ZACH Theatre – An Austin Theatre Blog

Beth Falcone

Beth Falcone, composer and lyricist for Wanda’s World, is the latest former ZACH artist to be recognized in this year’s theatre awards season. She was awarded the 2009 Kleban Award for “Most Promising Musical Theater Lyricist” — an award given by the Kleban Foundation, a nonprofit foundation started by Chorus Line lyricist Edward Kleban to recognize excellence in theatre lyricists and librettists.

Beth brought Wanda’s World to ZACH Theatre to try something different: She wanted to see how her play, originally envisioned with an adult cast, worked on stage with children performers. The kids at ZACH added a level to the show that an adult cast never could. The actors are tweens, young people on the cusp of teenagerdom, whose daily lives had them in character 24/7 to play in Wanda’s World – a show about the insecurities of adolescence, following the life of tween Wanda as she works through beauty and confidence complexes in both her dreams and real life.

The Kleban Award will be presented to Beth June 1 in a private ceremony sponsored by BMI, which is a week before the June 7 Tony Award Ceremony where two other ZACH Theatre alums have been given a nod.

David Bologna in Golly Gee Whiz

Beth’s honor with the Kleban Award is the latest reminder this week that ZACH’s Performing Arts School really knows how to churn out artistic genius. 14-year-old dancer, actor and ZACH star in Golly, Gee Whiz, David Bologna was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in Broadway’s Billy Elliot (See blog: “ZACH Showstopper David Bologna Nominated for a Tony Award.”)

Michael McDonald

And long-time ZACH costume designer Michael McDonald also caught the attention of the Tony Awards with his nomination for Best Costume Design for a Musical. Michael’s flair for originality, vibrance and bold costuming made ZACH productions of Dirty Blonde, Crowns (1&2), Omnimum Gatherum, Hank Williams and Take Me Out spectacular events for the Austin community.

It was therefore no surprise to ZACH Theatre that Michael’s costume design in the Broadway production of Hair got a Tony Award nomination. Michael was always excited about the designs he came up with at ZACH. If a staff member asked about a design, he would enthusiastically sit them down and walk through how he did it, why he did it and what he loved about it. “This couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!” ZACH employee Amanda Adams said. “Michael had a great energy about him, was always open with the theatre and opened up his work to anyone who asked.”