Two musicals received five awards, Camelot by 2nd Star Productions and Ragtime by Kensington Arts Theatre. Two plays received four awards, The Pillowman by Silver Spring Stage and Red by the Elden Street Players. Kensington Arts Theatre received the most awards, a total of seven for their productions of Ragtime and Next to Normal. Colonial Players was the only theater company to receive awards for three separate productions, 1776, Shipwrecked and Trying.

• 2nd Star Productions
• Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
• The Alliance Theatre
• The Arlington Players
• Capital City Players of DC
• Bowie Community Theatre
• Castaways Repertory Theatre
• Taking Flight Theatre Company
• Chevy Chase Players
• Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Damascus Theatre Company
• Dominion Stage
• Elden Street Players
• Fauquier Community Theatre
• Greenbelt Arts Center
• Hard Bargain Players
• Kensington Arts Theatre
• Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Little Theatre of Alexandria
• McLean Community Players
• Montgomery Playhouse
• Port City Playhouse
• Port Tobacco Players
• Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Prince William Little Theatre
• Providence Players of Fairfax
• Reston Community Players
• Rockville Little Theatre
• Rockville Musical Theatre
• St. Mark’s Players
• Silver Spring Stage
• Tantallon Community Players
• Vienna Theatre Company

Winners for outstanding technical achievements.

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical (TIE)

• Jared Davis, Avenue Q, Dominion Stage
• Jane B. Wingard, Camelot, 2nd Star Productions

Outstanding Set Design in a Play

• John Downing and Bill Glikbarg, Twentieth Century, Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical

• Hector Lorenzini, Avenue Q, Dominion Stage

Outstanding Set Construction in a Play

• Richard Gilpin and Zachary Ball, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical

• Jane B. Wingard, Camelot, 2nd Star Productions

Outstanding Set Painting in a Play

• Mary Speed and Brian Garrison, Red, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical

• Jane B. Wingard and Gail Bagaria, Camelot, 2nd Star Productions

Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play

• Paul Hennesy and Mike Mattheisen, Is He Dead?, Providence Players of Fairfax

Outstanding Properties in a Musical

• Joanne D. Wilson, Camelot, 2nd Star Productions

Outstanding Properties in a Play

• Susan d. Garvey, Red, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

• Tommy Scott, Fiddler on the Roof, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play

• Ken and Patti Crowley, 33 Variations, Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical

• Kevin DeMine, Avenue Q, Dominion Stage

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play

• Sean Doyle, Shiloh Rules, Port City Playhouse

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

• Linda Swann, Camelot, 2nd Star Productions

Outstanding Costume Design in a Play

• Mary Wakefield, The Tempest, Rockville Little Theatre

Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical

• Shemika Berry, The Wiz, Tantallon Community Players

Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play

• Sally Cusenza, The Pillowman, Silver Spring Stage

Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical

• Beverly Hill van Joolen, 1776, Colonial Players of Annapolis

Outstanding Hair Design in a Play

• Rachel Royall, Life with Father, Aldersgate Churtch Community Theatre

Outstanding Special Effects

• Joshua McKerrow, Kat McKerrow, Maya Wilcox, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Laurel Mill Playhouse

Winners for outstanding performances by an actor or actress.

Outstanding cameo in a musical

• Lydia Kivrak as ‘Grandma Tzeitel’, Fiddler on the Roof, Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding cameo in a play

• Jeffrey Gangwisch as ‘James’, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Laurel Mill Playhouse

Outstanding featured actress in a musical

• Eben K. Logan as ‘Sarah’, Ragtime, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding featured actor in a musical

• Ryan Burke as ‘Dan’, Next to Normal, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding featured actress in a play

• Christina Enoch Kemmerer as ‘Player #1’, Shipwrecked, Colonial Players of Annapolis

Outstanding featured actor in a play (TIE)

• Chris Daileader as ‘Michal’, The Pillowman, Silver Spring Stage
• Robert Tucker as ‘Player #2’, Shipwrecked, Colonial Players of Annapolis

Outstanding lead actress in a musical

• Emily Zickler as ‘Diana’, Next to Normal, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding lead actor in a musical

• Sayne-Kharyi Lewis as ‘Colehouse Walker’, Ragtime, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding lead actress in a play (TIE)

• Karen Grim as ‘Sarah Schorr’, Trying, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Mary-Anne Sullivan as ‘Dr. Katherine Brandt’, 33 Variations, Reston Community Players

Outstanding lead actor in a play

• Chad W. Fornwalt as ‘Katurian’, The Pillowman, Silver Spring Stage

Winners for outstanding achievement in overall production.

Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography

• William T. Fleming, The Pillowman, Silver Spring Stage

Outstanding Choreography

• Darnell Morris and Eben K. Logan, Ragtime, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding Music Direction

• Mayumi B. Griffie, Ragtime, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

• Evan Hoffmann, Caroline or Change, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Direction of a Play

• Gloria DuGan, Red, Elden Street Players

Outstanding Musical

• Ragtime, Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding Play

• Red, Elden Street Players

Wins sorted by theatre and show.

2nd Star Productions

• Camelot
  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Linda Swann
  • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Joanne D. Wilson
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Jane B. Wingard and Gail Bagaria
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Jane B. Wingard
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Jane B. Wingard

Aldersgate Church Community Theatre

• Life with Father
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Rachel Royall

Colonial Players

• 1776
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Beverly Hill van Joolen
• Shipwrecked
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Robert Tucker as “Player #2”
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Christina Enoch Kremmerer as “Player #1”
• Trying
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Karen Grim as “Sarah Schorr”

Dominion Stage

• Avenue Q
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Hector Lorenzini
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Jared Davis
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Kevin DeMine

Elden Street Players

• Caroline or Change
  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Evan Hoffmann
• Red
  • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Gloria DuGan
  • Outstanding Play
  • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Susan d. Garvey
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Mary Speed

Kensington Arts Theatre

• Next to Normal
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Ryan Burke as “Dan”
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Emily Zickler as “Diana”
• Ragtime
  • Outstanding Choreography, Darnell Morris & Eben K. Logan
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Eben K. Logan as “Sarah”
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Sayne-Kharyi Lewis as “Colehouse Walker”
  • Outstanding Music Direction, Mayumi B. Griffie
  • Outstanding Musical

Laurel Mill Playhouse

• The Lieutenant of Inishmore
  • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Jeffrey Gangwisch as “James”
  • Outstanding Special Effects, Joshua McKerrow et al

Little Theatre Of Alexandria

• 33 Variations
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Ken & Patti Crowley
• Twentieth Century
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, John Downing & Bill Glikbarg

Port City Playhouse

• Shiloh Rules
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Sean Doyle

Port Tobacco Players

• Brighton Beach Memoirs
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Richard Gilpin & Zachary Ball
• Fiddler on the Roof
  • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Lydia Kivrak as “Grandma Tzeitel”
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Tommy Scott

Providence Players

• Is He Dead?
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Paul Hennesy & Mike Mattheisen

Reston Community Players

• 33 Variations
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Mary-Anne Sullivan as “Dr. Katherine Brandt”

Rockville Little Theatre

• The Tempest
  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Mary Wakefield

Silver Spring Stage

• The Pillowman
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Chris Daileader as “Michal”
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Chad W. Fornwalt as “Katurian”
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Sally Cusenza
  • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, William T. Fleming

Tantallon Community Theatre

• The Wiz
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Shemika Berry

Fifteen companies received awards this year. The Arlington Players‘ production of A Little Night Music received the most awards of the musicals, with five, including Outstanding Musical. Fauquier Community Theatre received four awards for Into the Woods, as did Kensington Arts Theatre for Sunday in the Park with George. Providence Players received the most awards, with two plays (Side Man and You Can’t Take it With You) each receiving four awards. The Colonial Players production Going to St. Ives received three awards, including Outstanding Play. Fifteen companies received awards this year.

ShowBizRadio followed the ceremony live, the archive is available.

Winners for outstanding technical achievement

• Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical: Eleanor Dicks, Sunday in the Park with George, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Outstanding Costume Design in a Play: Robbie Snow, You Can’t Take It With You, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical: Bette Williams, A Little Night Music, The Arlington Players
• Outstanding Hair Design in a Play: Beth Harrison, You Can’t Take It With You, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical: Kevin Boyce, Night of the Living Dead, The Musical, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play: Chip Gertzog, Side Man, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical: Tim Kirk, Into the Woods, Fauquier Community Theatre
• Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play: Beth Harrison, You Can’t Take It With You, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Outstanding Properties in a Musical: Richard Perryman & Peter Fakoury, Into the Woods, Fauquier Community Theatre
• Outstanding Properties in a Play: Susan Kaplan, Side Man, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical: Ryan Mudd, The Sound of Music, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Set Construction in a Play: John Downing, Heaven Can Wait, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical: Tim Kirk, Into the Woods, Fauquier Community Theatre
• Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play: Lisa Church & Chip Gertzog, You Can’t Take It With You, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Outstanding Set Design in a Musical: John Merritt, Ryan Mudd, Ben Simpson, The Sound of Music, Port Tobacco Players
• Outstanding Set Design in a Play: Raedun Knutsen & Chip Gertzog, Side Man, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical: Nancy Daugherty, Into the Woods, Fauquier Community Theatre
• Outstanding Set Painting in a Play: Jane B. Wingard, Bloody Murder, 2nd Star Productions
• Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical: Kevin Garrett, Sunday in the Park with George, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Outstanding Sound Design in a Play: Jimmy Gertzog & Chip Gertzog, Side Man, Providence Players of Fairfax
• Outstanding Special Effects: Jordan Rose & Doe B. Kim, Sunday in the Park with George, Kensington Arts Theatre

