Manoa Valley Theatre sweeps up

Manoa Valley Theatre’s production of "Young Frankenstein" has received a pace-setting 15 Po‘okela Awards, the most of any individual show.

Excellence in local theater was honored Monday as the Hawai‘i State Theatre Council announced the 2013 Po‘okela Awards at its annual "Stars Night Out" dinner and show at the Ko‘olau Golf Club in Kaneohe.

MVT captured the most Po‘okela acclaim, with a total of 36 prizes in 17 categories. Diamond Head Theatre collected 21 awards and The Actors’ Group went home with 20. The Po‘okela Awards recognizes two to six honorees in each category.

MVT’s "Young Frankenstein" winners included four cast members — Myles McGee (The Monster), Paul Mitri (Igor) and Shannon Winpenny (Frau Blucher) in leading roles and Britton Adams in a featured role — as well as director Hannah Schauer.

DHT’s summer production of "Legally Blonde: The Musical" followed with nine. The strong female cast was recognized, with Jody Bill getting a nod for her leading role as Elle Woods and Brittany Browning and Megan Mount honored in featured roles.

The leading award recipient for nonmusical shows was TAG’s revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with seven awards, including lead acting trophies for Jim Tharp and Jo Pruden, as Big Daddy and Big Mama.

Kumu Kahua Theatre’s production of Daniel Akiyama’s new work "All That Remains" won six awards, including overall production and set design.

Hawaii Pacific University, the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival, Paliku Theatre and the University of Hawaii at Manoa also received honors. (Hono­lulu Theatre for Youth does not participate in the competition.)