The ceremony featured performances of a song from the five nominees for Outstanding Musical (She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company; Rent, Elden Street Players; Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria; The Producers, Port Tobacco Players; and The Producers, The Arlington Players). One group (The Alliance Theatre) joined WATCH in 2011 and introduced themselves during the ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by actor Fred Nelson and lasted three hours.

There were 121 productions (35 musicals, 86 plays) adjudicated in 2010. Thirty community theater companies participated in WATCH adjudication.

View all nominations and awards broken down by company

Awards for Outstanding Technical Achievements

• Outstanding Set Design in a Musical: Kevin King, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Set Design in a Play: John W. Kirby & John Merritt, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical: Marty Sullivan & Bill Behan, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Set Construction in a Play: Jeff Merritt, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical: Mary Rose Vasko & John Vasko, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Set Painting in a Play: John Merritt, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical: (TIE) Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe, Rent, Elden Street Players; Nancy Eynon Lark, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play: Mary Thiedeman, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Properties in a Musical: Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Properties in a Play: Andrew Greenleaf, Bridget Muehlberger Sonya Okin, Rabbit Hole, Silver Spring Stage
• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical: AnnMarie Castrigno, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play: Terry Averill, Earth and Sky, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical: (TIE) Richard Bird, Wonderful Town, Reston Community Players; Stan Harris, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Sound Design in a Play: Wes Bedsworth, Earth and Sky, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical: Barbara Esquibel, The Producers, The Arlington Players
• Outstanding Costume Design in a Play: Heather Bauer, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical: (TIE) Laura Fontaine, Rent, Elden Street Players; Christine Spata, Evil Dead: The Musical, Taking Flight Theatre Company
• Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play: Julie Cameron, Frankenstein, Prince William Little Theatre
• Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical: (TIE) Laura Fontaine, Rent, Elden Street Players; Ronna Johnson, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Hair Design in a Play: Paul Morton, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Outstanding Special Effects: John Bordeaux & Todd C. Huse, Rent, Elden Street Players

Awards for Outstanding Performances by an Actor or Actress

• Outstanding Cameo in a Musical: Laura Gepford as “Mistress”, Evita, Rockville Musical Theatre
• Outstanding Cameo in a Play: Richard Bird as “Sheriff/Ticket Agent”, The Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players
• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: TiaJuana Rountree as “Mrs. Mae Peterson”, Bye Bye, Birdie, Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Mickey Daniel DaGuiso as “Angel Dumott Schunard”, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Audrey Cafaly as “Izzy”, Rabbit Hole, Silver Spring Stage
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play: Dino P. Coppa as “David O. Selznick”, Moonlight and Magnolias, Montgomery Playhouse
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical: Autumn Seavey as “Violet”, Violet, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical: Jimmy Payne as “Max”, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play: Lorraine Magee as “Vivian Bearing, Ph.D.”, W;t, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Thurston Cobb as “Ralph”, Frozen, Colonial Players of Annapolis

Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production

• Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography: Kevin C. Robertson, Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Fauquier Community Theatre
• Outstanding Choreography: Amy Carson, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Outstanding Music Direction: (TIE) John-Michael d’Haviland, Rent, Elden Street Players; Paul Nasto, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Outstanding Direction of a Musical: (TIE) Todd C. Huse, Rent, Elden Street Players; Susan Devine, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Outstanding Direction of a Play: Evan Hoffmann, Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Musical: Rent, Elden Street Players
• Outstanding Play: Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players

All Nominations and Awards Broken Down by Company

Arlington Players

• Awards (1)
  • The Producers
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Barbara Esquibel
• Nominations (15)
  • Amadeus
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Michael Kharfen as “Antonio Salieri”
  • Cabaret
    • Outstanding Choreography, Jeremy A. McShan
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, J. Arthur Rodger
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Andy Izquierdo as “Emcee”
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Amanda Acker
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Dave Means
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Keith Bell
  • The Producers
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Mark Hidalgo as “Lead Stormtrooper”
    • Outstanding Choreography, John Monnett
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Barbara Esquibel
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Anne Marie Pinto as “Ulla”
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Xandra Weaver
    • Outstanding Musical
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Peter Finkel & Bill Wisniewski
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Jared Davis

Bowie Community Theatre

• Nominations (1)
  • The Glass Menagerie
    • Outstanding Play

Capital City Players Of DC

• Nominations (1)
  • Julius Caesar
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Nello DeBlasio as “Mark Antony”

Castaways Repertory Theatre

• Nominations (1)
  • The Miracle Worker
    • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Kevin C. Robertson

Colonial Players

• Awards (3)
  • Earth and Sky
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Terry Averill
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Wes Bedsworth
  • Frozen
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Thurston Cobb as “Ralph”
• Nominations (16)
  • Dog Logic
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Ben Carr as “Hertel”
  • Earth and Sky
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Pat Reynolds as “David Ames”
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Erin Leigh Casey as “Sara McKeon”
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Terry Averill
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Wes Bedsworth
  • Frozen
    • Outstanding Direction of a Play, James Gallagher
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Laura E. Gayvert as “Agnetha”
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Thurston Cobb as “Ralph”
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Mary MacLeod as “Nancy”
    • Outstanding Play
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Ben Cornwell
  • I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Danny Brooks as “Trentell/Arthur”
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Jamie Erin Miller as “Jennifer and other characters”
  • Mrs. California
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Doug Dawson
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play – Doug Dawson
    • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Grace Bumgardner & Lois Banscher

Damascus Theatre Company

• Awards (1)
  • She Loves Me
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Nancy Eynon Lark
• Nominations (10)
  • She Loves Me
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Jason Damaso as “Waiter”
    • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Phil Hosford
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Stephanie Bonte-Lebair as “Amalia Balash”
    • Outstanding Music Direction, Phil Hosford
    • Outstanding Musical
    • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Margie Henry
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical – Bill Lebair
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Nancy Eynon Lark
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Bill Brown
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Judy Jandora

Dominion Stage

• Nominations (7)
  • Altar Boyz
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Jeffrey S. Auerbach
  • Reefer Madness
    • Outstanding Choreography, Catherine Oh
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Jacquin Pierce Allen
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Tom Flatt as “The Lecturer”
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Jeffrey S. Auerbach
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Jared Davis
    • Outstanding Special Effects, Jeffrey S. Auerbach & David Moretti

Elden Street Players

• Awards (17)
  • Metamorphoses
    • Outstanding Direction of a Play – Evan Hoffmann
    • Outstanding Play
  • Rent
    • Outstanding Direction of a Musical – Todd C. Huse
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Mickey Daniel DaGuiso as “Angel Dumott Schunard”
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Laura Fontaine
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, AnnMarie Castrigno
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Laura Fontaine
    • Outstanding Music Direction, John-Michael d’Haviland
    • Outstanding Musical
    • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Marty Sullivan & Bill Behan
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Kevin King
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Mary Rose Vasko & John Vasko
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Stan Harris
    • Outstanding Special Effects, John Bordeaux & Todd C. Huse
  • W;t
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Lorraine Magee as “Vivian Bearing, Ph.D.”
• Nominations (32)
  • Metamorphoses
    • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Evan Hoffmann
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Laura Fontaine & Jaclyn Young
    • Outstanding Play
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Marty Sullivan & Theresa Bender
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Evan Hoffmann
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Karl Meier & Kate Meier
    • Outstanding Special Effects, Theresa Bender et al
    • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Katherine Frattini
  • Murder in Green Meadows
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Alan Reichert
    • Outstanding Special Effects, Brian Farrell et al
  • Rent
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Judy Whelihan & Susan Devine
    • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Todd Huse
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Mickey Daniel DaGuiso as “Angel Dumott Schunard”
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Christopher Prince as “Tom Collins”
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Richelle “Rikki” Howie as “Joanne Jefferson”
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Chelsa Reba as “Mimi Marquez”
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Laura Fontaine
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, AnnMarie Castrigno
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Laura Fontaine
    • Outstanding Music Direction, John-Michael d’Haviland
    • Outstanding Musical
    • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Marty Sullivan & Bill Behan
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Kevin King
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Mary Rose Vasko & John Vasko
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Stan Harris
    • Outstanding Special Effects, John Bordeaux & Todd C. Huse
  • W;t
    • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Gloria DuGan
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Lorraine Magee as “Vivian Bearing, Ph.D.”
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Franklin Coleman
    • Outstanding Play

