A funny thing happened on the way to the Little Oscars Awards Banquet for Jasmine Bannister.
Bannister, a senior at Iola High School, entered Saturday evening’s festivities with her eyes on one trophy — the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Eva Schloss in the production “And Then They Came For Me: Remember the World of Anne Frank.”
But then Bannister thought of some of the other awards that were to be handed out, including the 2011 Outstanding Players Member and Don Bain Showman of the Year awards.
“Both of those would mean a lot, because those are the ones voted on by my peers,” she said.
Bannister claimed both of the peer-voted Little Oscars, plus an unusual sweep of Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress awards, bringing her total haul Saturday to four Little Oscars trophies.
“It was a perfect way to end my senior year,” said Bannister, whose Supporting Actress Little Oscar came for her role in the fall production “Up The Down Staircase.”
The Outstanding Member award goes to the senior member who “has made the most outstanding contribution to the club and its activities.” The Showman of the Year prize goes to the student for contributions to the theatrical season.
SEVERAL other young thespians hauled in plenty of hardware at Saturday’s banquet, the 46th annual.
Drew Smith earned Little Oscars for Best Actor and the Outstanding Underclass Man for his role as Ed Silverburg in “And Then They Came For Me.”
Autumn Snesrud also was a two-time winner, earning the Susan S. Miller Award, given to the IHS forensics team member voted as the most inspirational member of the season. The award is the only other peer-voted award. She also took home the Female Rookie of the Year Award for her role in “Up The Down Staircase.”
Dalton Altis took home two Little Oscars for his behind-the-scenes work. He earned the Fall Technical Little Oscar for his sound work in “Up The Down Staircase” as well as a special Stagecraft Award for his work in the technical field overall.
Also taking home Little Oscars for their work in “Up The Down Staircase” were Cody Cokely, Best Supporting Actor; Travail Pulley, Male Rookie of the Year; and Mickey Ingle, Underclass Woman.
Hayden Wolf took home the Spring Technical Little Oscar for his work as stage manager for “And Then They Came For Me.”
Stanislavski and Boleslavski Little Oscars, presented to actors and actresses who thrive in parts not designated as major or supporting roles went to Jordan Strickler and Kirstin McGuffin, respectfully. Strickler’s was for his work in “And Then They Came For Me;” McGuffin’s for her work in “Up The Down Staircase.”
Reagan Webster earned a Little Oscar for her work in a number of Iola Community Theatre productions through the 2010-11 school year.
