Four from SCR win theater awards

Lolita Harper

It is the best awards show in town. Well, not this town, but the

larger use of the word town that can apply to any ZIP Code, industry

insiders say.

“I think it was just dandy,” veteran actress and South Coast

Repertory star Nan Martin said of the 26th Annual Robby Awards.

The Robby Awards, hosted and named after longtime critic Rob

Stevens, were held Monday is the historic Blossom Room of the

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. And South Coast Repertory shined in

Tinseltown, as the Costa Mesa theater took home five Robby awards.

Martin, who has won five Robby awards and used to host the

time-honored affair, attended the L.A. gala, which she called

strangely unique and dazzlingly entertaining.

“Rob goes to more than 200 shows a year, so he knows all the best

actors and best directors,” said Martin, who received her latest

award for her supporting actress role in the comedy “Getting Frankie

Married and Afterwards.” “He gets the best signers in Southern

California, and they just perform their heads off.”

Stevens obviously admired SCR’s “Major Barbara,” which won for

Best Comedy Production at the awards banquet. Director Martin Benson

and actor Dakin Matthews won accolades for their work in the comedy.

Supporting actress Michelle Hurd joined SCR colleagues in the

winners’ circle for her role in the drama “The Violet Hour.”

Martin, who won the Living Legend Robby last year, said people

take the solo accolade very seriously. Stevens’ vast knowledge of the

theater gives credibility to the award, and only the top talents walk

away with honors.

“It’s a strange thing, a one-man award show, but it seems to

work,” she said.

“We are always happy to win,” SCR spokeswoman Madeline Porter

said. “We are very proud of these productions and happy they were

called out to be worthy of awards.”