Fauquier Community Theatre

• Awards (1)
  • Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
    • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography – Kevin C. Robertson
• Nominations (3)
  • Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
    • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Kevin C. Robertson
  • The Miracle Worker
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Sarah LaFantasie as “Annie Sullivan”
    • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography

Greenbelt Arts Center

• Nominations (1)
  • Man of LaMancha
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Eric Street

Kensington Arts Theatre

• Awards (1)
  • Violet
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Autumn Seavey as “Violet”
• Nominations (12)
  • Chicago
    • Outstanding Choreography, Diego Prieto
    • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Andrea Spitz & Diego Prieto
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Dani Stoller as “Roxie Hart”
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Kevin P. Garrett
  • Rent
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Eric Jones as “The Man”
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Jase Parker as “Angel D. Schunard”
    • Outstanding Music Direction, Brian Victor
  • Violet
    • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Caroline Jane Angell
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Autumn Seavey as “Violet”
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Christopher Kelly
    • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Jenna Ballard
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Kevin P. Garrett

Little Theatre Of Alexandria

• Awards (4)
  • Chicago
    • Outstanding Choreography, Amy Carson
    • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Susan Devine
    • Outstanding Music Direction, Paul Nasto
  • Lady Windermere’s Fan
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Paul Morton
• Nominations (16)
  • Chicago
    • Outstanding Choreography, Amy Carson
    • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Susan Devine
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Jon Keeling as “Amos Hart”
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Andy Izquierdo as “Billy Flynn”
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Bethany Blakey as “Velma Kelly”
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Jordan Hougham as “Roxie Hart”
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Ken & Patti Crowley
    • Outstanding Music Direction, Paul Nasto
    • Outstanding Musical
    • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Betty Dolan & Leslie Reed
  • Lady Windermere’s Fan
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Kathy Dodson & Chris Macey
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Paul Morton
  • Nude With Violin
    • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Phillip Campbell & Patty Greksouk
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Russell Wyland
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Buffy Mechling
  • Play It Again, Sam
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Ken & Patti Crowley

Mclean Community Players

• Nominations (1)
  • Frost/Nixon
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Bob Sams as “Richard M. Nixon”

Montgomery Playhouse

• Awards (1)
  • Moonlight and Magnolias
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Dino P. Coppa as “David O. Selznick”
• Nominations (5)
  • An Ideal Husband
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Jessica C. Henry
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Jessica C. Henry
  • Antigone
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, William T. Fleming
  • Moonlight and Magnolias
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Dino P. Coppa as “David O. Selznick”
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, David Jones as “Ben Hecht”

Port Tobacco Players

• Awards (7)
  • Arsenic and Old Lace
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Heather Bauer
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Jeff Merritt
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Mary Thiedeman
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, John W. Kirby & John Merritt
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, John Merritt
  • The Producers
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Ronna Johnson
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Jimmy Payne as “Max”
• Nominations (29)
  • Arsenic and Old Lace
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Heather Bauer
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Theodore DeMarco-Logue
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Sarah Sandy
    • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Mary Thiedeman & Heather Bauer
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Jeff Merritt
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Mary Thiedeman
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, John W. Kirby & John Merritt
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, John Merritt
  • The Diary of Anne Frank
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, John Merritt
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Sarah A. Carlson & Jason Carlson
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Sarah A. Carlson
  • The Miracle Worker
    • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Brian Donohue
  • The Producers
    • Outstanding Choreography, Brooke L. Howells
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Kira Sanders
    • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Brooke L. Howells
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Patrick Pruitt as “Franz”
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Ronna Johnson
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Jimmy Payne as “Max”
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Jessica Ramos
    • Outstanding Music Direction, James D. Watson
    • Outstanding Musical
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, John Merritt
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Sarah A. Carlson & John Merritt
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, John Merritt
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical – Sarah Carlson & John Merritt
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, James D. Watson
  • The Secret Garden
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Patricia M. Brennan & Cathy Compton
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Tessa N. Silvestro & Mary Thiedeman
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Kim Bessler & Heather Bauer

Prince George’s Little Theatre

• Awards (1)
  • Bye Bye, Birdie
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, TiaJuana Rountree as “Mrs. Mae Peterson”
• Nominations (2)
  • Arsenic and Old Lace
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Roy Hammond & Gayle Negri
  • Bye Bye, Birdie
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, TiaJuana Rountree as “Mrs. Mae Peterson”

Prince William Little Theatre

• Awards (1)
  • Frankenstein
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Julie Cameron
• Nominations (4)
  • Frankenstein
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Ken & Patti Crowley
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Julie Cameron
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Stan Harris
    • Outstanding Special Effects, Dave Warner, Bob Shon, Sarah Barlow, Ken & Patti Crowley

Providence Players

• Nominations (6)
  • Big Tree Falls
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Erin Finucane as “Amber”
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Addie Storvick as “Sherri”
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Beth Hughes-Brown as “Olive”
  • The Laramie Project
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, John Coscia as ” Sgt. Hing, Doc O’Connor, Dr. Cantway, Rev. Fred Phelps, Dennis Shepard “
  • Waiting in the Wings
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Robbie Snow
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Cheryl Sinsabaugh as “Deirdre”

Reston Community Players

• Awards (2)
  • The Trip to Bountiful
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Christopher Guy Thorn as “Roy/Ticket Agent”
  • Wonderful Town
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Richard Bird
• Nominations (13)
  • As You Like It
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Melissa Bailey as “Celia”
    • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Cathy Rieder
  • The Trip to Bountiful
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Christopher Guy Thorn as “Roy/Ticket Agent”
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Richard Bird as “Sheriff/Ticket Agent”
    • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Irene Molnar
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Robin Zerbe as “Thelma”
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Adriana Hardy as “Carrie Watts”
    • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Adam Konowe
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Kat Brais
    • Outstanding Play
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Kevin P. Garrett
  • Wonderful Town
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Jaclyn Young
    • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Richard Bird

Rockville Musical Theatre

• Awards (1)
  • Evita
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Laura Gepford as “Mistress”
• Nominations (6)
  • Evita
    • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Laura Gepford as “Mistress”
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Malca Giblin
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Malca Giblin
  • Forever Plaid
    • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Sonya Tavitian
  • The Pajama Game
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, John Loughney as “Sid Sorokin”
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Sonya Okin & Joel Richon

Silver Spring Stage

• Awards (2)
  • Rabbit Hole
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Audrey Cefaly as “Izzy”
    • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf, Sonya Okin & Bridget Muehlberger
• Nominations (13)
  • Private Lives
    • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Mary Dalto
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Ken Lee
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf
  • Pygmalion
    • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Pauline Griller-Mitchell
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Maggie Skekel-Sledge
  • Rabbit Hole
    • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Chris Curtis
    • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Audrey Cefaly as “Izzy”
    • Outstanding Play
    • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf, Sonya Okin & Bridget Muehlberger
    • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf, Sonya Okin & Bridget Muehlberger
    • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf

St. Mark’s Players

• Nominations (1)
  • Two Gentlemen of Verona
    • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Rafael Cuesta as “Speed”

