Shelby County Players win two Encore Association awards

Shelby County Players won two awards at the 49th Annual Award and Scholarship Ceremony at the Indianapolis Museum of Art Newfields.

Erin Fralick was the co-winner for Best Lead Actress in a Drama and Cassandra Mummert was the co-winner for Best Hair and Makeup for a Drama. Both won for their roles in the Shelby County Players production of “Radium Girls.”

“Radium Girls” followed the true account of Grace Fryer (Fralick) taking the U.S. Radium Corporation to court for injuries sustained while painting watch dials with luminous radium paint.

Fralick was successful in the complex transition from a happy, care-free teenager at the start of the play to a strong-willed, dying young woman fighting for justice by the end.

Mummert accomplished transforming 11 actors into about 50 characters using period-appropriate hair and makeup. She completed this momentous task using the actors’ real hair, wigs, and via the help of her hair and makeup team.

Shelby County Players received 35 nominations for the 2017-2018 season. The show receiving nominations were “Boeing, Boeing,” “The House at Pooh Corner,” “Murder Inn,” and “Radium Girls.”

Nominees ranged from technical recognition: light and sound design and operating, set design, and set decor; to acting recognition: best lead role, major supporting role, minor supporting role, under 18 in an adult production, and cameo.

The Encore Association was established in 1970 and is comprised solely of nonprofessional theatre groups. There are currently 11 Indianapolis-area theatres that are members of the Encore Association, and Shelby County Players have been a member since 2015.

The Awards Ceremony is held at the end of each season to raise money for scholarships and recognize the talent within its member theatres.

The next production for the Shelby County Players’ 30th Anniversary Season is the young audience production of “Rapunzel.”

Performances at the Strand Theatre in downtown Shelbyville are Nov. 30 through Dec. 9. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. matinees on Sunday.

Tickets are currently on sale online at shelbycountyplayers.com and at Mickey’s T-Mart, 748 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. They are $5 in advance and $6 at the Strand Theatre door on nights of the show.