P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525
|
P.O. Box 691 Sebring Florida USA 33871 Tel: 863-382-2525 |
 |
Ellen Lemos - Funny Lady with Two Zenons By: Roy Riedy |
Ellen arrived in Sebring in June, 2001, and things at Highlands Little Theatre haven't been the same since. She has played five different roles and each one inevitably lead her on to the Zenon she received at the Nineteenth Annual Zenon Ceremonies for Best Supporting Actress on October 9, 2004.
She was almost shielded from view by musical instruments in her first part as a band member of the Salvation Army in Frank Oberhausen and Kathy MacNeill's 2001 reprise of Guys and Dolls. However, she was hard to miss in Joe Willis' Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the spring of 2002 when she emoted the loss of her favorite brother-in-law, Joseph.
She was indisputably noticed as Olive Harriet Smythe, dog lover and successful writer, in Mike Logsdon's June, 2002, production of Move Over Mrs. Markham, when she moved the audience to uncontrollable laughter.
Ellen established her versatility in Melanie Boulay's Thirtieth Season opening play, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, when she protrayed twelve different characters, displayed her faultless timing, and proved that she could sing.
All these appearances where only prologs to her portrayal of Nurse Foster in Mike Logsdon's January, 2004, farce, Out Of Order. This British import allowed Ms. Lemos to elevate stage business to a fine art which delighted her audience. Her hip massaging, knee bending movements seemed to spring spontaneously from her depths whenever they were triggered and the clamorous roars of approval only enkindled her to greater themes and variations. The Zenon she received for this glee was the only logical consequence and reward for her talent and its promise.
Besides the five plays in which she has participated, Ellen has been involved in three Zenon Ceremonies; and her name has been seen in fourteen HLT Newsletters and thirty-seven local news items for a total of fifty-nine citations.
What follows is an update of what Ellen has been doing at HLT since her first Zenon award at the end of the Thirtieth Season.
During the Thirty-first Season Ellen appeared in Frank Oberhausen's November, 2004 revival of The Music Man as Alma Hix, a walk-on part that left a lasting impression with the audience. There is no such thing as a small part when Ellen is playing one, only short ones.
During the run of Cabaret II in August, 2006, Ellen joined Jackie Scheil's staff in Anthony's Lounge and more laughs began to be heard from that section of the Lakeside Playhouse too. At the 20th Zenon Awards, Ellen received a nomination for a Board Service Award for her outstanding achievements in Anthony's Lounge. Ellen was also a presenter at this Zenon Ceremony and delivered the award for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role to Pete Pollard for his role of Herr Schultz in Cabaret II.
The Thirty-second Season opened with Mike McMillian's medieval laugh-riot Hoodwinked with Ellen playing the role of a dangerously corsetted nursemaid Grundela. Needless to say, she made her presence felt in the play. During the run of Hoodwinked, Ellen found time to wait on and amuse the customers of Anthony's Lounge which had by then become her personal stage.
Ellen could be found dispensing drinks and laughter in Anthony's Lounge during the presentation of the four remaining main stage productions of the Thirty-second Season and was also seen and heard on the main stage for Melanie Boulay and Jennifer Westergom's "extra" revue in April, Broadway in Concert, as one of its singers and actors.
In October at the 21st Annual Zenon Awards, Ellen received her second award, a Board Service Zenon, which she shared with Jackie Scheil "for their endless efforts running Anthony's Lounge."
Congratulations Ellen on your artistic and lounge achievements, I'm sure that this second Zenon you just received is still just the tip of a much larger pyramid.
|
| Join us on |