Taking Flight Theatre Company

• Awards (1)
  • Evil Dead: The Musical
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Christine Spata
• Nominations (3)
  • Evil Dead: The Musical
    • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Christine Spata
    • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Shannon Khatcheressian
    • Outstanding Special Effects, Jeff Bender

Tantallon Community Players

• Nominations (3)
  • A Raisin in the Sun
    • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, The Cast
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Lolita-Marie Clayton as “Ruth Younger”
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Robin Dorsey as “Lena “Mama” Younger”

• Aldersgate Church Community Theatre, Alexandria, VA
• The Arlington Players, Arlington, VA
• Bowie Community Theatre, Bowie, MD
• Capital City Players, Washington DC (formerly The Foundry Players)
• Castaways Repertory Theatre, Woodbridge, VA
• Chevy Chase Players, Washington DC
• Colonial Players of Annapolis, Annapolis, MD
• Damascus Theatre Company, Damascus, MD
• Dominion Stage, Alexandria, VA
• Elden Street Players,Herndon, VA
• Fauquier Community Theatre, Warrenton, VA
• Greenbelt Arts Center, Greenbelt, MD
• Hard Bargain Players, Accokeek, MD
• Kensington Arts Theatre, Kensington, MD
• Laurel Mill Playhouse, Laurel, MD
• Little Theatre of Alexandria, Alexandria, VA
• McLean Community Players, McLean, VA
• Montgomery Playhouse , Gaithersburg, MD
• Port City Playhouse, Alexandria, VA
• Port Tobacco Players, La Plata, MD
• Prince George’s Little Theatre, Bowie, MD
• Prince William Little Theatre, Manassas, VA
• Providence Players of Fairfax, Falls Church, VA
• Reston Community Players, Reston, VA
• Rockville Little Theatre, Rockville, MD
• Rockville Musical Theatre, Rockville, MD
• St. Mark’s Players, Washington DC
• Silver Spring Stage, Silver Spring, MD
• Taking Flight Theatre Company, Sterling, VA (formerly CCT with 2nd Flight Theatre Company)
• Tantallon Community Players, Ft. Washington, MD
• Vienna Theatre Company, Vienna, VA

In 2011, two additional companies will be participating:

• The Alliance Theatre, Chantilly, VA
• Rooftop Productions, Manassas, VA

In each of the thirty-eight categories, five nominees were selected based on the average scores of eight judges. In some categories, due to score ties, more than five nominees are announced. Nominations are provided in alphabetical order by nominee. The nominations are provided by category and then by theater.

Listen to a recording of the announcement. [MP3 23:59 22MB] Nominations were presented by Jenna Ballard, Leta Hall, Kira Simon, Linda Stone, and Sue Pinkman.

Nominations for outstanding technical achievements.

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical

• Bill Brown, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Kevin King, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Dave Means, Cabaret, The Arlington Players
• John Merritt, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Eric Street, Man of LaMancha, Greenbelt Arts Center

Outstanding Set Design in a Play

• Sarah A. Carlson & Jason Carlson, The Diary of Anne Frank, Port Tobacco Players
• Andrew Greenleaf, Private Lives, Silver Spring Stage
• Andrew Greenleaf, Rabbit Hole, Silver Spring Stage
• Evan Hoffmann, Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players
• John W. Kirby & John Merritt, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical

• Amanda Acker, Cabaret, The Arlington Players
• Peter Finkel & Bill Wisniewski, The Producers, The Arlington Players
• Bill Lebair, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• John Merritt, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Marty Sullivan & Bill Behan, Rent, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Set Construction in a Play

• Andrew Greenleaf, Rabbit Hole, Silver Spring Stage
• Ken Lee, Private Lives, Silver Spring Stage
• Jeff Merritt, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• John Merritt, The Diary of Anne Frank, Port Tobacco Players
• Marty Sullivan & Theresa Bender, Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical

• Jared Davis, Reefer Madness, Dominion Stage
• Jared Davis, The Producers, The Arlington Players
• Judy Jandora, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Tessa N. Silvestro & Mary Thiedeman, The Secret Garden, Port Tobacco Players
• Mary Rose Vasko & John Vasko, Rent, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Set Painting in a Play

• Sarah A. Carlson, The Diary of Anne Frank, Port Tobacco Players
• Buffy Mechling, Nude With Violin, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Karl Meier & Kate Meier, Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players
• John Merritt, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Cathy Rieder, As You Like It, Reston Community Players

Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical

• Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Kim Bessler & Heather Bauer, The Secret Garden, Port Tobacco Players
• Sarah A. Carlson & John Merritt, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Shannon Khatcheressian, Evil Dead: The Musical, Taking Flight Theatre Company
• Nancy Eynon Lark, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Sonya Okin & Joel Richon, The Pajama Game, Rockville Musical Theatre

Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play

• Andrew Greenleaf, Private Lives, Silver Spring Stage
• Andrew Greenleaf et al, Rabbit Hole, Silver Spring Stage
• Roy Hammond & Gayle Negri, Arsenic and Old Lace, Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Mary Thiedeman, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Russell Wyland, Nude With Violin, Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Properties in a Musical

• Jenna Ballard, Violet, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Betty Dolan & Leslie Reed, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Margie Henry, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Sonya Tavitian, Forever Plaid, Rockville Musical Theatre

Outstanding Properties in a Play

• Grace Bumgardner & Lois Banscher, Mrs. California, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Phillip Campbell & Patty Greksouk, Nude With Violin, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Mary Dalto, Private Lives, Silver Spring Stage
• Andrew Greenleaf et al, Rabbit Hole, Silver Spring Stage
• Mary Thiedeman & Heather Bauer, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

• Jeffrey S. Auerbach, Altar Boyz, Dominion Stage
• Jeffrey S. Auerbach, Reefer Madness, Dominion Stage
• AnnMarie Castrigno, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Ken & Patti Crowley, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Christopher Kelly, Violet, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play

• Terry Averill, Earth and Sky, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Franklin Coleman, W;t, Elden Street Players
• Ken & Patti Crowley, Play It Again, Sam, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Ken & Patti Crowley, Frankenstein, Prince William Little Theatre
• Theodore DeMarco-Logue, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Adam Konowe, Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical

• Keith Bell, Cabaret, The Arlington Players
• Richard Bird, Wonderful Town, Reston Community Players
• Kevin P. Garrett, Violet, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Kevin P. Garrett, Chicago, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Stan Harris, Rent, Elden Street Players
• James D. Watson, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play

• Wes Bedsworth, Earth and Sky, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Ben Cornwell, Frozen, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Kevin P. Garrett, Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players
• Stan Harris, Frankenstein, Prince William Little Theatre
• Alan Reichert, Murder in Green Meadows, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

• Jacquin Pierce Allen, Reefer Madness, Dominion Stage
• Patricia M. Brennan & Cathy Compton, The Secret Garden, Port Tobacco Players
• Barbara Esquibel, The Producers, The Arlington Players
• Kira Sanders, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Judy Whelihan & Susan Devine, Rent, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Costume Design in a Play

• Heather Bauer, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players
• Kathy Dodson & Chris Macey, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Jessica C. Henry, An Ideal Husband, Montgomery Playhouse
• Irene Molnar, Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players
• Robbie Snow, Waiting in the Wings, Providence Players of Fairfax

Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical

• Laura Fontaine, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Malca Giblin, Evita, Rockville Musical Theatre
• Jessica Ramos, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Christine Spata, Evil Dead: The Musical, Taking Flight Theatre Company
• Xandra Weaver, The Producers, The Arlington Players

Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play

• Kat Brais, Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players
• Julie Cameron, Frankenstein, Prince William Little Theatre
• Mrs. California, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• William T. Fleming, Antigone, Montgomery Playhouse
• Laura Fontaine & Jaclyn Young, Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players
• Sarah Sandy, Arsenic and Old Lace, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical

• Laura Fontaine, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Malca Giblin, Evita, Rockville Musical Theatre
• Ronna Johnson, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• J. Arthur Rodger, Cabaret, The Arlington Players
• Jaclyn Young, Wonderful Town, Reston Community Players

Outstanding Hair Design in a Play

• The Cast, A Raisin in the Sun, Tantallon Community Players
• Doug Dawson, Mrs. California, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Jessica C. Henry, An Ideal Husband, Montgomery Playhouse
• Paul Morton, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Maggie Skekel-Sledge, Pygmalion, Silver Spring Stage

Outstanding Special Effects

• Jeffrey S. Auerbach & David Moretti, Reefer Madness, Dominion Stage
• Theresa Bender et al, Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players
• Jeff Bender, Evil Dead: The Musical, Taking Flight Theatre Company
• John Bordeaux & Todd Huse, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Brian Farrell et al, Murder in Green Meadows, Elden Street Players
• Dave Warner et al, Frankenstein, Prince William Little Theatre

Nominations for outstanding performances by an actor or actress.

