The WATCH Awards, Washington area community theatre’s version of the Tony’s, were presented to a packed house on Sunday, March 9th at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA.The Washington Area Community Theatre Honors has a membership of 33 community theatres stretching from Warrenton, VA to Annapolis, MD. This year, WATCH trained judges from each theatre company adjudicated 114 productions: 42 musicals and 72 plays.
Elden Street Players, which ended its 25 year history as a community theatre last summer to re-open as the professional company NextStop Theatre, nevertheless took top honors for Outstanding Play (Red), Outstanding Direction of a Play (Gloria DuGan for Red) and Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Evan Hoffman for Caroline, or Change). Ragtime won 5 Outstanding Awards for Kensington Arts Theatre, which dedicates its seasons to musicals, including Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Lead Actor (Sayne-Kharyi Lewis as “Colehouse Walker”). The Outstanding Lead Actress went to Emily Zickler as “Diana” in Kensington’s production of Next to Normal.
Congratulations to all the nominees and recipients. Here is the complete list provided by WATCH. (The winners are in red)
Nominations for outstanding technical achievements.
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical (5) TIED
• Jared Davis– Avenue Q – Dominion Stage
• Richard Gilpin – Fiddler on the Roof – Port Tobacco Players
• Dan Lavanga – You Never Know – Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Jane B. Wingard – Camelot – 2nd Star Productions
• Jane B. Wingard – Little Shop of Horrors – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Set Design in a Play (5)
• Raedun de Alba – Is He Dead? – Providence Players of Fairfax
• John Downing & Bill Glikbarg – Twentieth Century – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Richard Gilpin– Brighton Beach Memoirs – Port Tobacco Players
• Bill Glikbarg & John Downing – Life with Father – Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
• Skip Gresko – Rumors – McLean Community Players
Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical (5)
• Bill Bagaria– Camelot – 2nd Star Productions
• Chris Feldmann & Dan Remmers – Avenue Q – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Richard Gilpin – Fiddler on the Roof – Port Tobacco Players
• Dan Lavanga – You Never Know – Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Hector Lorenzini – Avenue Q – Dominion Stage
Outstanding Set Construction in a Play (5)
• John Downing & Bill Glikbarg – Twentieth Century – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Chip Gertzog, Mike Mattheisen, David Schwartz – Is He Dead? – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Richard Gilpin & Zachary Ball – Brighton Beach Memoirs – Port Tobacco Players
• Stuart Travis, Bill Glikbarg, John Downing – Life with Father – Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
• Dick Whaley – Communicating Doors – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical (6)
• Jared Davis – Avenue Q – Dominion Stage
• Maria Littlefield – Seussical – Damascus Theatre Company
• Ronna Johnson, Jill Hanger, Betsy Stevens – Fiddler on the Roof – Port Tobacco Players
• Roy Peterson – You Never Know – Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Jane B. Wingard – Camelot – 2nd Star Productions
• Jane B. Wingard – Little Shop of Horrors – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Set Painting in a Play (5)
• Megan Coyle & Eddy Parker – Life with Father – Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
• Cathy Farnsworth, George Farnsworth, Terry Yates – Rumors – McLean Community Players
• Paul Hennesy & Mike Mattheisen– Is He Dead? – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Ronna Johnson & Jhonni Jones– Brighton Beach Memoirs – Port Tobacco Players
• Mary Speed & Brian Garrison – Red – Elden Street Players
Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical (5)
• Lois Banscher– 1776 – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Ellen Erickson – Avenue Q – Dominion Stage
• Roy Hammond – You Never Know – Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Kim M. Bessler & Grenda Dennis – Fiddler on the Roof – Port Tobacco Players
• Jane B. Wingard & Gail Bagaria – Camelot – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play (5)
• Susan Driscoll Blount & Eddy Parker – Life with Father – Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
• Susan d. Garvey – Red – Elden Street Players
• Paul Hennesy & Mike Mattheisen – Is He Dead? – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Ronna Johnson – Brighton Beach Memoirs – Port Tobacco Players
• Edd Miller – In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Outstanding Properties in a Musical (5)
• Lois Banscher – 1776 – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Helen Bard-Sobola – Avenue Q – Dominion Stage
• Theresa Nichols Bender – Caroline, or Change – Elden Street Players
• Joanne D. Wilson – Camelot – 2nd Star Players
