Marquee Awards take center stage

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown Playhouse led the eighth annual Marquee Awards nominations with 47 while New Castle Playhouse garnered 41 and Victorian Players, 33.

Nominations were announced Thursday evening at Cafe Cimmento.

Youngstown Playhouse received nominations in the Best Musical category for “Chicago” and “Oliver” and a nomination for Best Play for “The Pillowman.”

Victorian Players’ production of “Our Town,” directed by Sam Luptak Jr., took the top number of show nominations with 20.

Officials of Youngstown Area Community Theater Awards said that about 63 productions were attended during the 2010-11 season by the awards committee with each being evaluated. Rounding out the top five vote getters were Salem Community Theatre and Trumbull New Theatre.

Teresa Weakley of WKBN First News will host the awards ceremony planned Aug. 13 at St. Michael’s Family Life Center, Route 46, Canfield. The evening will begin with cocktails from 6 to 7 followed by dinner from 7 to 8. Award presentations will start at 8.

A limited number of tickets are available. Reservations may be made by calling 330-501-7796.

Nominations list

The list of the eighth annual Marquee Awards nominations were announced Thursday. Winners will be named at a dinner Aug. 13. Nominations follow.

choreography:

David Jendre for “Chicago” at Youngstown Playhouse; Michael Lawrence Akers and Sarah Dunham for “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Salem Community Theatre; Julia Garda for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” at New Castle Playhouse; Janelle Paris for “Oklahoma” at New Castle Playhouse; Tracie Lenox for “Oklahoma” at Trumbull New Theatre; and Kaitlyn Cook for “Oliver” at Youngstown Playhouse.

Followspot Director:

Gerri DeWitt, Candy DiLullo, Chris Fidram and Tom O’Donnell for “Chicago” at Youngstown Playhouse; Rob Wichert, Don Arthurs and Sean Kapp for “It’s a Wonderful Night” at My Theater Company; Craig Snay for “Jingle My Bell” at Stage Left Players; Scott Wickersham, Mark Frost and Justin Steer for “Always Patsy Cline” at Salem Community Theatre; and Corina Dougherty for “Our Town” at Victorian Players.

Lighting Design:

Paula Ferguson, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” - New Castle Playhouse; Craig Snay,”Jingle My Bell,” Stage Left Players; Jack Hanna,”Oklahoma,” New Castle Playhouse; Terri Gilbert, Megan Browning and Zack Gilayni, “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre; and Paula Ferguson, “The Rose Tattoo,” New Castle Playhouse.

Scenic Design:

Mark Frost, Gary and Cheryl Kekel for “Always Patsy Cline” at Salem Community Theatre; Dr. Thomas Copeland for “In the Sport of Christmas” at Centaur Stage Productions and Victorian Players; Craig Snay and Ali Cleland, “Jingle My Bell,” Stage Left Players; Jim Lybarger for ”Of Mice and Men” at Youngstown Playhouse; Tom Hitmar for “Oklahoma” at Trumbull New Theatre; Lester Malizia and Paula Ferguson for “The Rose Tattoo” at New Castle Playhouse; and Robert Dennick Joki for “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” at Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Sound Operation:

Devin Sternagle for “Around the World in 80 Days,” East Palestine Theatre; Matt Stevens for “Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; Moulton Ferguson Jr. for “The Rose Tattoo,” New Castle Playhouse; Robert Dennick Joki for “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” Rust Belt Theatre Company; and Dr. Thomas Copeland for “Edgar Allan Poe’s: The Cask of Amontillado,” J&B Production Arts Services and Victorian Players; “In the Spirit of Christmas,” Centaur Stage Productions and Victorian Players; and “Our Town,” Victorian Players.

Cameo Performance by an Actor in a Play:

Jim Canacci as Count DeGiray in ”Camille,” Victorian Players; Jim Kilgore as Thompson in ”Dial M for Murder,” Trumbull New Theatre; Tom Smith as Aegisthus in “Electra,” Rust Belt Theatre Company; Trevor Webb as Moose Frank in “Leading Ladies," Spotlight Players; and Dave Dougherty as Sam Craig in ”Our Town,“ Victorian Players.

Character Performance in a Musical:

Chris Hawkin as Mary Sunshine in “Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; Robert Dennick Joki as King Herod in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Salem Community Theatre; Reed Worth as Floyd in “Jingle My Bell,” Stage Left Players; Phil Cowen as Ali Hakim in “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre; Lynn Kirkwood as Old Sally in ”Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse; and Chris Hawkin as George in ”The Wedding Singer," Youngstown Playhouse.