Outstanding cameo in a musical

• Danny Brooks as “Trentell et al”, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Jason Damaso as “Waiter”, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Laura Gepford as “Mistress”, Evita, Rockville Musical Theatre
• Mark Hidalgo as “Lead Stormtrooper”, The Producers, The Arlington Players
• Eric Jones as “The Man”, Rent, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding cameo in a play

• Richard Bird as “Sheriff/Ticket Agent”, Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players
• Erin Finucane as “Amber”, Big Tree Falls, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Beth Hughes-Brown as “Olive”, Big Tree Falls, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Addie Storvick as “Sherri”, Big Tree Falls, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Christopher Guy Thorn as “Roy/Ticket Agent”, Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players

Outstanding featured actress in a musical

• Richelle “Rikki” Howie as “Joanne Johnson”, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Jamie Erin Miller as “Jennifer et al”, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Anne Marie Pinto as “Ulla”, The Producers, The Arlington Players
• Chelsa Reba as “Mimi Marquez”, Rent, Elden Street Players
• TiaJuana Rountree as “Mrs. Mae Peterson”, Bye Bye, Birdie, Prince George’s Little Theatre

Outstanding featured actor in a musical

• Mickey Daniel DaGuiso as “Angel Dumott Schunard”, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Jon Keeling as “Amos Hart”, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Jase Parker as “Angel D. Schunard”, Rent, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Christopher Prince as “Tom Collins”, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Patrick Pruitt as “Franz”, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding featured actress in a play

• Melissa Bailey as “Celia”, As You Like It, Reston Community Players
• Audrey Cafaly as “Izzy”, Rabbit Hole, Silver Spring Stage
• Laura E. Gayvert as “Agnetha”, Frozen, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Cheryl Sinsabaugh as “Deirdre”, Waiting in the Wings, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Robin Zerbe as “Thelma”, Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players

Outstanding featured actor in a play

• Dino P. Coppa as “David O. Selznick”, Moonlight and Magnolias, Montgomery Playhouse
• John Coscia as “Sgt. Hing, Doc O’Connor, et al”, The Laramie Project, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Rafael Cuesta as “Speed”, Two Gentlemen of Verona, St. Mark’s Players
• David Jones as “Ben Hecht”, Moonlight and Magnolias, Montgomery Playhouse
• Pat Reynolds as “David Ames”, Earth and Sky, Colonial Players of Annapolis

Outstanding lead actress in a musical

• Bethany Blakey as “Velma Kelly”, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Stephanie Bonte-Labair as “Amalia Balach”, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Jordan Hougham as “Roxie Hart”, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Autumn Seavy as “Violet”, Violet, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Dani Stoller as “Roxie Hart”, Chicago, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding lead actor in a musical

• Tom Flatt as “The Lecturer”, Reefer Madness, Dominion Stage
• Andy Izquierdo as “Billy Flynn”, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Andy Izquierdo as “Emcee”, Cabaret, The Arlington Players
• John Loughney as “Sid Sorokin”, The Pajama Game, Rockville Musical Theatre
• Jimmy Payne as “Max”, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding lead actress in a play

• Erin Leigh Casey as “Sara McKeon”, Earth and Sky, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Lolita-Marie Clayton as “Ruth Younger”, A Raisin in the Sun, Tantallon Community Players
• Robin Dorsey as “Lena “Mama” Younger”, A Raisin in the Sun, Tantallon Community Players
• Adriana Hardy as “Carrie Watts”, Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players
• Sarah LaFantasie as “Annie Sullivan”, The Miracle Worker, Fauquier Community Theatre
• Mary MacLeod as “Nancy”, Frozen, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Lorraine Magee as “Vivian Bearing, Ph.D.”, W;t, Elden Street Players

Outstanding lead actor in a play

• Ben Carr as “Hertel”, Dog Logic, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Thurston Cobb as “Ralph”, Frozen, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Nello DeBlasio as “Mark Antony”, Julius Caesar, Foundry Players
• Michael Kharfen as “Antonio Salieri”, Amadeus, The Arlington Players
• Bob Sams as “Richard M. Nixon”, Frost/Nixon, McLean Community Players

Nominations for outstanding achievement in overall production.

Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography

• Brian Donohue, The Miracle Worker, Port Tobacco Players
• The Miracle Worker, Fauquier Community Players
• Katherine Frattini, Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players
• Kevin C. Robertson, The Miracle Worker, Castaways Repertory Theatre
• Kevin C. Robertson, Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Fauquier Community Theatre

Outstanding Choreography

• Amy Carson, Chicago, The Arlington Players
• Brooke L. Howells, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Jeremy A. McShan, Cabaret, The Arlington Players
• John Monnett, The Producers, The Arlington Players
• Catherine Oh, Reefer Madness, Dominion Stage
• Diego Prieto, Chicago, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding Music Direction

• John-Michael d’Haviland, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Phil Hosford, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Paul Nasto, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Brian Victor, Rent, Kensington Arts Theatre
• James D. Watson, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

• Caroline Jane Angell, Violet, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Susan Devine, Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Phil Hosford, She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Brooke L. Howells, The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• Todd Huse, Rent, Elden Street Players
• Andrea Spitz & Diego Prieto, Chicago, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Play

• Chris Curtis, Rabbit Hole, Silver Spring Stage
• Gloria DuGan, W;t, Elden Street Players
• James Gallagher, Frozen, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Pauline Griller-Mitchell, Pygmalion, Silver Spring Stage
• Evan Hoffmann, Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Musical

• She Loves Me, Damascus Theatre Company
• Rent, Elden Street Players
• Chicago, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• The Producers, Port Tobacco Players
• The Producers, The Arlington Players

Outstanding Play

• The Glass Menagerie, Bowie Community Players
• Frozen, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Metamorphoses, Elden Street Players
• W;t, Elden Street Players
• Trip to Bountiful, Reston Community Players

Nominations sorted by theatre and show

Arlington Players

• Amadeus

  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Michael Kharfen as “Antonio Salieri”

• Cabaret

  • Outstanding Choreography, Jeremy A. McShan
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, J. Arthur Rodger
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Andy Izquierdo as “Emcee”
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Amanda Acker
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Dave Means
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Keith Bell

• The Producers

  • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Mark Hidalgo as “Lead Stormtrooper”
  • Outstanding Choreography, John Monnett
  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Barbara Esquibel
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Anne Marie Pinto as “Ulla”
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Xandra Weaver
  • Outstanding Musical
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Peter Finkel & Bill Wisniewski
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Jared Davis

Bowie Community Theatre

• The Glass Menagerie

  • Outstanding Play

Castaways Repertory Theatre

• The Miracle Worker

  • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Kevin Robertson

Colonial Players

• Dog Logic

  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Ben Carr as “Hertel”

• Earth and Sky

  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Pat Reynolds as “David Ames”
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Erin Leigh Casey as “Sara McKeon”
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Terry Averill
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Wes Bedsworth