Winners for outstanding performance by an actor or actress

• Outstanding cameo in a musical (TIE): Chrissy Barnett Miller as “Jolene Oakes”, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Damascus Theatre Company AND Brenda Parker as “Church Soloist”, The Color Purple, Tantallon Community Players
• Outstanding cameo in a play: Mark Yeager as “Beverly Weston”, August Osage County, Reston Community Players
• Outstanding featured actress in a musical: Annie Coffman as “Anne Egerman”, A Little Night Music, The Arlington Players
• Outstanding featured actor in a musical: Stephen Deininger as “Tateh”, Ragtime, Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Outstanding featured actress in a play: Gayle Nichols-Grimes as “Vernadette Simms”, The Dixie Swim Club, Port City Playhouse
• Outstanding featured actor in a play: John Shackelford as “Max Levene”, Heaven Can Wait, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Outstanding lead actress in a musical: Jennifer Lyons Pagnard as “Mrs. Lovett”, Sweeney Todd, Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Outstanding lead actor in a musical: Fred Nelson as “Tevye”, Fiddler on the Roof, 2nd Star Productions
• Outstanding lead actress in a play: Lolita-Marie as “May N’Kame”, Going to St. Ives, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Outstanding lead actor in a play: Matt Baughman as “Charlie Gordon”, Flowers for Algernon, Elden Street Players

Winners for outstanding achievement in overall production

• Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography: Carl Brandt Long, Deathtrap, McLean Community Players
• Outstanding Choreography: Taurean Maray Barber, The Color Purple, Tantallon Community Players
• Outstanding Music Direction: John-Michael d’Haviland, A Little Night Music, The Arlington Players
• Outstanding Direction of a Musical (TIE): Christopher Dykton, A Little Night Music, The Arlington Players AND Craig Petinatti, Sunday in the Park with George, Kensington Arts Theatre
• Outstanding Direction of a Play: Edd Miller, Going to St. Ives, Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Outstanding Musical: A Little Night Music, The Arlington Players
• Outstanding Play: Going to St. Ives, Colonial Players of Annapolis

Winners sorted by theatre and show

2nd Star Productions

• Bloody Murder
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Jane B. Wingard
• Fiddler on the Roof
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Fred Nelson as “Tevye”

Arlington Players

• A Little Night Music
  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Christopher Dykton
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Annie Coffman as “Anne Egerman”
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Bette Williams
  • Outstanding Music Direction, John-Michael d’Haviland
  • Outstanding Musical

Colonial Players

• Going to St. Ives
  • Outstanding Direction of a Play, Edd Miller
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Lolita-Marie as “May N’Kame”
  • Outstanding Play

Damascus Theatre Company

• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
  • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Chrissy Barnett Miller as “Jolene Oakes”

Elden Street Players

• Flowers for Algernon
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Matt Baughman as “Charlie Gordon”

Fauquier Community Theatre

• Into the Woods
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Tim Kirk
  • Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Richard Perryman & Peter Fakoury
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Tim Kirk
  • Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Nancy Daugherty

Kensington Arts Theatre

• Night of the Living Dead, The Musical
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Kevin Boyce
• Sunday in the Park with George
  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical, Eleanor Dicks
  • Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Craig Pettinati
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, Kevin Garrett
  • Outstanding Special Effects, Jordan Rose & Doe B. Kim

Laurel Mill Playhouse

• Ragtime
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Stephen Deininger as “Tateh”

Little Theatre Of Alexandria

• Heaven Can Wait
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, John Shackelford as “Max Levene”
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, John Downing
• Sweeney Todd
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Jennifer Lyons Pagnard as “Mrs. Lovett”

McLean Community Players

• Deathtrap
  • Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, Carl Brandt Long

Port City Playhouse

• The Dixie Swim Club
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Gayle Nichols-Grimes as “Vernadette Simms”

Port Tobacco Players

• The Sound of Music
  • Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, Ryan Mudd
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, John Merritt, Ryan Mudd, Ben Simpson

