The Chicopee native has worked as an actor, director, producer, set designer and playwright
5/31/13 - Chicopee - Local Actor Konrad Rogowski at home. Chicopee native Konrad J. Rogowski, 65, has done all-things-theater in his past 30 years and will be recognized for his feats this month.
As the first-ever recipient of the Massachusetts Critics Circle's Career Achievement Award, Rogowski has worked as an actor, director, producer, set designer and playwright, among other theater roles, throughout his life.
Shera L. Cohen, co-chair of the newly formed Massachusetts Critics Circle and President of In the Spotlight, Inc., said Rogowski was a clear choice for the award. “He was unanimously and instantly nominated by the MCC committee,” she said.
Joining the Suffield Players community theater group was Rogowski’s first major move into community theater. “My wife said, ‘You need a hobby!’” he recalls. Minding his wife’s advice, Rogowski auditioned for “Count Dracula” in 1979 and got the role of Jonathan Harker, one of the play’s main male leads. “Count Dracula sounded like fun – and it was,” Rogowski said. “I found a home with the Players and have been fortunate enough to serve in a variety of capacities there.”
Still a member of the 60-year-old Connecticut-based group, Rogowski is currently a member of its Playreading Committee, which reviews and selects plays for production, and the Directors Search Committee that finds the best possible directors for productions. Among other tasks, he also takes on lead and minor roles, manages publicity, and served as the group’s president in the late ‘80s.
Before becoming a Player, Rogowski did some acting in high school and college and took movement and voice workshops at Westfield State University. Roles he held with the Players such as Sweeney Todd of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” and the title role of “Macbeth” especially challenged his skills. “They’re pretty demanding roles and they test you. There’s certainly an expectation to hold up to,” Rogowski said.
Rogowski was quite surprised when he received the email notifying him of the Career Achievement Award. “In a way, it’s certainly a humble thing to have something acknowledging the variety of things I’ve done,” he said. Rogowski will receive the award at the Massachusetts Critics Circle community theater awards on June 20.
Along with Rogowski, winners in other categories for straight plays and musicals will also be honored at the Academy-Awards-style event. “I am excited about the event, which is truly a celebration,” said Cohen. “It will not only honor the hard work done in community theater, but will also help promote theater to new audiences.”
Led by host Mark Giza, Theatre Guild of Hampden founder, guests will enjoy a night of performances from each of the nominated musicals and have numerous chances to win raffle prizes. Funds will pay for event expenses and help initiate a scholarship that will be awarded to a high school student at a later time.
Other categories for the community theater awards fall between two genres: straight plays and musicals. Shows presented during the Sept. 9 to May 13 season were nominated. Categories include best actor, actress, featured actor, featured actress and director in both genres, best musical choreographer, as well as best play and best musical. Awards for best set design, costume design and ensemble will also be presented.
The MCC was formed based on the Connecticut Critics Circle, Cohen said. Its mission for the end-of-the-season celebration is to promote community and professional theater in the Pioneer Valley. While the June event specifically highlights community theater, a similar event to be held at a later time will honor professional theater.
The awards take place on June 20 at The Majestic Theatre in West Springfield at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 each, available only at the door.
Below is a list of all award nominees.
Community Theater Musical Nominations
Best Musical: “Aida”, Exit 7 Players; “Next to Normal”, Broad Brook Opera House Players; “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, Broad Brook Opera House Players; “Sunset Boulevard”, Theater Guild of Hampden
Best Actor: Curtis Lemoine, “Little Shop of Horrors”; Luis Manzi, “Next to Normal”; Brad Shepard, “1776”; Ryan Slingland, “Aida”
Best Actress: Sara Gilbert, “Next to Normal”; Anna Giza, “Sunset Boulevard”; Nikki Wadleigh, “Little Shop of Horrors”; Chae-Vonne Munrow, “Aida”
Best Featured Actor: Josiah Durham, “Next to Normal”; Michael Holt, “Sunset Boulevard”; Tomm Knightlee, “Next to Normal”; Arnaldo Rivera, “Aida”; JohnMartin Patton, “1776”
Best Featured Actress: Kate Elemendorf, “Next to Normal”; Chris McKenzie Willenbrook, “Aida”; Kierna Rushford, “Sunset Boulevard”; Teri LaFleur, “1776”
Best Director: Sharon FitzHenry, “Next to Normal”; Mark Giza, “Sunset Boulevard”; Kim Lynch, “Aida”
Best Choreographer: Alison Bogardy, “Hairspray”; Kathleen Delaney, “Sunset Boulevard”; Amy Bouchard, “Aida”; Kelsey Flynn, “Mystery of Edwin Drood”
Best Set Design: Josiah Durham and Kim Lynch, “Aida”; Deb Walsh, “Sunset Boulevard”
Best Costume Designer: Mystery of Edwin Drood; Sunset Boulevard; Aida
Best Ensemble: The Mystery of Edwin Drood; 1776
Community Theater Play Nominations
Best Play: “As You Like It”, Suffield Players; “Deathtrap”, Suffield Players; “The Vagina Monologues”, Exit 7 Players; “Regrets Only”, Suffield Players
Best Actor: Christopher Berrien, “Deathtrap”; Scott Nelson, “Chapter Two”; Robert Lunde, “As You Like It”
Best Actress: Chris McKenzie Willenbrook, “Chapter Two”; Jo Marie Pipolo, “Regrets Only”; Becky Schoenfeld, “As You Like It”
Best Featured Actor: Steve Wandzy, “Deathtrap”; Larry Chiz, “Deathtrap”; Ed Bernstein, “As You Like It”
Best Featured Actress: Anna Marie Johanson, “Deathtrap”; Mary Fernandez-Sierra, “Deathtrap”; Kelly Seip, “Regrets Only”; Amanda Marshall, “As You Like It”
Best Director: Robert Lunde, “Deathtrap”; Chris Rohmann, “As You Like It”; Becky Beth Benedict, “Regrets Only”
Best Ensemble (combining musical and play): The Mystery of Edwin Drood; 1776; As You Like It
Best Set Design: Konrad Rogowski: “As You Like It”, “Deathtrap”, “Regrets Only”
Best Costumes: “As You Like It”, Suffield Players; “Chapter Two”, Exit 7 Players; “Deathtrap”, Suffield Players; “Regrets Only”, Suffield Players