P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525
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P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525 |
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Clell Ford - A Singing Actor and Cook By: Roy Riedy |
Clell Ford has been associated with 20 plays at HLT since first working on lighting for Mac Byron's comedy George Washington Slept Here in June of 1997. His second experience with HLT was working on the construction of the set for Tammie Pollard's revival of the Sondheim musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in August of that year.
At the Zenon Ceremonies that closed the Twenty-third Season he gave the Awards audience a preview of what to expect soon by singing "All For The Best" with Clell Ford from Godspell, the opening show of the upcoming season in which he played the part of Jesus, a part that won him a nomination for Best Actor at the ensuing Zenon Ceremonies.
The Twenty-fifth Season opened with Melanie Boulay's memorable production of The Wizard of Oz and Clell was the sound technician and "Voice" for the show which earned him a Production/Technical Zenon at the end of the season for Best Sound Technician and "Voice". In April, 1999, Clell played Captain Georg von Trapp in Frank Oberhausen's reprise of Rogers and Hammerstein's hit musical The Sound of Music and in August he was part of the stage crew for Jet Hansen's production of Michael Frayn's manic comedy Noises Off.
In the Twenty-sixth Season Clell played Charley Davenport in Frank Oberhausen's January, 2000, revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, a part that earned him yet another nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the season's Zenon Ceremony in October. In July he received special thanks for his work on the CAT production of Rumplestiltskin, and in August he played the part of the Beadle, Mr. Bumble in Melanie Boulay's revival of the Dickensian musical Oliver!, another role that earned him a nomination for a Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the October Zenons Awards.
The Twenty-seventh Season at HLT was a busy one for Clell who devoted his labors for the entire season to gourmet work in the kitchen during all five major presentations: Jet Hansen's reprise of On Golden Pond; Frank Oberhausen's revival of The King and I; Jim McCollum's musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Steve McDaniel's comedy Moon Over Buffalo; and Tammie Pollard's venturesome West Side Story. He did, however, appear on the stage of the Lakeside Playhouse at the Sixteenth Annual Zenon Awards Ceremonies as a member of the chorus.
The Twenty-eighth Season was a bit more varied for Clell. He appeared as Benny Southstreet in Frank Oberhausen and Kathy MacNeill's opening show Guys and Dolls. He returned to the Kitchen Line Staff during Pete Pollard's presentation of Foxfire, and reappeared on the stage as Issachar in Joe Willis' Best Play winning production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Easter time. Clell was back on the Kitchen Line Staff during Mike Logsdon's hilarious Move Over Mrs. Markham and Melanie Boulay's soaring Peter Pan. At the Seventeenth Annual Zenon Awards Ceremonies Clell joined Joe Willis and Phil Attinger and chorus in entertaining the Zenon audience with medley from Jesus Christ Superstar.
Most recently Mr. Ford has been seen in the Oberhausen and MacNeill production of Man of LaMancha, the opening play of the Twenty-ninth Season. In all Clell has been associated with 20 productions at Highlands Little Theatre, attended 5 Zenon ceremonies, been awarded a Zenon for his Sound work for The Wizard of Oz; been cited in 25 local news articles and 15 HLT Newsletters for a total of 65 well deserved citations for his many roles and services that have contributed to the prosperity of our outstanding organization, Highlands Little Theatre.