Providence Players

• Side Man
  • Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Chip Gertzog
  • Outstanding Properties in a Play, Susan Kaplan
  • Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Raedun Knutsen & Chip Gertzog
  • Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Jimmy Gertzog & Chip Gertzog
• You Can’t Take it With You
  • Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Robbie Snow
  • Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Beth Harrison
  • Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Beth Harrison
  • Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Lisa Church & Chip Gertzog

Reston Community Players

• August Osage County
  • Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Mark Yeager as “Beverly Weston”

Tantallon Community Theatre

• The Color Purple
  • Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Brenda Parker as “Church Soloist”
  • Outstanding Choreography, Taurean Maray Barber

• The Unexpected Guest, September – October 2011 Schedule
• Little Women, November – December 2011 Schedule
• Cinderella Waltz, January 2012 Schedule
• Chapter Two, February – March 2012 Schedule
• The Spitfire Grill, March – April 2012 Schedule
• Going To St. Ives, May 2012 Schedule
• Moonlight And Magnolias, June 2012 Schedule

Schedule is subject to change due to performance rights conflicts or other issues. Specific dates of auditions have not been announced yet.

Company is a concept musical that revolves around Robert on his 35th birthday. He is surrounded in a very surreal scene by his closest friends: five different married couples. The rest of the show is a series of vignettes, in no particular chronological order, of Robert with his married couple friends and with three different girlfriends. This is an intensely complex script and score. To really even begin to get to the heart of what is being said by this piece takes an intense conversation reminiscent of college lit classes. It is, like most Sondheim, an extremely difficult score that calls for wide ranges and intricate harmonies. The characters are also multi-layered, and it takes a lot of picking away at those layers to decide if you even like them.

While a lot of talent and promise was indeed evident amongst the cast and production team of Colonial Players of Annapolis’ attempt at this production, it ultimately proved to be more of a challenge than they were ready to meet. The harmonies were all over the place, many of the soloists were not up to the difficult songs, most of the characters came across as caricatures that played for laughs rather than complex simulations of real people, the staging was awkward at best, and the overall look and feel of the scenic and costume design simply missed the mark. It is a shame, because the decent voices and caricatures would have worked just fine and been enjoyable in a less-complex, traditional musical comedy.

Robert was played by John Halmi. Although he did have beautiful vocals and the strongest voice in the production, his performance was lackluster. He did not convey enough heart to make his performance believable or to make the audience really care about Robert and his journey. He was not the emotional center that the piece needed.

The first of his couple friends were Harry (Rick Long) and Sarah (Emily Sergo). These two were very artificial and their scene was very rushed. While they achieved some cheap laughs, they ran over the lines that contained the real “high comedy” of the script. Long also seemed to struggle with vocals throughout the show; although, Sergo had a very trained and powerful soprano.

The next couple was Peter (Tobias Young) and Susan (Susannah Hurlburt). Hurlburt was largely unmemorable in her role. Young, on the other hand, completely missed the mark with Peter. There is a scene, which should be shocking (so I won’t reveal the spoiler here); however, Young played the character in such a way that the reveal was expected and not remotely surprising.

Couple number three was Jennie (Shannon Benil) and David (James Schwallenburg). This was the most entertaining of the scenes, and Benil and Schwallenburg came, by far, the closest to creating realistic and deep characterizations.

The fourth couple was Amy (Jamie Miller) and Paul (Trent Goldsmith). Miller managed to do a decent job of maintaining very difficult vocals in “Getting Married Today.” She is obviously excellent at playing over-the-top comedy, but it would have been nice to see a little more restraint and complexity with Amy. Goldsmith, on the other hand, came across as very real and was probably the only person in the cast who never seemed like he was “acting.”

Lastly, there was Joanne (Margaret Allman) and Larry (Vince van Joolen). Although this couple looked the parts more than any of the other performers, their performances were some of the most disappointing. The couple was very artificial. The biggest issue was that Allman does not have anywhere near the vocal chops to handle this score and her attempt at the iconic “Ladies Who Lunch” was the absolute low point of the evening.

Rounding out the cast were Robert’s three girlfriends: April (Bridget Creel), Kathy (Monica Garcia), and Marta (Laurie Lawrence). None of the women made any emotional connection with Robert or the audience, and, like most of the cast, they created caricatures and lines sounded false and forced. Vocals were not much better. Creel suffered from horrible pitch issues during “Barcelona,” and Lawrence growled her way through “Another Hundred People.” At least, Creel and Garcia looked their parts. Lawrence looked like an inappropriate “cougar” in the role of Marta.

