The 2009-10 MARQUEE AWARDS: Youngstown Playhouse leads pack with 44 nominations

The Vindicator

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Playhouse capped its comeback by leading all theaters with 44 Marquee Award nominations.

After financial woes nearly forced the theater to close two years ago, the resurgent Playhouse posted a strong season under new Executive Director Mary Ruth Lynn.

The Marquees, now in their seventh year, honor the best in Mahoning Valley community theater. Nominations for the 2009-10 season were unveiled Wednesday night in an event at Cafe Cimmento, downtown.

The winners will be revealed Aug. 14 in a formal ceremony at the Family Life Center of St. Michael’s Church on Route 46 in Canfield. Scott Schneider of WFMJ-TV will serve as host. For reservations or information, call 330-774-4212.

The Playhouse wasn’t the only one having a big year. The Victorian Players Theatre posted its best effort yet, garnering a second-best 39 nominations — including 18 for “The Elephant Man.” The Oakland Center for the Arts grabbed 30 nods; New Castle Playhouse, 23; and Salem Community Theatre, 17.

Other theaters getting nominations are: Carnation City Players, 13; Weathervane Playhouse, 10; Top Hat, 10; J&B Production Arts, 9; Stage Left Players, 5; Trumbull New Theatre, 4; Centaur Stage Productions, 3; Potter Players, 2; Spotlight Players, 1; and Main Street Theater, 1.

Akron’s Weathervane once ruled the Marquees but might have become a victim of its own success.

J.E. Ballantyne Jr. of the Youngstown Area Community Theater Alliance, which sponsors the Marquees, said Weathervane’s dominance spurred other theaters to improve their quality.

Spotlight Players, a brand new troupe that is renovating a former theater in East Palestine, garnered its first Marquee nod.

Here is the complete list:

BEST MUSICAL

“Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

“Curtains” — Youngstown Playhouse

“Lucky Stiff” — Carnation City Players

“Putting It Together” — Weathervane Community Playhouse

“Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming” — Salem Community Theatre

“Into the Woods” — Salem Community Theatre

BEST PLAY

“Barefoot in the Park” — Youngstown Playhouse

“The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

“The Mousetrap” — New Castle Playhouse

“The Sum of Us” — Weathervane Community Playhouse

“W;T” — Oakland Center for the Arts

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Neal Edman as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” — New Castle Playhouse

Craig Snay as Nathan Detroit in “Guys and Dolls” — Stage Left Players

David Munell as Norbert in “Great American Trailer Park Musical” — Oakland

Robert Dennick Joki as Starlett in “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” — Oakland

Joshua Green as Coalhouse Walker in “Ragtime” — Top Hat Productions

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Scott Mackenzie as Joe Keller in “All My Sons” — New Castle Playhouse

John Pecano as Carl Bratter in “Barefoot in the Park” — Youngstown Playhouse

John Cox as Josef Cartier in “Block 5” — Victorian Players /J&B Production Arts Services

John Pecano as John Merrick in “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

David Wolford as Sherlock Holmes in “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” — Victorian Players

Bill Finley as Dr. Sloper in “The Heiress” — Victorian Players

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Amariah McIntosh as Lady from the Road in “Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

Carla Gipson as Woman of the World in “Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

Lindsay Heath as Nikki Harris in “Curtains” — Youngstown Playhouse

Ali Cleland as Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls” — Stage Left Players

Nikita Jones as Sarah in “Ragtime” — Top Hat Productions

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Molly Galano as Kate Keller in “All My Sons” — New Castle Playhouse

Candy DiLullo as Corrie Bratter in “Barefoot in the Park” — Youngstown Playhouse

Connie Cassidy as Ruth in “Blithe Spirit” — Youngstown Playhouse

Caty Sacui as Catherine in “The Heiress” — Victorian Players

Molly Galano as Dr. Vivian Bearing in “W;T” — Oakland Center for the Arts

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL

Marlene Strollo for “Believe: White Christmas” — Move Over Broadway Productions

John Cox for “Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

Michael Dempsey for “Curtains” — Youngstown Playhouse

Jon Simsic for “Into the Woods” — Salem Community Theatre

Rich Jagunic for “Lucky Stiff” — Carnation City Players

Terry Burgler for “Putting It Together” — Weathervane Community Playhouse

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY

Shawn Lockaton for “An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein” — Oakland

John Cox for “Barefoot in the Park” — Youngstown Playhouse

John Cox, Christopher Fidram for “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Sam Luptak, Jr. for “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” — Victorian Players

Eric Van Bears for “The Sum of Us” — Weathervane

Robert Dennick Joki for “W;T” — Oakland Center for the Arts

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Carla Gipson as Sylvia in “All Shook Up” — Youngstown Playhouse