• Frozen

  • Outstanding Direction of a Play, James Gallagher
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Laura E. Gayvert as “Agnetha”
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Thurston Cobb as “Ralph”
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Mary MacLeod as “Nancy”
  • Outstanding Play
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Ben Cornwell

• I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

  • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Danny Brooks as “Trentell et al”
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Jamie Erin Miller as “Jennifer et al”

• Mrs. California

  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Doug Dawson
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play
  • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Grace Bumgardner & Lois Banscher

Damascus Theatre Company

• She Loves Me

  • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Jason Damaso as “Waiter”
  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Phil Hosford
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Stephanie Bonte-Labair as “Amalia Balach”
  • Outstanding Music Direction, Phil Hosford
  • Outstanding Musical
  • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Margie Henry
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Bill Lebair
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Nancy Eynon Lark
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Bill Brown
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Judy Jandora

Dominion Stage

• Altar Boyz

  • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Jeffrey S. Auerbach

• Reefer Madness

  • Outstanding Choreography, Catherine Oh
  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Jacquin Pierce Allen
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Tom Flatt as “The Lecturer”
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Jeffrey S. Auerbach
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Jared Davis
  • Outstanding Special Effects, Jeffrey S. Auerbach & David Moretti

Elden Street Players

• Metamorphoses

  • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Evan Hoffmann
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Laura Fontaine & Jaclyn Young
  • Outstanding Play
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Marty Sullivan & Theresa Bender
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Evan Hoffmann
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Karl Meier & Kate Meier
  • Outstanding Special Effects, Theresa Bender et al
  • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Katherine Frattini

• Murder in Green Meadows

  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Alan Reichert
  • Outstanding Special Effects, Brian Farrell et al

• Rent

  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Judy Whelihan & Susan Devine
  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Todd Huse
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Mickey Daniel DaGuiso as “Angel Dumott Schunard”
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Christopher Prince as “Tom Collins”
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Richelle “Rikki” Howie as “Joanne Jefferson”
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Chelsa Reba as “Mimi Marquez”
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Laura Fontaine
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, AnnMarie Castrigno
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Laura Fontaine
  • Outstanding Music Direction, John-Michael d’Haviland
  • Outstanding Musical
  • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Marty Sullivan & Bill Behan
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Theresa Bender & Eliza Wolfe
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Kevin King
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Mary Rose Vasko & John Vasko
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Stan Harris
  • Outstanding Special Effects, John Bordeaux & Todd Huse

• W;t

  • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Gloria DuGan
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Lorraine Magee as “Vivian Bearing, Ph.D.”
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Franklin Coleman
  • Outstanding Play

Fauquier Community Theatre

• Musical Comedy Murders of 1940

  • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Kevin C. Robertson

• The Miracle Worker

  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Sarah LaFantasie as “Annie Sullivan”
  • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography

Foundry Players

• Julius Caesar

  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Nello DeBlasio as “Mark Antony”

Greenbelt Arts Center

• Man of LaMancha

  • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Eric Street

Kensington Arts Theatre

• Chicago

  • Outstanding Choreography, Diego Prieto
  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Andrea Spitz & Diego Prieto
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Dani Stoller as “Roxie Hart”
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Kevin P. Garrett

• Rent

  • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Eric Jones as “The Man”
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Jase Parker as “Angel D. Schunard”
  • Outstanding Music Direction, Brian Victor

• Violet

  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Caroline Jane Angell
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Autumn Seavy as “Violet”
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Christopher Kelly
  • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Jenna Ballard
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Kevin P. Garrett

Little Theatre Of Alexandria

• Chicago

  • Outstanding Choreography, Amy Carson
  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Susan Devine
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Jon Keeling as “Amos Hart”
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Andy Izquierdo as “Billy Flynn”
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Bethany Blakey as “Velma Kelly”
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Jordan Hougham as “Roxie Hart”
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Ken & Patti Crowley
  • Outstanding Music Direction, Paul Nasto
  • Outstanding Musical
  • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Betty Dolan & Leslie Reed

• Lady Windermere’s Fan

  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Kathy Dodson & Chris Macey
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Paul Morton

• Nude With Violin

  • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Phillip Campbell & Patty Greksouk
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Russell Wyland
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Buffy Mechling

• Play It Again, Sam

  • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Ken & Patti Crowley

McLean Community Players

• Frost/Nixon

  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Bob Sams as “Richard M. Nixon”

Montgomery Playhouse

• An Ideal Husband

  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Jessica C. Henry
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Jessica C. Henry

• Antigone

  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, William T. Fleming

• Moonlight and Magnolias

  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Dino P. Coppa as “David O. Selznick”
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, David Jones as “Ben Hecht”

Port Tobacco Players

• Arsenic and Old Lace

  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Heather Bauer
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Theodore DeMarco-Logue
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Sarah Sandy
  • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Mary Theideman & Heather Bauer
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Jeff Merritt
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Mary Thiedeman
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, John W. Kirby & John Merritt
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, John Merritt

• The Diary of Anne Frank

  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, John Merritt
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Sarah A. Carlson & Jason Carlson
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Sarah A. Carlson

• The Miracle Worker

  • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Brian Donohue

• The Producers

  • Outstanding Choreography, Brooke L. Howells
  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Kira Sanders
  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Brooke L. Howells
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Patrick Pruitt as “Franz”
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Ronna Johnson
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Jimmy Payne as “Max”
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Jessica Ramos
  • Outstanding Music Direction, James D. Watson
  • Outstanding Musical
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, John Merritt
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Sarah A. Carlson & John Merritt
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, John Merritt
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, James D. Watson

• The Secret Garden

  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Patricia M. Brennan & Cathy Compton
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Tessa N. Silvestro & Mary Thiedeman
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Kim Bessler & Heather Bauer

Prince George’s Little Theatre

• Arsenic and Old Lace

  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Roy Hammond & Gayle Negri

• Bye Bye, Birdie

  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, TiaJuana Rountree as “Mrs. Mae Peterson”

Prince William Little Theatre

• Frankenstein

  • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Ken & Patti Crowley
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Julie Cameron
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Stan Harris
  • Outstanding Special Effects, Dave Warner et al

Providence Players

• Big Tree Falls

  • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Erin Finucane as “Amber”
  • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Addie Storvick as “Sherri”
  • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Beth Hughes-Brown as “Olive”

• The Laramie Project

  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, John Coscia as “Sgt. Hing, Doc. O’Connor, et al”

• Waiting in the Wings

  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Robbie Snow
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Cheryl Sinsabaugh as “Deirdre”

Reston Community Players

• As You Like It

  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Melissa Bailey as “Celia”
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Cathy Rieder

• Trip to Bountiful

  • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Christopher Guy Thorn as “Roy/Ticket Agent”
  • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Richard Bird as “Sheriff/Ticket Agent”
  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Irene Molnar
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Robin Zerbe as “Thelma”
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Adriana Hardy as “Carrie Watts”
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Adam Konowe
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Kat Brais
  • Outstanding Play
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Kevin P. Garrett

• Wonderful Town

  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Jaclyn Young
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Richard Bird

Rockville Musical Theatre

• Evita

  • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Laura Gepford as “Mistress”
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Malca Giblin
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Malca Giblin

• Forever Plaid

  • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Sonya Tavitian

• The Pajama Game

  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, John Loughney as “Sid Sorokin”
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Sonya Okin & Joel Richon

Silver Spring Stage

• Private Lives

  • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Mary Dalto
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Ken Lee
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf

• Pygmalion

  • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Pauline Griller-Mitchell
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Maggie Skekel-Sledge

• Rabbit Hole

  • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Chris Curtis
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Audrey Cefaly as “Izzy”
  • Outstanding Play
  • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf et al
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf et al
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Andrew Greenleaf

St. Mark’s Players

• Two Gentlemen of Verona

  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Rafael Cuesta as “Speed”

Taking Flight Theatre Company

• Evil Dead: The Musical

  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Christine Spata
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Shannon Khatcheressian
  • Outstanding Special Effects, Jeff Bender

Tantallon Community Players

• A Raisin in the Sun

  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, The Cast
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Lolita-Marie Clayton as “Ruth Younger”
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Robin Dorsey as “Lena “Mama” Younger”

• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, February 2010
• Evil Dead: The Musical, May – June 2010
• Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha, October 2010

Schedule is subject to change due to performance rights conflicts or other issues.