Another big problem with the production was the staging. The director seemed to lack understanding of how to effectively stage for theater in the round. The orchestra was placed in the center of the stage. There were several times when action was completely blocked by the orchestra. For instance, from where I was seated I could not see most of Harry and Sarah’s karate battle because of the orchestra. There were also other times when I could not see most of the stage, because my view was blocked by the back side of one actor or another. Also, there were times when an actor would be facing the audience on the far side of the stage and it was difficult to still hear him or her. Much of the problems were a result of the placement of the orchestra. Instead of the cast playing from the center out to the audience, they were playing from around the edges. Theatre in the round can be very effective when mastered, but, in this production, its use was largely problematic.

What was wrong with the set and costumes was the issue that was extended into many of the characterizations. Sondheim is often quoted as explaining that Company is about “upper-middle class people with upper-middle class problems.” Nothing about the set or most of the costumes felt “upper-middle class.” The ensemble of Company is essentially intended to be the same demographic as the modern-day Sex in the City. However, there was no upper-middle class New York metropolitan opulence or sophistication represented in this production. The lighting was functional but largely unremarkable. It was not really well-utilized to create an atmosphere or mood.

There were also a few mind-boggling little issues with the production. The cake and the candles are a huge part of the symbolism of the show, and the blowing out of the candles is referenced and simulated several times. Not having candles on the cake was a hugely distracting misstep. Another weird problem was right at the beginning of the show and, in many ways, set the tone for the lack of consistent attention to detail. In the original, Robert is listening to messages on an old-fashioned answering machine. Therefore, between the messages are the tell-tale beeps. In this production, although Robert now listened to the messages on a cell phone, the beeps were still utilized. He should have either used an answering machine, albeit slightly archaic, or the beeps should have been replaced with a simulation of modern cell phone messages (“To delete this message, press 7”).

There is little doubt that there were a lot of talented people involved in this production; unfortunately, most Sondheim, Company in particular, requires a higher-level of talent than your average community theater can really pull together. This appeared to be a good community theater in general, but good community theater is not good enough for Company.

Cast

• Joanne: Margaret Allman
• Jennie: Shannon Benil
• April: Bridget Creel
• Kathy: Monica Garcia
• Paul: Trent Goldsmith
• Robert: John Halmi
• Susan: Susannah Hurlburt
• Harry: Rick Long
• Amy: Jamie Miller
• Marta: Laurie (Nettles) Lawrence
• David: James Schwallenburg
• Sarah: Emily Sergo
• Larry: Vince van Joolen
• Tobias Young: Peter

Production Staff

• Director: Joe Thompson
• Musical Director: Ryan Shookman
• Producer: Tom Stuckey
• Stage Manager: Susie Collins
• Assistant Stage Manager: Mark Schaefer
• Stage Crew: Charlie Carwile
• Choreography: Natasha Joyce
• Fight Choreography: Richard Koster
• Set Design: Edd Miller
• Lead Carpenter: Dick Whaley
• Carpenters: Lee Craft, Norm James, Jim Robinson, Ted Yablonski
• Set Painting: Edd Miller, Tom Stuckey
• Lighting Design: Harvey Hack
• Assistant Lighting Design: Jennifer Parris
• Lighting Assistants: Terry Averil, Lyndon Bray, Charlie Carwile, Joe Feibel, Mary Koster, Richard Koster, Jay Nispel, Heather Quinn, Danny Robinson, Tom Stuckey, Beverly Hill van Joolen
• Sound Design: Martin Thompson
• Lighting/Sound Technicians: Debbie Hall, Joan Hamilton, Tom Stuckey
• Costume Design: Kaelynn Miller
• Properties Design: Cornelia Watson
• Properties Assistant: Ken Watson
• Technical Director: Wed Bedsworth
• Technical Consultant: Bob Foery
• Pianist: Ryan Shookman
• Cellist: Katie Chambers
• Dance Captains: Monica Garcia, Emily Sergio
• Production Consultant: Richard Koster
• Play Consultant: Darice Clewell
• Playbill/Poster Design: Jim Gallagher
• Photography: Colburn Images
• Program Editor: Tom Stuckey
• Lobby Display: Jason Vaughan

Disclaimer: Colonial Players provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

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”

The Colonial Players’ production of The Diviners is a bittersweet story of overcoming life’s trials. It is alternately questive and quixotic, finding purpose in the simple things. The production isn’t as superb as other Colonial Players productions, but is strong at its core.

Buddy is a boy whose severe aversion to water impedes life. C.C. Showers is a preacher, experiencing a crisis of faith and roaming the country until he meets Buddy. Their friendship quickly strengthens as C.C. spends time helping the imaginative boy overcome his fears.

