TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

The Stockdale Country Club got a dose of theater Sunday evening when The Empty Space hosted its ninth annual Empty Space Awards. More than 100 people, including nominees, friends and family gathered for cocktails, dinner and a bit of recognition.

From the theater board's opening performance parodying LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" to a rousing version of "Nine People's Favorite Thing" from "[title of show]," presented just as admirably as it was at the Theatre on the Kern fundraiser in September, the show was a mostly lively salute to the 2011 season.

The ceremony, which got fully under way just before 8 p.m., seemed to drag for reasons necessary -- nearly 30 awards -- and less so -- digital shorts that came off a bit inside baseball for an outsider.

A performance by "hypnoteaser and illusionist" Gus Flamingo, aka Mark Price, kept the crowd laughing as he took pot shots at literary figures, the Empty Space, several actors and other local theaters (David Zent's and Hal Friedman's ears might have been burning Sunday night.)

Of course, an awards show isn't just about being entertaining, it's about recognizing hard work and talent. One standout was Jared Cantrell, who won four Empties and jokingly credited his success to having time off (due to unemployment early in the year) to work on his craft. By the fourth win, the joke from the audience was "everything's coming up Cantrell."

Many other winners were overcome after accepting their awards, while others managed to joke and return thanks to castmates and loved ones. A touching moment came when Miranda Whipple, who won best stage manager for "Stage Door," thanked her parents, longtime patrons of the theater, for supporting her and her studies at Cal State Fullerton.

And the Empty goes to ...

Best lead male actor (comedy): Kamel Haddad (Scrooge), "A Christmas Carol"

Best lead female actor (drama): Tie -- Jessica Boles (Gretchen), "Faust"; Christina Teves (Kate), "The Wild Party"

Best lead female actor (comedy): Jaclyn Taylor (Judith), "Hay Fever"

Best lead male actor (drama): Jared Cantrell (Kyle), "Touch"

Best supporting female actor (comedy): Ellie Sivesind (Bernice Niemeyer), "Stage Door"

Best supporting male actor (comedy): Jon A. Sampson (Richard), "Hay Fever"

Best supporting female actor (drama): Caroline Clark (Holly), "Next Fall"

Best supporting male actor (drama): Bob Kempf (Butch), "Next Fall"

Best featured female actor: Julia Stansbury (Mrs. Shaw), "Stage Door"

Best featured male actor: Justin Thompson (Sam Hastings), "Stage Door"

Best debut performance (female): Jessica Burzlaff (Madelaine), "The Wild Party"

Best debut performance (male): Shawn Rader (Jackie), "The Wild Party"

Sound design: Aaron Mauldin, "A Christmas Carol"

Light design: Kevin Ganger, "Faust"

Set design: Bob Kempf, "Stage Door"

Costume design: Jeny Sanchez, "Stage Door"

Stage manager: Miranda Whipple, "Stage Door"

Favorite face in the crowd: Karen and Kevin Peaker

Best gallery exhibit: "Art Vs. Zombies" (Group Show), Susan Roussel, Jesus Fidel, David Rock, Guinevere PH Dethlefson, Curators

Best special event: Tonicism Workshop Productions: "Mulan," "Camp Rock," "Lonely Hearts Club" and "Nick Tickle"

Best director: Randy Messick, Cody Ganger and Kevin Ganger, "Faust"

Best mainstage production: "Next Fall"

Best late night production: "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)"

Best ensemble: "Hay Fever"

Breakout performance: Jared Cantrell (Kyle), "Touch"

Most improved actor: Jared Cantrell

Most valuable person: Michelle Guerrero-Tolley

Male actor of the year: Jared Cantrell

Female actor of the year: Tie -- Cody Ganger, Ellie Sivesind