RACINE, WISCONSIN, FEBRUARY 28, 2010:  Over Our Head Players concluded the 2010 Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival on Sunday by presenting the audience favorite Best in Snow prizes.  Eleven original comedies, selected for production from over 240 entries, competed for the coveted prize.  At each performance, audiences voted for their favorite individual comedy; the favorites won cash prizes.  The Best in Snow winning entry was The Covenant, written by Tim Bohn from Jonesboro, Arkansas; Tim is a Racine native. Second place went to Please Report Any Suspicious Activity, by Rick Park of Boston, Massachusetts; Rick wrote last year’s winner.  Third place went to 10 x 10 by Roy Sorrels from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

After the final Snowdance performance Sunday, the audience voted for their favorites, just as each previous audience had.  The tally was added to the votes from throughout the run.  Then, the Snowdance ensemble came together for the Closing Ceremonies of the wooden anniversary Snowdance.  As is tradition, the ceremonial Dance of the Salmon highlighted the event; this dance is a Snowdance celebration of “Salmon-a-Rama,” their kindred spirit in competition.  Then, the ceremonial Snowdance snow cone was sealed away for next year’s competition, and the company gathered around balloting supervisor Anna Clementi, who had the winning results sealed in a mayonnaise jar.  As the excitement built, Anna declared the winners, with Snowdance ensemble members accepting the awards on behalf of the playwrights.  Rick Ditter, the director of 10 x 10, took the third place on the podium; actor Ron Schulz of Please Report Any Suspicious Activityaccepted the second place.  Finally, director Rich Smith accepted first place for The Covenant.

The $300 first place Best in Snow award went to Tim Bohn of Jonesboro, Arkansas for The Covenant, which featured a father, his son, and the veteran smelt fisherman they encounter.

Second place was awarded to Rick Park of Boston, Massachusetts, for Please Report Any Suspicious Activity, about two dolphins in a spat after a visit to the aquarium. Second & third place awards were each $100.

Third place went to Roy Sorrels of Santa Fe, New Mexico, for 10 x 10. Two actors race the clock with 10 scenes in 10 minutes.

Artistic Director Rich Smith reflected, “Snowdance is literally an entire evening of world premiere productions.  Playwrights are unique artists; their art requires collaboration to come to life.  The actors, directors, and designers take the playwrights’ works and create the finished product.  We enjoy bringing original comedy to audiences, and giving them the opportunity to participate in the artistic process through their votes.  Over the past six years, we have defined Racine as the Home of the 10 Minute Comedy Competition.”  He continued, “We are fortunate to draw so many talented directors and actors to our group. I think the energy of this production is what attracts them and the audience as well.”  He adds that rules will be available this summer for the 2011 Snowdance, Over Our Head Players’ seventh Snowdance production.

Snowdance was produced by an ensemble.  The acting ensemble featured John Adams, Tom Amacher, Barbara Akey, Nate Davis, Rick Ditter, Brianna Hubbard, Mike Kishline, Mona Lewis, Elizabeth McGregor, Matt Rangel, Ron Schulz, and Rich Smith.  Diane Carlson, Rick Ditter, Melissa Ernest, Kathy Honigmann, Chuck Lindas, Joseph Piirto, Matt Rangel, and Rich Smith.   The production staff also included Emily Breiwick, Janine Anderson, Claudia Bruce, Melissa Fleischman, Keven Winters, Ryan Loberger, Joan Roehre, Sea Daniel, Anna Clementi, Jerry Horton, Christopher Larson, Wendy Schulz, Jim Smith, and Tom Spraker.

The Snowdance Comedy Festival was sponsored by Minuteman Press.

Over Our Head Players is a non-profit organization of volunteer talent; they operate the Sixth Street Theatre in Racine.  Their 18th season continues with The Beauty Queen of Leenane in March and Theatre Schmeatre, an evening of sketch comedy, in May.  For information, please call the box office at (262) 632-6802.