The Diviners is a difficult play to stage because it has over six distinct locations–a challenge accentuated by theater-in-the-round. This production was very minimalist, using actors’ movements to establish the scene. While movement is a great device when movement is the focus, the set was often detracting. The major set piece for the show was a slight rise in the floor with a fabricated log in the center which occupied about seventy percent of the main floorspace and impeded movement. It was weakly constructed, so despite actors visible attempts to walk softly, the base still split under the pressure of a footfall.

Costumes were tastefully done, creating an overall feeling of the past, without looking forced. Characters’ personalities would have been more distinctive if their hair and make-up would have had a stronger design.

Worthy of commendation are the sound designer and sound technicians. Realistic soundscapes, together with great lighting design and excellent timing, emphasized location and movement, despite muddy visuals.

The pacing is often slow. Individual actors could have stood for more specific direction in delivery and dynamic physical expression. Mackenzie Blade (Jenny Mae) failed to convey sufficient emotion through the show, often standing with her hands at her sides and a blank face. Eddie Hall (Farris Layman) had a wider range of action, but he also had a habit of standing with his back towards the audience members nearest him. The most expressive member of the ensemble was Mary C. Koster (Norma Henshaw). She threw herself into the role and portrayed the annoying girlish exuberance of her character perfectly.

Eric Schaum (Buddy) had great rapport with Ben Carr (C.C. Showers) and together they formed the strong backbone of this production. Their scenes had such authenticity that the audience was whisked away by it. Schaum’s physical expressiveness and vocal dynamics brought his character to life. Buddy had a realistic balance between needy and normal that evoked the sympathy of his audience. Carr’s performance convinced me beyond the shadow of a doubt of his character’s motivations and desires.

The Colonial Players’ production of The Diviners is a little bit like a river; it doesn’t have a smooth flow–it has many slow moments, some rocky moments, and a few quick-flowing moments–but it’s a good ride. Throughout the production, there is a current moving the story along to its bittersweet conclusion. It’s not a “feel-good” production per sez, but lovers of human-interest shows should enjoy it.

Director’s Notes

Some directors select a project because it has a particular point of view or a strong statement to make. Some choose splashy costume pieces or large, showy historical plays. Some pick comedy over drama or vice versa.

I find myself seeking projects that are quieter, more intimate in scope I like plays that give me a chance to delve into character. This script gives us the story and surface details. I want to find why a character does something. An actor needs to know everything about the character he or she is creating. As a director, I must help actors delve into their characters and discover what works within the script to bring those characters to life. It is the joy of shared discovery that rives me as a director. The Diviners is an ensemble piece with 11 very real, different characters. Every role is integral to the story, no matter how small. The relationship among these characters is what moves the story along. We have had a good time getting to know these people.

Now, imagine yourself sitting on the log you see before you. Just observe the folks in Zion and appreciate them for who they are.

~ Edd Miller

Cast

• Basil Bennett: Joe Thompson
• Dewey Maples: Jay Sullivan
• Buddy Layman: Eric Schaum
• Melvin Wilder: Erik W. Alexis
• Luella Bennet: Karen Lambert
• Jennie Mae Layman: Mackenzie Blade
• C. C. Showers: Ben Carr
• Ferris Layman: Eddie Hall
• Norma Henshaw: Mary C. Koster
• Goldie Short: Brenda Mack
• Darlene Henshaw: Hannah Sturm

Production Staff

• Director: Edd Miller
• Stage Manager: Herb Elkin
• Producer: Tom Stuckey
• Set Design: Edd Miller
• Lead Carpenter: Ted Yablonski
• Carpenters: Lee Craft, Norm James, Jim Robinson, Dick Whaley
• Set Painting: Eddie Hall, Dianne Hood, Edd Miller, Eric Schaum, Tom Stuckey
• Lighting Design: Jennifer Parris
• Lighting Assistants: Richard Koster, Jim Parris, Novella Parris, Tom Stuckey, Martin Thompson
• Sound Design: Wes Bedsworth
• Lighting/Sound Technicians: Mike Coon, Jennifer Parris, Wes Bedsworth, Andy Serb
• Costume Design: Beth Terranova
• Costume Design Assistant: Carol Youmans
• Properties Design: Lois Banscher
• Set Design Engineering: Dick Whaley
• Rehearsal Assistant: Angie Dey
• Play Consultant: Lois Evans
• Playbill/Poster Design: Jim Gallagher
• Photography: Colburn Images
• Program Editor: Ton Stuckey
• Lobby Display: Jason Vaughan

Disclaimer: Colonial Players provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

Noel Coward’s Private Lives was first produced London in 1930. Coward directed and appeared in the production, starring as Elyot Chase opposite Gertrude Lawrence as Amanda Prynne. (Coward wrote Amanda’s character with Lawrence in mind.) Coward also directed this inaugural production, a tissue-thin comedy of manners, to mixed reviews. New York critics, a year later, were kinder and more enthusiastic, when the production was remounted on Broadway, opening again with Coward and Lawrence in the leading roles.