Amy Russell as Georgia Hendricks in “Curtains” — Youngstown Playhouse

Molly Makselan as Christmas Present in “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” — Oakland

Julian Blischak as Miss Clavel in “Madeline & the Gypsy” — Weathervane

Mary Beth Morse as Snoopy in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” — Potter Players

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Molly Galano as Mrs. Banks in “Barefoot in the Park” — Youngstown Playhouse

Leigh Ann Cox as Mrs. Kendall in “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Crystal Niemi as Lavinia in “The Heiress” — Victorian Players

Gerri Sullivan as E.M.Ashford in “W;T” — Oakland

Joyce Jones as Susie Monahan in “W;T” — Oakland

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Tom O’Donnell as Tim Haller in “All Shook Up” — Youngstown Playhouse

Ben Solomon as Perchik in “Fiddler on the Roof” — New Castle Playhouse

Daniel Huston as Benny in “Guys and Dolls” — Stage Left Players

Nathan Kuhns as Nicely Nicely Johnson in “Guys and Dolls” — Stage Left Players

David Munnell as Starrina in “How the Drag Quenn Stole Christmas” — Oakland

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Stefan Lingenfelter as Chris Keller in “All My Sons” — New Castle Playhouse

Terry Shears as Joey Verrielemoe in “Bingo Spells Murder” — Move Over Broadway

Glenn Stevens as Franz Zeireis in “Block 5” — Victorian Players / J&B Production Arts

Matt DeBattiste as Treves in “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Tom Smith as Carr Gomm in “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Larry Latsko as Matthew Harrison in “Inherit the Wind” — Youngstown Playhouse

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Kayla Frost as Bambi in “Curtain” — Youngstown Playhouse

Melissa Cook as Pickles in “Great American Trailer Park Musical” — Oakland

Stacy Anderson as Babs in “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” — Oakland

Susanne Shorrab as Christmas Past in “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” — Oakland

Amanda Frost as Denise in “Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming” — Salem Community Theatre

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Rene Cuerden as Lydia Lubey in “All My Sons” — New Castle Playhouse

Terri Wilkes as Madame Arcati in “Blithe Spirit” — Youngstown Playhouse

Audrey Allen as Stephanie in “Death Takes a Holiday” — Victorian Players

Regina Reynolds as Mildred in “Monday Always Leads to Murder” — Move Over Broadway

Caty Sacui as Madge in “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” — Victorian Players

Marilyn Higgins as Mrs. Montgomery in “The Heiress” — Victorian Players

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Michael Ritzert as Rooster in “Annie” — Carnation City Players

Tom Hathhorn as General Waverly in “Believe: White Christmas” — Move Over Broadway

Vince Ward as Arvide Abernathy in “Guys and Dolls” — Stage Left Players

Anthony Villa as Houdini in “Ragtime” — Top Hat Productions

Joshua Lewis as Dennis in “Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming” — Salem Community Theatre

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY

Brian Lee as Telephone Repairman in “Barefoot in the Park” — Youngstown Playhouse

Don Connors as Snork in “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Gary Deckant as Ross in “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Terry Shears as Bishop in “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Dylan White as Sid Prince in “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” — Victorian Players

Dan Haueter as Manuelo in “The Odd Couple: Female Version” — Salem Community Theatre

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR

Debbie Fears for “Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

Gary Kekel for “Curtains” — Youngstown Playhouse

Jon Simsic for “Into the Woods” — Salem Community Theatre

Debra Burkhart for “Lucky Stiff” — Carnation City Players

John Ebner for “Putting It Together” — Weathervane Community Playhouse

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Nicolle Caravella for “All Shook Up” — Youngstown Playhouse

Nick Opritza for “Believe: White Christmas” — Move Over Broadway Productions

Brandon Martin for “Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

Kathy Kunz for “Brigadoon” — New Castle Playhouse

Carrie Mazzuco for “Curtains” — Youngstown Playhouse

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Pam Sacui for “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Carolyn Saunders, Rosemary Zeigler for “Into the Woods” — Salem Community Theatre

Connie Veletta, Jason Smith for “The Last Night of Ballyhoo” — Weathervane

Connie Houk for “Lucky Stiff” — Carantion City Players

Pam Sacui for “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure”— Victorian Players

Pam Sacui, Irena Harvey, Judy Fields for “The Heiress” — Victorian Players

BEST PROPERTIES DESIGN

Doreen White, Casey Cox for “Barefoot in the Park” — Youngstown Playhouse

Doreen White, John Cox for “Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

Deanna Wilt, Dawn Findling for “Lucky Stiff” — Carnation City Players

Todd Dieringer for “Putting It Together” — Weathervane Community Playhouse

Kim Nevel, Gerri Sullivan for “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” — Victorian Players

