After The Fair and The King And I tied for outstanding production of a musical in the 1997 Leon Rabin Awards, honoring excellence in Dallas-area theatre.

Actor/dancer/choreographer Tommy Tune (Grand Hotel, My One & Only), a Texas native, won a Career Achievement Award. Also, the Dallas Theatre League awards honored the Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts for their production of The Nutcracker at Dallas Children's Theatre.

Rabin spokesperson Teresa Gill told Playbill On-Line the third annual awards covered the season running Sept. 1, 1996-Aug. 31, 1997, with nominees in 19 categories announced Sept. 22. Eighty-eight shows were judged, with Teresa Micucci Gill chairing the awards committee.

Spokesperson Gill also said that Rabin was an avid supporter of Dallas theatres "large and small."

Here are the 1997 Leon Rabin Award winners: Production of a Play: Nebraska (New Theatre Company).

Production of a Musical: After The Fair (Lyric Stage) & The King And I (Dallas Summer Musicals).

New Play Or Musical: After The Fair by Stephen Cole & Matthew Ward at Lyric Stage.

Direction of a Play: Electra, Keith Oncale (Gryphon Players)

Direction of a Musical: After The Fair, Cheryl Denson (Lyric Stage

Actor in a Play: Jim Jorgensen, Rocket To The Moon, New Theatre Company.

Actress In A Play: Sally Nystuen Vahle, Angels In America - Part II, Dallas Theatre Center.

Supporting Actor in a Play: Tyrone Henderson, Angels In America - Part II, Dallas Theatre Center.

Supporting Actress in a Play: Sheriden Thomas, Angels In America - Part II, Dallas Theatre Center.

Actor in a Musical: Gaitley Mathews, Sweet Charity, Lyric Stage.

Actress in a Musical: Pamela Peadon, Sweet Charity, Lyric Stage.

Supporting Actor in a Musical: Dwight Sandell, She Loves Me, Lyric Stage.

Supporting Actress in a Musical: Pamela Doherty, After The Fair, Lyric Stage.

Set Design: Mark Hankla, Death Express!, Pegasus Theatre.

Costume Design: Bruce Coleman, The Wages Of Sin, or, Don Juan On Trial, New Theatre Company.

Lighting Design: Suzanne Lavendar, The Sound And The Fury, Undermain Theatre.

Sound Design: Bob Barazza, The Sound And The Fury (Undermain Theatre) & Marco Salinas, Rocket To The Moon, (New Theatre Company).

Musical Direction: Terry Dobson, John & Jen, (Theatre For A New Day) & Matthew Ward, After The Fair (Lyric Stage).

Choreography: Loris Anthony Beckles, Hair (Deep Ellum Opera Theatre) & Ann Nieman, Sweet Charity (Lyric Stage).

Career Achievement: Tommy Tune.

Standing Ovation Award: the late Tom Hughes, founder and director of Dallas Summer Musicals.

Winners of the "Leon" receive an inscribed brass plate.

-- By David Lefkowitz