Colonial Players’ production is classically styled and sophisticated in performance; the cast’s English accents are precise and diction and timing seem perfect. The play opens on the shared balcony of a hotel in France. As we watch the story unfold, we learn details surrounding the incendiary first marriage of Elyot (Pat Reyolds, cool and aloof) and Amanda (Zarah Rautell, trying to appear happy with her new husband), through the eyes of their new, younger spouses, frivolous Sybil (Shirley Panek), who can’t help but be worried about the ghost of her predecessor and the effect she had on Elyot, and uptight Victor (Lawrence Griffin), worried about his formerly wild new wife. These encounters are timed so that we can feel the inevitability of the connection between the former couple.

Throughout the course of the evening we come to understand why Elyot and Amanda were forced to divorce, by seeing what happens when they’re given a second chance at love. In this day and age, the plot seems dated and out of touch with reality. Even with the premise that this is a honeymoon, these characters appear shallow and vacuous. The human connection and chemistry is missing, and the most passionate scenes seem to lack something in intensity. The comic relief of the French maid, Louise (Meg Venton) isn’t enough to make this piece of fluff a truly inspired evening of comedy. We’re left to wonder why on earth these people chose to marry at all.

In the end, the characters’ disconnection makes it hard to feel sympathy for any of them. Generally speaking, it’s a good production of a flawed script that’s out of touch with today’s reality. In the end, it’s much ado about nothing.

Barry Christy’s set is sparse and sophisticated. Stefan Mouyal’s sound design fits well within the period. Meg Venton’s costumes are generally terrific, though Amanda’s relatively modern hairstyles appear to be as lacking a bit in period presentation, a point that serves more as a distraction than it should.

About the Playwright

Mention Noel Coward, and a few words are likely to come to mind – words such as sophistication, wit, upper class manners, clever comedy. Not bad for a boy born into genteel poverty whose formal education was limited to a few years of elementary schooling at a choir school that he despised. But his driving ambition, charm and prodigious talents earned him entrée to upper class society that would normally have been closed to a young man with his upbringing. Coward was just 12 years old when he made his professional acting debut in London and just 21 in 1920 when his first full-length play, I Leave it to You, was produced on London’s West End. Ten years later, he and Gertrude Lawrence starred in Private Lives, which was an enormous success and cemented his reputation as a bright young light of the theater scene. Before his death in 1973, Coward wrote more than 50 plays, hundreds of songs, more than a dozen musical theater works, poetry, short stories and a novel.

Cast

• Sibyl Chase: Shirley Panek
• Elyot Chase: Pat Reynolds
• Victor Prynne: Lawrence Griffin
• Amanda Prynne: Zarah Rautell
• Louise: Meg Venton

Production Staff:

• Director: Richard Wade
• Producer: Nancy Long
• Stage Manager: Mackenzie Blade
• Stage Crew: Michele Barry, Heather Quinn, Tom Stuckey
• Set Design: Barry Christy
• Lead Carpenter: Dick Whaley
• Carpenters: Jim Robinson, Ted Yablonski
• Set Painting: Heather Quinn, Dick Whaley
• Set Decoration: Barry Christy
• Lighting Design: Jeannie Beall
• Lighting Assistants: Joshua Anderson, Nathan Hawkins, Richard Koster, Heather Quinn, Tom Stuckey
• Sound Design: Stefan Mouyal
• Lighting/Sound Technicians: Nathan Hawkins, Stefan Mouyal
• Costume Design: Meg Venton
• Properties Design: Peter Branscombe
• Hair Consultant: Doug Dawson
• Choreography: Nancy Dall
• Musical Arrangements and Direction: Angela Linhardt
• Rehearsal Assistant: Angie Dey
• Special Adviser to the Director: Jean Jackson
• Production Consultant: Heather Quinn
• Play Consultant: Sharie Valerio
• Program/Poster Design: Jim Gallagher
• Photography: Colburn Images
• Program Editor: Tom Stuckey

Disclaimer: Colonial Players provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.

• Private Lives, September – October 2010 Schedule
• Earth And Sky, October – November 2010 Schedule
• A Christmas Carol, December 2010 Schedule
• The Diviners, January 2011 Schedule
• Radio Golf, February 2011 Schedule
• Company, March – April 2011 Schedule
• Lettice And Lovage, May 2011 Schedule
• The Shape of Things, June 2011 Schedule

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

The Colonial Players’ production of Dog Logic is both simple and profound. Theater-goers are bound to enjoy this modern, thought-provoking show.