• Joanne D. Wilson – Little Shop of Horrors – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Properties in a Play (5)
• Grenda Dennis – Brighton Beach Memoirs – Port Tobacco Players
• Susan d. Garvey – Red – Elden Street Players
• JoAnn Gidos – Shipwrecked – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Connie Robinson – In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Andra Whitt – Is He Dead? – Providence Players of Fairfax
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical (5)
• Jeffery Scott Auerbach– Next to Normal – McLean Community Players
• Ken & Patti Crowley – Avenue Q – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Garrett R. Hyde – Camelot – 2nd Star Productions
• Garrett R. Hyde – You Never Know – Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Tommy Scott – Fiddler on the Roof – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play (5)
• Jeffery Scott Auerbach – Life with Father – Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
• Franklin Coleman – 33 Variations – Reston Community Players
• Ken & Patti Crowley – 33 Variations– Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Ken & Patti Crowley – The 39 Steps – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Tommy Scott – Brighton Beach Memoirs – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (5)
• Wes Bedsworth – 1776 – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• David Correia & David Hale – Avenue Q – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Kevin DeMine – Avenue Q – Dominion Stage
• Kevin Garrett – Parade – Kensington Arts Theatre
• James D. Watson – The Who’s Tommy – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Sound Design in a Play (5)
• Draper Carter – The Woman in Black – Port Tobacco Players
• William Chrapcynski – 33 Variations – Reston Community Players
• Jamie Coupar – Red Herring– Silver Spring Stage
• Sean Doyle – Shiloh Rules – Port City Playhouse
• Nick Sampson – The Nerd – Rockville Little Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical (5)
• Eleanor Dicks – Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
• Kathy Dunlap – Caroline, or Change – Elden Street Players
• Andrea L. Elward – 1776 – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Linda Swann – Camelot – 2nd Star Productions
• Linda Swann – You Never Know – Prince George’s Little Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design in a Play (7)
• Julie Bays & Carol Youmans – In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Susan Boyd – Rumors – McLean Community Players
• Georgia Harlow – Life with Father – Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
• Kaelynn Miller – Shipwrecked – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Susan Noe – To Kill a Mockingbird – Fauquier Community Theater
• Robbie Snow – Is He Dead? – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Mary Wakefield – The Tempest – Rockville Little Theatre
Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical (5)
• Shemika Berry – The Wiz – Tantallon Community Players
• Eleanor Dicks – Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
• Roy Hammond – You Never Know – Prince George’s Little Theatre
• Larissa Norris – 9 to 5: The Musical – Arlington Players
• Colleen Novosel – Seussical – Damascus Theatre Company
Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play (5)
• Kaitelyn Bauer – The Woman in Black – Port Tobacco Players
• Susan Boyd – Rumors – McLean Community Players
• Sally Cusenza – The Pillowman – Silver Spring Stage
• Hillary Mazer – The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife – Bowie Community Theatre
• Bette Williams– 33 Variations – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical (5)
• Shemika Berry – The Wiz – Tantallon Community Players
• Eleanor Dicks – Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
• Beverly Hill van Joolen – 1776 – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Megan May – Seussical – Damascus Theatre Company
• Linda Swann – You Never Know – Prince George’s Little Theatre
Outstanding Hair Design in a Play (6)
• Susan Boyd – Rumors – McLean Community Players
• Shirley Panek – In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Maureen Roult – The Cover of Life – Bowie Community Theatre
• Rachel Royall – Life with Father – Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
• Maggie Skekel Sledge & the Nile Ladies – Murder on the Nile – Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Erin Wagner, Matthew Purpora, Maya Wilcox – The Lieutenant of Inishmore – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Outstanding Special Effects (5)
• Chip Gertzog & Jimmy Gertzog – Little Shop of Horrors – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Andrew Greenleaf & Lars Klores – The Pillowman – Silver Spring Stage
• Keith Linville & Greg Rumpf – The Who’s Tommy – Port Tobacco Players
• Joshua McKerrow, Kat McKerrow, Maya Wilcox – The Lieutenant of Inishmore – Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Jon Roberts – 33 Variations – Reston Community Players
Nominations for outstanding performances by an actor or actress.
