ORLANDO — The 2011 Parnelli Awards, held Oct. 29 at the Peabody Orlando, paid tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award winner Ed Wannebo (personally congratulated with a surprise appearance by a Margarita-bearing Kenny Chesney, pictured here), Audio Innovator Kenton Forsythe, Parnelli Visionary Jim Fackert and winners in 24 other categories for individuals, companies and products that all helped the live production industry take a giant step forward in 2011.
It was an evening of laughs, touching moments, and surprises. Flo and Eddie, a.k.a. Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, kicked off this show doing a faux Lady Gaga bit, and then proceeded to entertain the crowd with inside jokes and bits about their career, all wrapped up in their unique brand of self-deprecating humor.
“Welcome to the 11th annual Parnelli Awards,” said Terry Lowe, executive producer of the awards program and publisher of PLSN, FRONT of HOUSE and Stage Directions magazines. “I understand that Jim Fackert’s first ambition was to be a literal rocket scientist. Jim, you didn’t make that, but you ended up in career where you were with people who were very, very high.” Kenton Forysthe, meanwhile, was introduced by audio legend David Robb, with a fitting video tribute.
The full list of 2011 Parnelli Awards winners follows:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ed Wannebo
Audio Innovator Award: Kenton Forsythe
Parnelli Visionary Award: Jim Fackert
Lighting Designer: Richard “Nook” Schoenfeld
Set/Scenic Designer: Baz Halpin, Chris Nyfield
Video Director: David Davidian
FOH Mixer: Brad Madix
Monitor Mixer: Kevin “Tater” McCarthy
Audio System Tech: Jo Ravitch
Production Manager: Arthur Kemish
Tour Manager: Andrew Zweck
Lighting Company: PRG
Sound Company: Solotech
Hometown Hero Lighting Company: Gemini Stage Lighting
Hometown Hero Sound Company: Production Support Group
Staging Company: SGPS/ShowRig
Rigging Company: Atlanta Rigging Systems
Set Construction Company: Tait Towers
Video Company: Chaos Visual Productions
Pyro Company: Strictly FX
Coach Company: Hemphill Brothers
Trucking Company: Upstaging Inc.
Freight Forwarding Company: Rock-It Cargo
Indispensable Technology “IT” Awards:
Lighting: Clay Paky (Sharpy)
Video: Coolux (Pandoras Box Widget Designer v3)
Staging: Stageline (SL50 Mobile Stage)
Audio: Martin Audio (MLA)