BEST SCENIC DESIGN

Jim Lybarger for “Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

Michael Dempsey for “Into the Woods” — Salem Community Theatre

Keith Brown for “Lucky Stiff” — Carnation City Players

George A. Orr for “The Mousetrap” — New Castle Playhouse

J.E.Ballantyne, Jr., Dr. Thomas Copeland for “The Heiress” — Victorian Players

BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT

“Believe: White Christmas” — Move Over Broadway Productions

“Block 5” — Victorian Players & J&B Production Arts Services

“How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” — Oakland

“In the Spirit of Christmas” — Centaur Stage Productions

“Me Myself” — Main Street Theatre

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY OR MUSICAL

“All My Sons” — New Castle Playhouse

“Fiddler on the Roof”—- New Castle Playhouse

“Ragtime” — Top Hat Productions

“The Rocky Horror Show” — Oakland

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” — Potter Players

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SWING ACTOR

Dylan White for “All Shook Up” — Youngstown Playhouse

Sam Luptak Jr. for “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Andy Magusick for “Monday Always Leads to Murder” — Move Over Braodway

Glenn Stevens for “Monday Always Leads to Murder” — Move Over Broadway

Dave Wolford for “Ragtime” — Top Hat Productions

Tom Smith for “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” — Victorian Players

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SWING ACTRESS

Amariah McIntosh for “All Shook Up” — Youngstown Playhouse

Courtney Nicole Aumen for “Back of the Throat” — Oakland

Alyssa Sokol for “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Caty Sacui for “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Crystal Niemi for “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Monica Collier for “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” — Oakland

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE JUVENILE IN A MUSICAL

Chloe Noel Housteau as Annie in “Annie” — Carnation City Players

Britnie Weigand as Molly in “Annie” — Carnation City Players

Colleen Browning as Ursula in “Bye, Bye, Birdie” — Trumbull New Theatre

Emma Weatherby as Bielke in “Fiddler on the Roof” — New Castle Playhouse

Chloe Noel Housteau as Little Girl in “Ragtime” — Top Hat Productions

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE JUVENILE IN A PLAY

Chloe Noel Housteau as Jensie in “In the Spirit of Christmas” — Centaur Stage

Lisandra Stebner as Genevieve in “In the Spirit of Christmas” — Centaur Stage

Lauren Cline as Melinda in “Inherit the Wind” — Youngstown Playhouse

Lauren Cline as Susan Walker in “Miracle on 34th Street” — Youngstown Playhouse

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE JUVENILE IN A MUSICAL

Gino Ginetti as Chip in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” — New Castle Playhouse

Dominic Campana as Broadway Baby in “Believe: White Christmas” — Move Over Broadway

Noah Classic as Broadway Baby in “Believe: White Christmas” — Move Over Broadway

Alex Lucas as Harvey Johnson in “Bye, Bye, Birdie” — Trumbull New Theatre

Justin Weibe as Randolph McAfee in “Bye, Bye, Birdie” — Trumbull New Theatre

Donny Wolford as Little Boy in “Ragtime” — Top Hat Productions

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE JUVENILE IN A PLAY

Donny Wolford as Bert in “All My Sons” SEmD New Castle Playhouse

Dylan White as Benjamin Wallach in “Block 5” SEmD Victorian Players /J&B Production Arts

Sam Horne as Howard in “Inherit the Wind” SEmD Youngstown Playhouse

Dominic Campana as Tommy Mara in “Miracle on 34th Street” SEmD Youngstown Playhouse

Donny Wolford as Paperboy in “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” SEmD Victorian Players

Gage Perry as Thor Walgrave in “The Nerd” SEmD Spot Light Players

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Team Green for “Barefoot in the Park” — Youngstown Playhouse

Nick Opritza for “Believe: White Christmas” — Move Over Broadway

Christopher Fidram for “The Elephant Man” — Victorian Players

Scott Sutton for “Into the Woods” — Salem Community Theatre

Robyn Cooper for “Putting It Together” — Weathervane Community Playhouse

BEST SOUND OPERATION

Deanna D’Egidio for “Blues in the Night” SEmD Youngstown Playhouse

Shawn Lockaton for “Death Takes a Holiday” SEmD Victorian Players

Sara Klimenko, Danna Bozick for “Dinner With Friends” SEmD Oakland Center for the Arts

Dr. Thomas Copeland for “The Elephant Man” SEmD Victorian Players

Cathy Lisby, Penny McClain, Alex Lucas for “God’s Favorite” SEmD Trumbull New Theatre

Barry Hinchcliffe for “The Odd Couple: Female Version” SEmD Salem Community Theatre