Outstanding cameo in a musical (5)
• David Hale as “Leaf/Margaret Mead” – Hair – Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Rikki Howie as “The Washing Machine” – Caroline, or Change – Elden Street Players
• Lydia Kivrak as “Grandma Tzeitel” – Fiddler on the Roof – Port Tobacco Players
• Kaelynn Miller as “Martha Jefferson” – 1776 – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Jacob Traver as “The Fiddler” – Fiddler on the Roof – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding cameo in a play (5)
• Jeffrey Gangwisch as “James” – The Lieutenant of Inishmore – Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Marty Hayes as “Bill Lesley” – It Runs in the Family – 2nd Star Productions
• Mark A. Korol-Evans as “Master Spirit” – The Tempest – Rockville Little Theatre
• William D. Parker as “Greta” – Bent – Dominion Stage
• Stephen Smith as “Office Welch” – Rumors – McLean Community Players
Outstanding featured actress in a musical (5)
• Allison Block as “Cassie” – A Chorus Line – Arlington Players
• Freida Enoch as “Fraulein Schneider” – Cabaret – Damascus Theatre Company
• Annie Ermlick as “Vicki Nickols” – The Full Monty – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Stephanie Gaia Chu as “Christmas Eve” – Avenue Q – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Eben K. Logan as “Sarah” – Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
Outstanding featured actor in a musical (5)
• Ryan Burke as “Dan” – Next to Normal – Kensington Arts Theatre
• Malcolm Lee as “Noah “Horse” T. Simmons” – The Full Monty – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Matt Liptak as “Nicky et al” – Avenue Q – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Keith Miller as “Ethan Girard” – The Full Monty – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Stephen Yednock as “Herr Schultz” – Cabaret – St. Mark’s Players
Outstanding featured actress in a play (6)
• Christina Enoch Kemmerer as “Player #1” – Shipwrecked – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Shaina Higgins as “Lucygale Scruggs” – Shiloh Rules – Port City Playhouse
• Lisa Hill-Corley as “Clemma Diggins” – Proposals – Vienna Theatre Company
• Hillary Mazer as “Freida” – The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife – Bowie Community Theatre
• Gayle Nichols-Grimes as “Dr. Gertrude Laudenburger” – 33 Variations – Reston Community Players
• Jill Vohr as “Corin” – As You Like It – St. Mark’s Players
Outstanding featured actor in a play (5) TIE
• Chris Daileader as “Michal” – The Pillowman – Silver Spring Stage
• Chuck Dluhy as “Lenny Ganz” – Rumors – McLean Community Players
• Henry LaGue as “The Third Man”– The Baltimore Waltz – Silver Spring Stage
• Robert Tucker as “Player #2 – Shipwrecked – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Gene Valendo as “Dr. Hubert Bonny” – It Runs in the Family – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding lead actress in a musical (5)
• Laura Gepford as “Polly Baker” – Crazy for You – Rockville Musical Theatre
• Nicky McDonnell as “Diana” – Next to Normal – McLean Community Players
• Anya Randall Nebel as “Caroline – Caroline, or Change – Elden Street Players
• Elizabeth Yeats as “Violet Newstead” – 9 to 5: The Musical – Arlington Players
• Emily Zickler as “Diana” – Next to Normal – Kensington Arts Theatre
Outstanding lead actor in a musical (5)
• Ian Brown-Gorrell as “Bobby Child” – Crazy for You – Rockville Musical Theatre
• Ray Flynt as “Benjamin Franklin” – 1776 – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Zadoc-Lee Kekuewa as “Tin Man” – The Wiz – Tantallon Community Players
• Sayne-Kharyi Lewis as “Colehouse Walker” – Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