Female Ensemble Member:

Andre Hartman and Melanie Williams, both in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Salem Community Theatre; Corina Dougherty and Katie Rose Gould, both in “Oklahoma,” New Castle Playhouse; and Jacinda Madison, “Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse.

Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical:

Phillip L. Clark as FDR in “Annie” at New Castle Playhouse; Justin Edenhofer as Simon, Mark Frost as Caiaphas and Kristopher Ray North, all in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” at Salem Community Theatre; and Taylor Fedrizzi as Slim in “Oklahoma,” New Castle Playhouse; and Matt White as Andrew in “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre.

PerformanCe by a Featured Actor in a Play:

Matthew Schomer as Detective Fis in “Around the World in 80 Days,” East Palestine Theatre; Curtis Barron as Rabbie Levine in “Bermuda Avenue Triangle,” Trumbull New Theatre; Carlos E. Rivera Jr. as Mr. Kempler in “The Boys Next Door,” Top Hat Productions; Eric Kibler as Gordon in ”Dean Man’s Cell Phone,” Youngstown Playhouse; Cleric Costas as Seyton in “Macbeth,” Youngstown Playhouse; Byron Armour as Crooks in “Of Mice and Men,” Youngstown Playhouse; and Terry Shears as Simon in “Our Town,” Victorian Players.

Swing Performance in a Musical or Play:

Lindsay Stevens in various roles and Jim Canacci as Professor Willard and Joe Stoddard, both in “Our Town,” Victorian Players; Neal Edman as Jacob and Potiphar in “Joseph the the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” New Castle Playhouse; and Liz Conrad as Lady MacDuff and witch one and Tom O’Donnell as King Duncan, Porter and Siward, both “Macbeth,” Youngstown Playhouse

Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Musical:

Julie Benner as Louise Segar in “Always Patsy Cline,” Salem Community Theatre; Karmin Dando as Grace Farrel in “Annie,” New Castle Playhouse; Ali Cleland as Mena in “Jingle My Bell,” Stage Left Players; Kandy Cleland as Agnes in “Jingle My Bell,” Stage Left Players; Molly Makselan as Ado Annie in “Oklahoma,” New Castle Playhouse; Barb Timmins as Aunt Eller and Stacy Anderson as Ado Annie, both in “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre.

Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play:

Cheryl Games as Hermia, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Youngstown Playhouse; Gerri Sullivan as Vernadette and Lori Broderick as Jeri Neal, both in “Dixie Swim Club,” Youngstown Playhouse; Vicki Rossi as Miss Foliot, “Murder on the Nile,” Salem Community Theatre; and Terri Macskimming as Carly, “Reasons to Be Pretty,”Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Performance by a Male Juvenile in a Musical:

Donny Wolford as Oliver, Gino Ginetti as Noah Claypool, Hunter Thomas as Charlie Bates and Nick Narkum as Book Seller, all in “Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse; and Trevor Givens as Friedrich and Will Kinser as Kurt, both in “The Sound of Music,” Carnation City Players.

Performance by a Male Juvenile in a Play:

Jacob Nash as Luther Beatty in “Inspecting Carol,” Youngstown Playhouse; Donny Wolford as MacDuff’s son and Hunter Thomas as Fleance, both in “Macbeth,” Youngstown Playhouse; “Greg Halley as Tommy in “Miracle on 34th Street,” Salem Community Theatre; and Donny Wolford as Joe/Si and Hunter Thomas as ball player, both in “Our Town,” Victorian Players.

Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical:

Connie Cassidy as Patsy Cline in ”Always Patsy Cline,” Salem Community Theatre; Natalia Lepore Hagan as Velma Kelly in ”Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; Kayla Boye as Roxy Hart in “Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; Bernadette Lim as Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Salem Community Theatre; Dawn Morrelli as Laurey in”Oklahoma,” New Castle Playhouse; Brianne Kechunas as Laurey in “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre; and Brandy Johanntges as Nancy in “Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse.

Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play:

Molly Galano as Dr. Livingstone in ”Agnes of God,” Victorian Players and as Medea in “Medea,” Rust Belt Theatre Company; Jenna Cintavey as Helen in “Fat Pig,” Oakland Center for the Arts; Lisandra Stebner as Emily in”Our Town,” Victorian Players; and Paula Ferguson as Serafina in “The Rose Tattoo,” New Castle Playhouse.