CCT2FT is also accepting applications for directors of these shows. See the CCT2FT web site for details.

CCT with 2nd Flight Theater Company is currently seeking directors for our 2010 season. Directors should fill out the director application (including the show you are interested in directing) by SATURDAY, JULY 18TH. The shows will be selected on August 1st, and the interview process will take place during the first half of August. Please go to www.cct2ft.com to download the application.

Flight of the Lawnchair Man is the comedic new musical currently being presented at CCT with 2nd Flight Theatre Company. The direction and choreography (Randall Jones) is brisk and paints colorful images. The plot is based on the true story of a New Jersey man who finds himself without a real purpose in life. He’s 34, lives with his nagging mother, and his greatest accomplishment has been his recent promotion to Walmart snack bar manager.

Aided by his tollbooth girlfriend Gracie (Susanna Todd), Jerry Gorman (Mark W. Gray-Mendes) takes his life (or lack thereof) into his own hands, assisted by 4000 helium balloons and a lawnchair. Gray-Mendes is painfully underused…he was perfectly cast as the sensitive loser, singing with lyricism and depth, but his songs were among the shortest in the show and he spent a lot of time onstage without a whole lot to do. Write his character more songs, please! Todd is a charmer, with a strong belting voice and a perky persona. The two have the most memorable tunes in the entire production, “I Want to Fly” and “The Air is Free.”

The show was anchored by its two leads, but there were brilliant scene stealers. Ryan Khatcheressian as an egotistical pilot and Rebecca Clary his stewardess bimbette sidekick were hysterical. Khatcheressian has always been known in this area for his vocal prowess, but here he finds the humor in every last aspect of his character and takes it to a new level.

Cory Okouchi infuses his cameo as Mr. Frankel with life and over the top energy…Josh Doyle as Charles Lindbergh is thoroughly amusing, and Cathy Arnold as Amelia Earhart is a winner. And Lori Staley’s brief turn as the little French Boy is delightful.

It’s a quirky musical that doesn’t quite hit all the notes of whimsy it might have achieved. The very functional set (Kevin King) complete with wonderful projections, helps the show along. The lighting design (also Kevin King) is beautiful, with a dreamy, pastel palette. There were some issues with the orchestra/vocal balance and the microphones, but it’s difficult to maintain a balance when the orchestra is behind the performers/set/scrim. The costume design (Jacquin Pierce Allen, Michael Schaaff) was effective and fun for the most part, except for the opening ensemble costumes…there needed to be uniform crispness to attain the point of the number.

The surprise second ending (after the curtain call) was the dream child of director Jones…it may have changed the flavor from bittersweet to honey…but was nicely executed by Jen Faulconer.

Opening night was lacking a little energy, but the cast will no doubt get stronger as the run continues. The audience was very enthusiastic and the experience was enhanced by the presence of the composer and lyricist, Robert Lindsey-Nassif, who graciously held a talkback after the show.

Cast

• Jerry Gorman: Mark W. Gray-Mendes
• Gracie: Susanna Todd
• Mr. Frankel: Cory Okouchi
• Mother Gorman: Marissa Quintos
• Big Jack Preston: Ryan Khatcheressian
• Blaire: Rebecca Clary
• French Boy: Lori Staley
• Thong Dude/Movie Narrator: Jesse Baskin
• Model/Nena: Jen Faulconer
• Car-Jacked Guy/Photographer: Jeffery Miller
• Nun/Feather O’Hurlahee: Carla Okouchi
• Biker Chick/FAA Man: Renee Rabben
• Wal-Mart Employee/NASA Official: Michael Schaaff
• Closet Gay/Thuggish Bully: Stephen T Wheeler
• Madeline/Lindbergh Bimbo: Christine Young
• Young Jerry: Braedon Kulick
• Leonardo da Vinci: Kevin McCormack
• Charles Lindbergh: Josh Doyle
• Amelia Earhart: Cathy Arnold

Crew

• Producer: Leah Aspell
• Director: Randall Jones
• Assistant Director: Maribeth Jones
• Music Director: David Rohde
• Stage Manager: Colleen Stock
• Assistant Stage Manager: Laura Moody
• Technical Directors: Kevin King, Rick Wilson
• Master Carpenters: Kevin King, Rick Wilson
• Special Effects: Nick Brown, Jeff Bender

This is the Show Biz Radio review of The Elephant Man, performed by CCT with 2nd Flight Theatre Company, at the NoVa Community College, Loudon campus, in Sterling, Virginia. We saw the performance on Sunday evening, October 26th, 2008.

The Elephant Man is a drama written by Bernard Pomerance. The Elephant Man is based on the life of John Merrick, who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century. A horribly deformed young man, who has been a freak attraction in traveling side shows, is found abandoned and helpless and is admitted for observation to Whitechapel, a prestigious London Hospital. Under the care of a famous young doctor, who educates him and introduces him to London society, Merrick changes from a sensational object of pity to the urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati. But his belief that he can become a man like any other is a dream never to be realized.

This historical drama was very well acted by a large cast, was engaging and awakened our desire to do more research on the life of John Merrick. The portions of Merrick’s life presented in The Elephant Man was a small window into who he really was.

Hans Dettmar played the physically challenging role of John Merrick. The show opens with Merrick offstage, and the barker Ross (Jay Tilley) trying to get customers to the side show. We are formally introduced to Merrick when Dr. Treves describes Merrick’s deformities. The scene began with Dettmar simply standing on stage shirtless, with his arms held straight out to the side. Then as Treves described each problem, Dettmar contorted his body, limbs, and face to match the description. The transformation was remarkable, and Dettmar stayed in those positions throughout the rest of the play. No makeup or prostheses were used. Dettmar did an excellent job sharing Merrick’s spirit that came out in his speeches, and even though he was occasionally a little hard to understand, his meaning was quite clear.

The doctor who brought Merrick to live in the hospital was Dr. Frederick Treves, played by Stephen Smith. Smith was required to convey many different emotions throughout the play, from the compassion of a doctor, to anger with Mrs. Kendall, and regret and sorrow, which he did admirably and convincingly.

One of John Merrick’s few friends was Mrs. Kendall, played with tenderness by Alyssa Jacobsen. Jacobsen was very believable. Her awkward scene when she was first introduced to Merrick was handled with humor, but compassion. The scene was not rushed, but slight pauses in their conversation helped pull the audience into the scene as they hoped a friendship would develop.

The set was fairly basic, with a raised platform and a staircase. There were a few set pieces that were moved onto the stage to represent Merrick’s room at the hospital. The simple set allowed for the audience to focus on the characters, and helped set the tone of the show. The Set Designer was Rick Wilson.

The Elephant Man ran two hours and ten minutes with one intermission. It is playing through Saturday November 8, Friday and Saturdays at 8 and Sunday the 2nd at 7 pm at the Waddell Theatre on the NoVa Loudoun campus in Sterling, Virginia.

Once you’ve seen the show, please feel free to leave a comment here on our website at ShowBiz Radio.net. We’d also like to invite you to join our free mailing list so you can stay informed with theater events in the DC Region.

And now, on with the show.

