USAG Benelux Public Affairs
SHAPE, Belgium – The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Centre received accolades for two of its recent stage performances at the 2022 Tournament of Plays, or TOPPERs, an awards event hosted by Installation Management Command – Europe that recognizes theatrical achievements by Army Entertainment programs throughout Europe.
The SHAPE Players’ performance of Art, an English translation of the French-language play of the same name by Yasmina Reza, received 13 nominations and six awards, and their production of the musical Annie received 13 nominations and one award.
Art, a play about three Parisian friends who disagree over a high-priced abstract painting of white lines painted on a white canvas, earned six Toppers for SHAPE, including outstanding set design for a play, outstanding technical direction of a play, outstanding direction of a play, and outstanding play. Charlie Foote, a SHAPE Sports and Fitness Centre employee, played Marc and earned outstanding lead male role in a play. Squadron Leader Jamie Elliot from the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, played Serge and won outstanding military performance in a play. Damien Roth, a teacher at SHAPE High School, played Yvan and received a nomination for his performance.
Olivier Galloo, the associate director of the SHAPE Players, gave credit to the strong writing of the original play as well as the cast and crew.
“We’ve been very thankful to find three men in our community that had stage experience and wanted to put the play on stage,” said Galloo. “And the connection between the three of them worked pretty well.”
The performing arts center brought London-based stage director Matthew Hahn to Belgium, and he won a Topper for direction. Chris Wright, a community member who built the set for Art, earned an award for set design that Galloo called both minimalist and complex.
Installation Management Command – Europe Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher D. Truchon, right, presents a Tournament of Play, or TOPPER, award for outstanding lead male role to Charlie Foote, a SHAPE Sports and Fitness Centre employee, during an awards ceremony April 30, 2022. Foote played Marc in the SHAPE Players Performing Arts Centre production of Art. (U.S. Army photo by Sandra Roemer, EMC-VISE)
The SHAPE Players Performing Arts Centre performance of Annie, the popular 1977 musical about an orphan, received 13 nomination and one award. Emerson Cresotti earned outstanding chorus member in a musical for her performance in Annie.
Annie had been the SHAPE Players’ first major foray into live productions since the COVID-19 pandemic, and Galloo saw it as a positive gauge of community interest in participating in live production, with many children and adults auditioning for roles.
Galloo said that the performing arts center continues to scout for new talent both on and offstage.
“We’re trying to get interest from the community on who is willing to be on stage and be part of productions,” he said. “So we will have auditions in August for two shows that we’re putting on in the September / October time period.”
One of those plays is a one-act that they plan to perform as part of an IMCOM-E competition.
“It’s a great program with a lot of opportunities for everyone,” said Galloo. “Basically, when you’re producing a show, it’s not only the talent on stage. You have all the hidden talents, I would say.”
Galloo credited the other individuals that help put on their plays, such as the scenic artist who paints backdrops. He added that they are looking for more individuals who are talented.
“We also need seamstresses, costume designers, hair and make-up designers, hairdressers,” said Galloo. “Sometimes when we are in performance, we are looking for ushers or people that can just help us host the attendees. So it’s very, very interesting how you can be involved in our program very simply and easily.”
Learn more about the SHAPE Players Performing Arts Centre.