Dog Logic could be construed as a social narrative, told from the unique perspective of a man who thinks like a dog–a dog that has no use for commercialism or religion (jabs at Christianity surface at a couple points in the dialogue). The story revolves around a trio of people who inherit a pet cemetery, now prime commercial real-estate. Unlike many modern plays, Dog Logic has a surprisingly satisfactory ending after throwing the audience a couple of exciting curveballs.

Director Carol Youmans has crafted an excellent show for Colonial Players. It would be easy for another director to do this script a disservice, but Youmans and her design team are to be commended for their superior presentation of Dog Logic.

The set design was fabulous. Clearly, Dick Whaley and Laurie Nolan, with Youmans, put a lot of thought into set design, decoration, and implementation. Every large set piece had a purpose and most of the smaller pieces were utilized in some capacity. The dirt and scrub grass on the floor was especially successful in taking me by surprise; in almost any other theater the effect would have been lost.

Ben Carr as Hertel gave a great performance and carried the show very well. My only criticism would stem from the opening sequences where his character throws questions at the audience and leaves long, empty, confusing pauses. A more conversational tone that doesn’t expect an answer may help to alleviate that awkwardness in future performances. Overall, Carr’s performance was stellar. Hertel was funny without being a caricature, unique without being a farce. His energy and pacing set the tone for the whole show and seemed to create cohesion between the actors.

Shirley Panek as Kaye, Hertel’s ex-wife, was very strong and complemented Carr’s energy very well. Her character was very emotional, but Panek effectively avoided portraying Kaye as pathetic. Her dynamic emotional diversity was another gem in this production’s proverbial crown.

Kathryn Huston sufficiently filled the role of Hertel’s absentee mother, Anita. Her acting seemed somewhat wooden when she was unsure what to do with her hands or facial expressions. However, she was still charming and captured Anita’s professional manner well.

Jim Reiter as Dale, a janitor seeking his fortune in real estate, was the biggest “character” on the stage. Reiter’s shining moments were during the most intensely emotional scene of the show where he provided the comic relief. His timing, delivery, and ensuing silence were hugely effective.

The overall quality of the production was superb. Great pacing, terrific energy, and excellent interpretation caught up the audience and told a great story. If you want a fun show that still has substance, this is the show for you.

Director’s Notes

What exactly, you may ask, is dog logic and why has Tom Strelich chosen it for his play’s title? Over the many months we’ve been working on this play, I have been asked that question repeatedly. Hertel Daggett, Strelich’s beleaguered hero, gives us the answer in word and deed in the course of the play. Dogs take in the world most effectively through their sense of smell, seven times as perceptive as ours. They live in the moment almost exclusively. They have little or no sense of their future, not tomorrow, not next week. A dog’s brain is a simple mechanism: when they want something, they act to get it. Their desires and behaviors are triggered by what they see, hear and smell. They chase a squirrel, scratch on a door to go out or in, bark to warn a stranger off their turf. They dig to hide a smelly bone or the trackable evidence of their own passing and they dig again when scent promises a useful result: a mole, a rabbit, the solution to what they want. It is a simple logic: sense something, act. When Hertel reverts to his simpler brain, he digs.

Cast

• Hertel: Ben Carr
• Dale: Jim Reiter
• Kaye: Shirley Panek
• Anita: Kathryn Huston

Production Staff

• Director: Carol Youmans
• Producer: Sarah Forman
• Stage Manager: Herb Elkin
• Stage Crew: Christina McAlpine, Sarah Forman, Bob Walker
• Set Design: Carol Youmans, Dick Whaley
• Lead Carpenter: Dick Whaley
• Carpenters: Lee Craft, Jim Robinson, Ted Yablonski
• Set Painting: Laurie Nolan
• Set Decoration: Carol Youmans, Laurie Nolan
• Lighting Design: Andrea Elward
• Lighting Consultant: Alex Baños
• Sound Design: David Colburn
• Lighting/Sound Technicians: Terry Averill, Sarah Forman, Jenn Murphy
• Costume Design: Julie Bays
• Hair/Makeup: Carol Youmans
• Properties Design: JoAnn Gidos
• Properties Assistant: Mike Gidos
• Special TV Effects: David Colburn, Wes Bedsworth
• Accordion Tutor: Mike Gidos
• Rehearsal Assistant: Angie Dey
• Production Consultant: JoAnn Gidos
• Play Consultant: Darice Clewell
• Program/Poster Design: Jim Gallagher
• Photography: Colburn Images
• Program Editor: Tom Stuckey

Disclaimer: Colonial Players provided two complimentary media tickets to ShowBizRadio for this review.