Director’s Notes

“All societies had some sort of entertainment. How did it start? Why? What functions did it serve? I think the answer is that it is some form of social memory. It serves to bring back points that are too volatile, too dangerous to be lived everyday—the skeletons in the closet, the guilt.” Bernard Pomerance, NY Times, February 4, 1979

When asked what drew him to the story of Joseph Merrick, Pomerance can’t narrow it down to one element. He was first introduced to the story of Merrick by his brother following a visit to the London Hospital museum. “I’m still not sure what I saw it in then, I find it hard to express myself outside the play. Perhaps the fact of his being rejected by one society but accepted by another.” (Owen, NY Times, February 4, 1979). Pomerance considers himself American born but has loyalties to England. Additionally, historical events in both England and the United States influenced Pomerance’s views within the play.

The 1970’s found the Western world devastated by unemployment, inflated prices, debt and a large economic depression. Furthermore, the Vietnam War created distrust among people towards their government. This was the opposite of the Victorian era, where individuals had great trust and faith in their leaders. For Victorian high society, theatre was seen as purely a form of entertainment, whereas in the 1970’s, many playwrights wanted their plays to illustrate a strong political message. “If a play was not thought-provoking for the audience, they believed, then it had not served its purpose,” Pomerance agreed in the earlier-cited NY Times article, “Mostly theater is untrue. So much of it is full of the most limited, self-seeking adolescent vices and just not true.” The ideas of Bertolt Brecht were embraced by playwrights. Brecht’s alienation effect asked audiences to think about what they were seeing and it asked playwrights to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange. These ideas are evident in The Elephant Man: twenty-one scenes illustrate scenes from Merrick’s life. It does not follow the traditional unities of Aristotle’s Poetics of time and place. Pomerance also requests, in the stage directions, that the actor portraying Merrick is to wear no grotesque makeup. “This forces the audience to become part of the play; they must use their imagination without the aid of costumes or makeup that would make it easier for them to immediately empathize with Merrick. Instead, the audience is forced to see the character of the man instead of his deformities.”

How the world viewed the mentally and physically challenged shifted dramatically in the 1970’s. People were less fearful of those who were different, due to an increased education on the subject. For example, The Independent Living Monument was founded in Berkeley, CA, which provided opportunities for individuals with special needs to live and work on their own. The Equal Education Opportunity Act of 1976 created environments for individuals with special needs to be mainstreamed within the public school setting. Therefore, people like Joseph Merrick no longer had to depend solely on others for survival. In the Victorian era, “particularly, the deformed and deranged were kept out of sight because it was feared that they might upset upper-class Victorian women who were believed to be sheltered and easily shocked.”

Even in these enlightened times, however, those with extreme deformities tend to remain out of sight, though they may no longer be required to do so. Their career options are limited only by their particular skills and abilities. Yet they are certainly not a part of the mainstream. Pomerance’s play asks us to look beyond the physical appearance and see the man beneath. One by one, perhaps each of us can learn to do so. Only in this way can we ever hope to achieve the dream of a society truly accepting of all people.

Cast

• Ringmaster/Announcer: Asher Miller
• Frederick Treves: Stephen Smith
• Carr Gomm: Tim Griffin
• Ross: Jay Tilley
• John Merrick: Hans Detmar
• The Voice: Wayne Jacques
• Pinhead Manager: Eric Garner
• Pinheads: Laura Moody, Kara Succolosky, Kayla Waitt
• Belgian Policeman: Wayne Jacques
• Conductor: David Saunders
• London Policeman: Eric Garner
• Nurse Ireland: Kyla Waitt
• Miss Sandwich: Robin Zerbe
• Will, Porter at the London Hospital: David Saunders
• Bishop Walsham How: Phillip Archey
• Snork, porter at the London Hospital: Wayne Jacques
• Mrs. Kendal: Alyssa Jacobsen
• Duchess: Kara Succolosky
• Countess: Kayla Waitt
• Lord John: Eric Garner
• Princess Alexandra: Natalie Holmes
• Lobby Freak Show: Vicky Alvarez, Robby Carmak, Allen Ernst, Jared McJunkin, Asher Miller, Amy Pfaff, Abbi Shank, Joy Walker

Crew

• Producer: Theresa Bender
• Director/Set Design: Natalie V. Safely
• Stage Manager: Christy Jacobs
• Assistant Stage Manager: Lillian Colquitt
• Technical Director/Master Carpenter/Set Design: Rick Wilson
• Set Construction/Painting: Phillip Archey, Lesh Aspell, Jeff Bender, Theresa Bender, Kai Betty, Earl Boatman, Mary Boatman, Marlo Corpuz, Samantha Ellis, Allen Ernst, Erica Garcia, Brian Garrison, Wayne Jacques, Eunmee Johnson, Trvor Johnston, Jared McJunkin, Clint Miller, Ben Porter, Natalie Safely, Michael Schaaf, Abbi Shank, Christine Spata, Mary Speed, Jill Tunick, Joy Walker, Robin Zerbe
• Lighting Design: Brandon Belote
• Sound Design: Ben Allen
• Light Board Operator: Earl Boatman
• Sound Board Operator: Jeff Bender
• Lighting Crew: Phil Arhey, Brandon Belote, Theresa Bender, Kai Betty, Earl Boatman, Natalie Safley, Greg Scali
• Costume Design: Susan LaFiandra Reid
• Costuming Assistant: Laura Moody
• Costume Crew: Samantha Ellis, Bethany Jurashek, Kirima Stewart
• Props/Set Dressing: Michael Schaaff, Brian Garrison
• Publicity: Leah Aspell, Jill Tunick
• Publicity Crew: Vicky lvarez, Clint Miller, Ljubica Miller, Katy Peterson
• Hair and Makeup Design: Emma Keller, Christina Karam
• Run Crew: Lillian Colquuitt, Michael Schaaff, Brian Garrison
• Dialect Coach: Carol Strachen
• Fight Choreography: Phillip Archey
• House/Box Office Manager: Chris Blake
• House Staff: Samanth Ellis, Erica Garcia, Jon Heselton, Eunmee Johnson, Erin King, Kevin King, Ian Kitchens, Tzachi Lozamo, Rhianna Meko, Jeffrey Miller, Tess Nichols, Katy Peterson, Matthew Randll, Michael Schaaff
• Poster Design: Nick Arey

Last evening Mike and I attended Bare: A Pop Opera performed by CCT with 2nd Flight Theatre Company at the Waddell Theatre on the NVCC Loudon Campus in Sterling Virginia.

Bare: A Pop Opera is a musical, with book by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Hartmere and music by Intrabartolo. The story focuses on two high school students and their life’s struggles with social acceptance at their private, Catholic boarding school.

Jason and Peter

It was hard to like many of the characters. They seemed like poor little rich kids. They needed more parental involvement in their lives, so they were drifting through life. Unfortunately the boarding school wasn’t able to adequately fulfill the role of their parents, although Sister Chantelle and the priest attempted to be surrogate parents, with Sister Chantelle having considerably more success as a mother.

Jason (Dan Plehal) played dual roles, one was the big man on campus, and the other role was Peter’s boyfriend. He was dedicated to each role, but when he was with anyone other than Peter, he was only the BMOC.

Jason in pain

Ryan Khatcheressian played Jason’s school friend and lover Peter. He was the more sensitive of the two and in that he was stronger than Jason. His vocal range was limited, he seemed better at the high notes than the low ones. Peter’s “coming out scene” with Sister Chantelle was well executed. The relief on Peter’s face as well as the acceptance he saw from Sister Chantelle were energizing.

Peter was more accepting of his homosexuality than Jason, although he struggled with revealing it with the people close to him, notably his mother, Claire (Cathy Arnold). Peter finally called his mother to tell her, and she used every excuse she could think of to prevent him from sharing the news. Her song “Warning” was very nicely sung, with hints of regret, fear and love in her voice. Khatcheressian’s voice crackled a bit during “Best Kept Secret,” when he tried to convince Jason to move their relationship out of their room and into the light like during the rave party. Khatcheressian stayed focused on the moment during most of his songs. He showed a wide range of emotions, and the surprise and fear on his face after talking with Matt about his fears was realistic.

