Sandy Glass has been awarded Best Actor in a Featured Role at the Canberra Area Theatre (CAT) Awards for his portrayal of a persecuted drag queen in Spectrum Theatre Group’s production of ‘Sordid Lives’ by Del Shores.
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When announced at the Canberra Theatre on Saturday, February 17, there were screams of delight from Spectrum cast and crew who attended the glittering night in support of Sandy and ‘Sordid Lives’ director Amber Little, who was nominated, for the second time, as Best Director of a Play.
In his acceptance speech Sandy thanked the Merimbula community for accepting the challenging play.
“I want to thank the Merimbula community for accepting this play – boy was I nervous on that opening night - but you all grabbed it and it was a wonderful experience,” Sandy said.
I want to thank the Merimbula community for accepting this play – boy was I nervous on that opening night - but you all grabbed it and it was a wonderful experience.
- Sandy Glass
“I grew up in Arkansas as a young boy struggling with my sexuality and ended up moving to Merimbula. I convinced Spectrum to do a play about white trash families in Texas and got to play a 40-year-old drag queen in a mental institution.”
“We knew it was a risk. None of us knew what would happen but it was great theatre and had a message too,” Sandy said.
‘Sordid Lives’ was performed at Twyford Hall, Merimbula during May and June 2017 and tells the story of a dysfunctional Texan family. Although very funny, the play had serious points to make about tolerance, love and acceptance.
“I brought the play to Amber because I’d always wanted to do it; it was risky but worthy,” Sandy said.
He thanked director Amber Little for taking up the play and Spectrum for “for taking this risk” and the “wonderful cast and crew”.
Director Amber Little said she was delighted for Sandy, who has recently moved to Melbourne. Sandy also started the local choral group Spirit Allegro.
Nominations for the CAT Awards are selected by a panel of 18 judges who travel from Leura to Merimbula and Wagga Wagga to Wollongong and all points in between to community theatre shows. Over the past year they judged 70 shows, nominated by 49 companies, in NSW and the ACT.