BEST STAGE MANAGER

Dorene White for “Blues in the Night” — Youngstown Playhouse

Leslie Brown for “Curtains” — Youngstown Playhouse

Susie Thompson for “Dinner With Friends” - Oakland

Rich Jagunie for “Lucky Stiff” - Carnation City Players

Lane Taylor Smerglia for “The Sum of Us” - Weathervane

BEST FOLLOWSPOT OPERATOR

Karen Sarrach for “Believe: White Christmas” - Move Over Broadway

Casey Cox, Rachel McGrail, Meysha Harville for “Blues in the Night” - Youngstown Playhouse

Ed Smith, Phil Bannam for “Curtains” - Youngstown Playhouse

Laurie Steeb, Alli Dolphin for “Into the Woods” - Salem Community Theatre

Ed Smith for “Love Ludmilla” - Oakland

BEST LIGHTBOARD OPERATOR

Alyssa Morris for “Edgar Allan Poe’s: The Black Cat” - Victorian Players/J&B Production Arts

Joyce Jones, Stephanie Sarrach for “Blues in the Night” - Youngstown Playhouse

Joyce Jones for “Curtains” - Youngstown Playhouse

Stephanie Sarrach for “Dinner With Friends” - Oakland

Sue Thompson for “The Elephant Man” - Victorian Players

Barry Hinchcliffe, Sr. for “The Odd Couple - Female Version” - Salem Community Theatre

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

John Pecano, Jim Lybarger for “Blues in the Night” - Youngstown Playhouse

Ellen Licitra for “Dinner With Friends” - Oakland

John Cox, John Pecano for “The Elephant Man” - Victorian Players

Scott Sutton for “Into the Woods” - Salem Community Theatre

Haggy Hagerman for “Lucky Stiff” - Carnation City Players

BEST FEMALE ENSEMBLE MEMBER

Courtney Nicole Aumen for “An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein” - Oakland

Jennifer Milligan for “Ragtime” - Top Hat Productions

Mary Ann Villa for “Ragtime” - Top Hat Productions

Mary Beth Hobson for “Lucky Stiff” - Carnation City Players

Molly Makselan for “An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein” - Oakland

BEST MALE ENSEMBLE MEMBER

Charles Kettering for “An Adult Evening with Sel Silverstein” - Oakland

Dan Huston for “Into the Woods” - Salem Community Theatre

Josh Lewis for “Into the Woods” - Salem Community Theatre

Kenny Lazarus for “An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein” - Oakland

Wayne Morlock for “Ragtime” - Top Hat Productions

BEST CAMEO PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

Andrew Labedz as Eddie in “The Rocky Horror Show” - Oakland

Douglas Hughes as D’Arque in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” - New Castle Playhouse

Phillip Clark as Frank in “Brigadoon” - New Castle Playhouse

Ryan Haupricht as Michael in “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” - Oakland

BEST CAMEO PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A PLAY

Chuck Kettering as Major Whitred in “Death Takes a Holiday” - Victorian Players

Sam Luptak Jr. as Mr. Bearing in “W;T” - Oakland

Sam Luptak Jr. as Roger in “Edgar Allan Poe’s: The Black Cat” - Victorian Players / J&B Production Arts

William Nibert as Escape Inmate in “Block 5” - Victorian Players / J&B Production Arts

Roger Wright as Police Officer in “Edgar Allan Poe’s: The Black Cat” - Victorian Players/J&B Production Arts

BEST CAMEO PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

Amy Warner as Grandma Tzeitel in “Fiddler on the Roof” - New Castle Playhouse

Kristina Sinegal as Jane Ashton in “Brigadoon” - New Castle Playhouse

Regina Reynolds as Jessica Cranshaw in “Curtains” - Youngstown Playhouse

Stacy Anderson as Fruma-Sarah in “Fiddler on the Roof” - New Castle Playhouse

BEST CHARACTER PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL

Brooke Slanina as Sarah Palin in “How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas” - Oakland

Cheryl Games as Detective in “Curtains” - Youngstown Playhouse

Connie Baer as June Sanders in “Smoke on the Mountain: Homecoming” - Salem Community Theatre

Lynn Nelson Rafferty as Yente in “Fiddler on the Roof” - New Castle Playhouse

Mark McConnell Jr. as Lefou in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” - New Castle Playhouse

Terry McCallum as Tony Hendon in “Lucky Stiff” - Carnation City Players

BEST CHARACTER PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY

Candace DiLullo as Edith in “Blithe Spirit”- Youngstown Playhouse

Caty Sacui as Barmaid in “Edgar Allan Poe’s: The Black Cat” - Victorian Players/J&B Production Arts

Jason Green as Renfield in “Dracula” - Youngstown Playhouse

John Cox as Mr. Sawyer in “Miracle on 34th Street” - Youngstown Playhouse

Ken Cole as Millet in “Fuddy Mears” - New Castle Playhouse

Sam Luptak, Jr. as Christopher Wren in “The Mousetrap” - New Castle Playhouse