Nadia and Ivy in their room

She had a strained relationship with her roommate, Nadia (Washington). Nadia was a big woman on campus, and Jason’s sister. Nadia longed to be part of the in-crowd at school, her song “A Quiet Night At Home” summed up her emotions perfectly. Matt (Garrison) had the knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and learned many secrets. His eagerness to fit in was apparent on his face.

God don't make no trash Peter and Sister Chantelle

Michael Ehrlich played the priest. His scenes were short, but necessary. He had a secret, too. However it was never really spelled out. The final scene between him and Jason lacked compassion and understanding.

The biggest concern with the production was the sound. The Sound Designer and Sound Board Operator was Brian Anderson. More than two singers at a time resulted in garbled sound. Some microphones simply weren’t loud enough; occasionally they weren’t activated until after an actor started their line. The orchestra, while important, should not have been overpowering the volume of the actors. There was also more popping in the second act of the show as microphones brushed against costumes. These problems sometimes made it hard to concentrate.

Kevin King‘s light design was creative. For example, the rave party scene used glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets to create a mood of chaos and recklessness. Over all the lighting helped set the tone for the entire show.

The music was also moving. This was not a traditional musical. At times the musical style was reminiscent of Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Pippin.

The set (designed by Kevin King) provided a great deal of flexibility through its use of multiple levels, stairs, and hidden entrances. Stained glass windows were present on the back walls of the set, and the large stones used as the wall material gave the show the feeling of an impersonal church school. The stage crew handled scene changes quickly.

Bare: A Pop Opera is for mature audiences only, playing Saturday the 30th at 8:00, Sunday the 31st at 7:00, And Thursday the 4th through Saturday the 6th at 8:00 at the Waddell Theater on the NVCC campus in Sterling, Virginia.

We’d like to get your thoughts on this show after you’ve seen it. Simply leave a comment here at ShowBiz Radio.net. We’d also like to invite you to join our free mailing list so you can stay informed with what is happening with theatre in the DC region.

And now, on with the show.

Director’s Notes

bare was an enormous hit when it opened in LA in 2000. The show was optioned for an off Broadway run in 2004, where it was panned by critics and audiences alike. Ask someone to explain the plot of bare and you will hear nearly every Catholic school cliche in the book: teen pregnancy, drug use, homosexuality … almost the entire canon. Yet bare has an enormous cult following (just check Google or Facebook), and it is being performed in an increasing number of venues across the country. So how did such a seemingly cliched show, a failure in NYC, generate such a loyal and passionate following? In three words? Characters and music.

First, the music … and what wonderful music it is! Reminiscent at times of Rent, and at times forging its own musical landscape, it lays bare the emotions of the characters and takes the audience deep into their souls. It is passionate and insistent and demands attention. The music grabs hold of your emotions and takes you on a careening, exhilarating, and ultimately cathartic ride through the romance of its two leads.

Which brings us to the characters: the closeted priest the mother in denial, the student “purveyor of altered reality; the popular girl, the jock, the overweight smart ass – all are seeming cliches, yet all are rendered with sympathy, humor, and compassion. Peter and Jason, the central characters, are high school seniors at St. Cecilia’s. They are in love and in the closet. Peter’s desire to embrace his sexuality and Jason’s struggle to accept his creates the conflict in the show. The conflict is due, in great part, to the restrictions placed upon the boys by the teachings of the Catholic Church. This simultaneously provides the composer and librettist the platform for an indictment of the Catholic Church as an institution and an affirmation of the faith in God held by the Church’s faithful. While the Catholic Church comes in for harsh criticism, the members of the faith, both clergy and lay people, are treated with gentleness and understanding. The villain in the play is blind obedience to the Church’s teachings at the expense of tolerance and empathy. The villain is not those who believe in God, faith, and/or religion. In fact, one of the strongest voices of God is the sharp-tongued nun, Sister Chantelle. Arguably the worst high school drama teacher on the face of the earth, she is the personification of God’s love and compassion for all of His children. It is she who speaks one of the greatest truths in the show: “if you hide from yourself; be someone else for someone else’s sake, that would be the greatest mistake.”

The theme of “one” recurs throughout the play: one voice, one kiss, one heart, one love; the image replays over and over in the lyrics and in the dialogue. Ultimately the play beautifully renders the impact that one person, one religion, one faith and, most importantly, one love can have on the life of another. As Peter says, “Father, we were so in love, and that’s what I find so odd. Our love was pure and nothing else brought me closer to God.” And that is it in a nutshell, isn’t it? True love (regardless of whether itbe love between a parent and child, love between two friends, love between a man and a woman, love between a woman and woman, or love between a man and a man) brings us closer to the love of the Almighty. We see a reflection of God’s all-encompassing love when we love another, and to condemn the form taken by that love is to deny the grandeur of God’s gift to us.

Director’s Notes are Copyright 2008 Debbie Niezgoda for CCT with 2nd Flight Theatre Company, Reprinted with permission.

This Production in Other Publications

• Potomac Stages: Review of Bare: A Pop Opera
• Loudoun Times: Fair Play

Music

Cast

• Jason: Dan Plehal
• Peter: Ryan Khatchersessian
• Ivy: Tara Leigh Moore
• Nadia: Brittany Washington
• Matt: Brian M. Garrison
• Lucas: Cory Eskridge Okouchi
• Tanya: Janelle Delancey
• Kyra: Felicity Ann Brown
• Diane: Traci J. Brooks
• Rory: Carla Okouchi
• Zach: Asher Miller
• Alan: Michael Schaaff
• Claire: Cathy Arnold
• Sister Chantelle: Richelle Howie
• Priest: Michael L. Ehrlich

Orchestra

• Music Director/Piano: Robert King
• Percussion: Matt Hardy
• Flute: Maurine Dahlberg
• Guitar: Peter Dousklis
• Cello: Virginia Gardner
• Bass: Randy Dahlberg

Crew

• Producer: Shannon Khatchersessian
• Assistant Producer: Leah Aspell
• Director: Debbie Niezgoda
• Assistant Director: B. Keith Ryder
• Assistant Director/Choreographer: Christy Jacobs
• Technical Director: Rick Wilson
• Music Director: Robert Kraig
• Vocal Director: Michael Ehrlich
• Stage Manager: Colleen Stock
• Assistant Stage Manager: Liz Stock
• Set Designer: Kevin King
• Set Construction/Painting: Leah Aspell, Theresa Bender, Reid Cathcart, Mark Helms, Molly Hicks, Kevin King, Mike King, Asher Miller, Michael Schaaf, Jill Tunick, Brittany Washington
• Master Carpenter: Rick Wilson
• Light Designer: Kevin King
• Light Board operator: Earl Boatman
• Sound Designer/Sound Board Operator: Brian Anderson
• Costumes: Erin Anderson
• Hair and Makeup: Molly Hicks
• Properties and Set Dressing: Theresa Bender
• House Manager: Staci Rice
• Poster Design: Nick Arey
• Program design: Matthew Randall
• Production Photographers: Traci J. Brooks, Matthew Randall
• Publicity: Leah Aspell

Adding a blog to your theater’s web site is a great way to get your audience involved with your shows. Write a bit about what is happening behind the scenes of your shows. Do some brief interviews. Post rehearsal photos. Talk with the designers. Make it fun. Your web site does not need to be all press releases/official board approved materials. And you can update your site more than three times a year. Using a blog makes it simple to do all of this, and more. Contact Mike if you’d like to be walked through the process. It isn’t difficult. Actually, the hardest part is getting started.