• David McMullin as “Emcee” – Cabaret – St. Mark’s Players
Outstanding lead actress in a play (8) TIE
• Karen Grim as “Sarah Schorr” – Trying – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Leta Hall as “Diane” – The Little Dog Laughed – Silver Spring Stage
• Sarah Holt as “Dr. Katherine Brandt” – 33 Variations – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Karen Lawrence as “Mrs. Cecilia Delaunay Pettison” – Shiloh Rules – Port City Playhouse
• Sara Joy Lebowitz as “Miranda” – Expecting Isabel – Silver Spring Stage
• Lilian Oben as “Ruella” – Communicating Doors – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Mary-Anne Sullivan as “Dr. Katherine Brandt” – 33 Variations – Reston Community Players
• Pamela Woodward as “Poopay” – Communicating Doors – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Outstanding lead actor in a play (5)
• Michael N. Dunlop as “Judge Francis Biddle” – Trying – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Chad W. Fornwalt as “Katurian” – The Pillowman – Silver Spring Stage
• Michael Kharfen as “Mark Rothko” – Red – Elden Street Players
• Fred Nelson as “Dr. David Mortimore”– It Runs in the Family – 2nd Star Productions
• Clayton Pelham, Jr. as “Franco Wicks”– Superior Donuts – Greenbelt Arts Center
Nominations for outstanding achievement in overall production.
Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography (5)
• William T. Fleming – The Pillowman – Silver Spring Stage
• Andrew Keller – As You Like It – St. Mark’s Players
• Kyle McGruther – Superior Donuts – Greenbelt Arts Center
• Jared Shamberger – The Wiz – Tantallon Community Players
• Leland Shook – Macbeth – Castaways Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Choreography (5)
• Taurean Maray Barber – The Wiz – Tantallon Community Players
• Duane Monahan – Crazy for You – Rockville Musical Theatre
• Darnell Morris & Eben K. Logan – Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
• Ben Simpson – Fiddler on the Roof – Port Tobacco Players
• Stefan Sittig – A Chorus Line – Arlington Players
Outstanding Music Direction (5)
• Mayumi B. Griffie – Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
• Matt Jeffrey – 33 Variations – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Paul Nasto – A Chorus Line – Arlington Players
• David Rohde – Next to Normal – McLean Community Players
• Christopher A. Tomasino – The Full Monty – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (6)
• Susan Devine – A Chorus Line – Arlington Players
• Evan Hoffmann – Caroline, or Change – Elden Street Players
• Darnell Morris – Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
• Craig Pettinati – Next to Normal – Kensington Arts Theatre
• Frank D. Shutts II – The Full Monty – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Christopher Guy Thorn – Avenue Q – Dominion Stage
Outstanding Direction of a Play (5)
• Michelle Bruno – Communicating Doors – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Darice Clewell – Trying – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Gloria DuGan – Red – Elden Street Players
• Ron Giddings – Shipwrecked – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Craig Allen Mummey – The Pillowman – Silver Spring Stage
Outstanding Musical (5)
• Avenue Q – Dominion Stage
• Avenue Q – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Caroline, or Change – Elden Street Players
• A Chorus Line – Arlington Players
• Ragtime – Kensington Arts Theatre
Outstanding Play (5)
• 33 Variations – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Red – Elden Street Players
• Shipwrecked – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• The Pillowman – Silver Spring Stage
• Trying – Colonial Players of Annapolis