Revival of a Play:

“Agnes of God” and “Our Town,” Victorian Players; “Dial M for Murder,” Trumbull New Theatre; “Kitchen Witches,” Stage Left Players; and “The Miracle Worker,” Carnation City Players.

Direction of a Musical:

David Jendre, “Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; Michael Dempsey, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Salem Community Theatre; Michael Cavalier, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” New Castle Playhouse; Brent Rogers, “Oklahoma,” New Castle Playhouse; and Renee Johntony for “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre.

Direction of a Play:

Terri Wilkes, “Agnes of God,” Victorian Players; Anna Marshall, “The Boys Next Door,” Top Hat Productions; Christopher Fidram, “Fat Pig,” Oakland Center for the Arts; Sam Luptak Jr., “Our Town,” Victorian Players; and Milan Paurich, ”Reasons to Be Pretty,” Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Best Play:

“Closer” and “Fat Pig,” Oakland Center for the Arts; “Pillowman,” Youngstown Playhouse; and “Reasons to Be Pretty” and “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Costume Design:

Carolyn Saunders, “Always Patsy Cline,” Salem Community Theatre; Kandace Cleland, “Jingle My Bell,” Stage Left Players; Peggy Hanna, “The Rose Tattoo,” New Castle Playhouse; and Cheri Stebner, “Oliver” at Youngstown Playhouse and “Our Town” at Victorian Players.

Lightboard Operator:

Moulton Ferguson Jr., “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “The Rose Tattoo,” both New Castle Playhouse; Anna Worth, “Jingle My Bell,” Stage Left Players; Peggy Hanna, “Oklahoma,” New Castle Playhouse; and Robert Dennick Joki, ”Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Properties Design:

Jill Chesney and Brian Palumbo, “The Boys Next Door,” Top Hat Productins; Barb Evans, ”Fat Pig,” Oakland Center for the Arts; Kim Nevel and Molly Galano, “Medea,” Rust Belt Theatre Company; Annette Crowe and Karen Ferguson, “The Rose Tattoo,” New Castle Playhouse; and Robert Dennick Joki, “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Sound Design:

Tim McGinley, “Bermuda Avenue Triangle,” Trumbull New Theatre; J.E. Ballantyne Jr., “Edgar Allan Poe’s: The Cask of Amontillado,” J&B Production Arts Services and Victorian Players; Matt Stevens, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Salem Community Theatre; Leslie Lewis, “Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse; John Pecano and Dr. Thomas Copeland, “Our Town,” Victorian Players; and Lester Malizia, “The Rose Tattoo,”

New Castle Playhouse.

Stage Manager:

Devin Sternagle, “Around the World in 80 Days,“ East Palestine Theatre; Joyce Jones, “The Boys Next Door,” Top Hat Productions; Audra Moesta and Kylie Gierlach, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” New Castle Playhouse; John Timmins, “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre; Dorene White, ”Our Town,” Victorian Players.

Cameo Performance by an Actress in a Play:

Molly Galano as Tieresias in “Antigone,” Rust Belt Theatre Company; Beth Dean-Stewart as Countess Bordon, “Don’t Drink the Water,” New Castle Playhouse; Marilyn Higgins as Stella in “In the Spirit of Christmas” at Centaur Stage Productions and Victorian Players and artistic lady in “Our Town,” Victorian Players.

Character Performance in a Play:

Tom Smith as Mr. Vanislaw in “Betty’s Summer Vacation,” Oakland Center for the Arts; Jacob Harver as Howard in “Death Defying Acts,” Oakland Center for the Arts; Ken Cole as chef in “Don’t Drink the Water,” New Castle Playhouse; Denise Sculli as mother in “In the Spirit of Christmas,” Center Stage Productions and Victorian Players; Mary Vallas as Aunt Florence, “Leading Ladies,” Spotight Players; and Carl Damiani as Gus in “Nobody’s Perfect,” Carnation City Players.

Male Ensemble Member:

Angel Febres as Aaron Harry, “Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; Craig Conrad as Bam, “Footfalls,” Kent Trumbull Theatre; Dave Wolford as Scottish doctor, “Macbeth,” Youngstown Playhouse; Dave Dougherty and Mark McConnell Jr., both in “Oklahoma,” New Castle Playhouse; and John Timmins as Cord Elam and Rob Morris as Ike Skidmore, both in “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre.

Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical:

Donna Huntley as MaMa Morton, “Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; Olivia Sukosa as Ellen in “It’s A Wonderful Night,” My Theater Company; Keri Lankford as Sister Robert Anne, “Meshuggah Nuns,” Salem Community Theatre; Rosie Jo Neddy as Bette and Stacy Anderson as Mrs. Sowerberry, both in “Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse.

Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play:

Liz Conrad as Stella, “The Boys Next Door,” Top Hat Productions and as Mouth in “Footfalls,” Kent Trumbull Theatre; Grace Vouvalis as Calciope in “Meda,” Rust Belt Theater Company; Lori Broderick as Mrs. Soames, “Our Town,” Victorian Players; and Joy Cowan as Madame Zeno, “You Can’t Beat The House,” Trumbull New Theatre.

Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Musical:

Benjamin Solomon as Rooster, “Annie,” New Castle Playhouse; Chuck Simon, Pontius Pilate, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Salem Community Theatre; Craig Conrad as Jud Fry and Jim Courim as Will Parker, both “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre; and David Jendre as Fagin, “Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse.

PerformAnce by a Supporting Actor in a Play:

Joe Marshall as Norman, “The Boys Next Door,” Top Hat Productions; Alan McCreary as Dwight, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” Youngstown Playhouse; Terry Shears as Dr. Bessner, “Murder on the Nile,”Salem Community Theatre; Tim McGinley as Candy, “Of Mice and Men,” Youngstown Playhouse; John Pecano as Doc Gibbs, “Our Town," Victorian Players; David El’Hatton as Yopolski and John Pecano as Michal, both in “The Pillowman,” Youngstown Playhouse; and Chuck Kettering as Kent, “Reason to Be Pretty,” Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Performance by a Female Juvenile in a Musical:

Chloe Noel Housteau as Annie, "Annie,” New Castle Playhouse and as Priscilla, “It’s a Wonderful Night,” My Theatre Company; Gillian McMahon, “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre; Hannah Brose as Rose Seller and Snezac Jellic as Strawberry Seller, both “Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse; and Natalie DiRuzzo as Gretl, “The Sound of Music,” Carnation City Players.

Performance by a Female Juvenile in a Play:

Grace Offerdahl as Charity, “In the Spirit of Christmas,” Centaur Stage Productions and Victorian Players; Adrieanne Woolf as Helen Keller, "The Miracle Worker,” Carnation City Players; Brittany Hines as DeeDee, “Nobody’s Perfect,” Carnation City Players; Lauren Cline as Wally Webb and Miranda Canacci as Rebecca, both “Our Town,” Victorian Players.

Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical:

Alan McCreary as Daddy Warbucks, “Annie,” New Castle Playhouse; Khalad Tabara as Judas and Vaughn Schmidt as Jesus, both in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Salem Community Theatre; Matthew DeBattiste as Joseph, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” and as Curly, “Oklahoma,” both New Castle Playhouse, and as Curly, “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre.

Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play:

Tim McGinley as Johnny Paulucca, “Bermuda Avenue Triangle,” Trumbull New Theatre; Matthew DiBattiste as Jack, ”The Boys Next Door,” Top Hat Productions; James McClellan as Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, “I Am My Own Wife, Oakland Center for the the Arts; Tim Phillips as Lenny, “Of Mice and Men,” Youngstown Playhouse; David El’Hatton as stage manager and Dylan White as George, both “Our Town,” Victorian Players; Cheney Morgan as Greg, “Reasons to Be Pretty,” Rust Belt Theatre Company; and Brandon Smith as Michael and Chuck Kettering as Edward, both in “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Musical Director:

Gary Kekel, “Always Patsy Cline," and Anthony Ruggiero, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” both Salem Community Theatre; Dan Yallech, “Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; Cindy Cotherman,“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” New Castle Playhouse; and Alan Purdam, “Oklahoma,” Trumbull New Theatre

Revival of a Musical:

“Always Patsy Cline,” Salem Community Theatre; “Annie,” New Castle Playhouse; “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” and “Oklahoma,” both New Castle Playhouse and Trumbull New Theatre.

Special Theatrical Event:

“Believe: Christmas is Coming,” Move Over Broadway Productions; “A Holiday Memory,” New Castle Playhouse; “In the Spirit of Christmas,” Centaur Stage Productions and Victorian Players; “Normal or Something Like That,” "Ugly Christmas Sweater Review" and “When I Knew and How It Saved Me,” all Rust Belt Theatre Company.

Best Musical:

“Chicago,” Youngstown Playhouse; “Godspell,” Move Over Broadway Productions; "It’s a Wonderful Night,” My Theater Company; “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Salem Community Theatre; “Oliver,” Youngstown Playhouse; and “The Sound of Music,” Carnation City Players.