The January 2016 Ovation Awards, Celebrating the Musicals of 2015
Thank you to Erin Palm, Ethereal Photography (award photos) and Christopher King (show photos)!
Congratulations to everyone who made musicals in 2015. The following is a list of the nominees - and winners (IN BOLD) that were announced at the 12th Annual OVATION! Awards on Sunday January 31st at the Vancouver Academy of Music.
Co-hosted by Daniel and Timothy Johnston the evening featured a cast of over 100 performers, and songs from a number of musicals of 2015.
A Longtime Contribution Award was presented to VALERIE EASTON, for her many years of participation and leadership
in the musical theatre community in the Lower Mainland.
The Cheryl Hutcherson Award was presented to Nicholas Bradbury, a second year student studying Musical Theatre at Capilano University.
Thanks to the special guest performers - Off Key Musical Improv, and Showstoppers.
Outstanding Community Production - Large Theatre
· The Addams Family - Align Entertainment
· Hairspray - TUTS
· My Fair Lady - Royal City Musical Theatre
· The Secret Garden - Exit 22/Capilano University
· Triumph of Love - UBC Theatre
Outstanding Community Production - Small Theatre
· Dogfight - Awkward Stage Productions
· Drowsy Chaperone - SAMC/Trinity Western University
· Into The Woods - Fighting Chance Productions
· Oklahoma - Studio 58
· The IT Girl, DramaNatrix Productions
Outstanding Professional Production
· A Christmas Story - Arts Club Theatre Company
· In the Heights - Arts Club Theatre Company
· Love’s Labour’s Lost - Bard On The Beach
· Miss Shakespeare - TheatreK with The Escape Artists
· The Best Laid Plans: a Musical - Commissioned, Developed and Produced by Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions.
Outstanding Chamber/Small Cast Production (6 or less in cast)
· Hamelin - Axis Theatre
· Love Bomb, Firehall Arts Centre/Shameless Hussy Productions
· Murder Ballad - Fighting Chance Productions
· The Last Five Years, Lion Fish Entertainment
· You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Play On Words Productions
Outstanding New Work
· The Best Laid Plans: a Musical, based on the novel by Terry Fallis. Book by Vern Thiessen, music and lyrics by Benjamin Elliott + Anton Lipovetsky. Commissioned, Developed and Produced by Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions.
· Hamelin - Axis Theatre, book and lyrics by Leslie Mildiner, music by Bob Buckley. Presented by Axis Theatre.
· Love Bomb, book and lyrics by Meghan Gardiner, music and additional lyrics by Steve Charles. Presented by the Firehall Arts Centre and Shameless Hussy Productions.
· Miss Shakespeare, book and lyrics by Tracey Power, music co-written with Steve Charles. Presented by TheatreK with The Escape Artists
· Titus - The Light and Delightful Musical Comedy of Titus Andronicus, music by Jenny Andersen, book and lyrics by Andrew Wade. Presented by Awkward Stage Productions.
Outstanding Music Direction
· Danny Balkwill - Godspell, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Benjamin Elliott - Love’s Labour’s Lost, Bard On The Beach
· Brent Hughes - The Addams Family, Align Entertainment
· Angus Kellett - Into the Woods, Fighting Chance Productions
· Christopher King - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
· Clare Wyatt - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions
Outstanding Direction
· Gillian Barber - The Secret Garden, Exit 22/Capilano University
· Peter Jorgensen – The Best Laid Plans: a Musical, Touchstone Theatre + Patrick Street Productions
· Angela Konrad - The Drowsy Chaperone, SAMC/Trinity Western University
· Chris Lam - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions
· Chad Matchette - The Addams Family, Align Entertainment
· James MacDonald - Miss Shakespeare, TheatreK with The Escape Artists
· Sarah Rodgers - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
Outstanding Choreography
· Erika Babins - The IT Girl, Drama Natrix Productions
· Valerie Easton - Love’s Labour’s Lost, Bard on the Beach
· Lisa Goebel - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions
· Shelley Stewart Hunt - Oklahoma, Studio 58
· Lisa Stevens - In the Heights, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Julie Tomaino - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
Outstanding Lighting Design
· Alan Brodie - Godspell, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Gerald King - My Fair Lady, Royal City Musical Theatre
· Conor Moore - The Secret Garden, Exit 22/Capilano University
· David Newham - Ebenezer, A Christmas Ghost Story, Seven Tyrants Theatre
· Cory Sincennes - Miss Shakespeare, TheatreK with The Escape Artists
Outstanding Set Design
· Brian Ball - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
· Pam Johnston - Snapshots, WRS Productions
· Amir Ofek - A Christmas Story, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Carolyn Rapanos - The Drowsy Chaperone, SAMC/Trinity Western University
· Ted Roberts - In the Heights, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Patrick Smith - Triumph of Love, Theatre UBC
Outstanding Costume Design
· Carmen Alatorre – The Wizard of Oz, Gateway Theatre
· Patricia Jansen - Triumph of Love, UBC Theatre
· Ines Ortner - Ebenezer A Christmas Ghost Story, Seven Tyrants Theatre
· Marilyn Rapanos + Julie White - The Addams Family, Align Entertainment
· Chris Sinosich - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
· Rebekka Sorensen-Kjelstrup - Love’s Labours Lost, Bard on the Beach
Outstanding Lead Performance - Female - TIE
· Cecilly Day - Murder Ballad, Fighting Chance Productions (Narrator)
· Bridget Esler – The Wizard of Oz, Gateway Theatre (Dorothy)
· Tracy Neff - My Fair Lady, Royal City Musical Theatre (Eliza Doolittle)
· Katie Purych - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions (Rose)
· Sara Vickruck - Love Bomb, Firehall Arts Centre/Shameless Hussy Productions (Justine)
· Erin Walker - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars (Tracy Turnblad)
Outstanding Lead Performance - Male - TIE
· Brennan Cuff - The Addams Family, Align Entertainment (Gomez)
· Nick Fontaine – The Best Laid Plans: A Musical, Touchstone Theatre + Patrick Street Productions (Daniel)
· Riley Qualtieri - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions (Eddie)
· Luc Roderique - In the Heights, Arts Club Theatre Company (Usnavi)
· Andy Toth - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars (Edna Turnblad)
· Warren Kimmel - My Fair Lady, Royal City Musical Theatre (Henry Higgins)
Outstanding Supporting Performance - Male
· Darren Adams - The Secret Garden, Exit 22/Capilano Univerity (Dickon)
· Andrew Cownden - Love’s Labor’s Lost, Bard on the Beach (Costard)
· Caleb Di Pomponio - In the Heights, Arts Club Theatre Company (Sonny)
· Kamyar Pazandeh - Oklahoma, Studio 58 (Jud Fry)
· John Payne - My Fair Lady, Royal City Musical Theatre (Alfred Doolittle)
· Scott Perrie - Godspell, Arts Club Theatre Company (The Misfit)
· Gordon Roberts – The Best Laid Plans: a Musical, Touchstone Theatre + Patrick Street Productions (Eric)
· Sayer Roberts - Les Miserables, Arts Club Theatre Company (Marius)
Outstanding Supporting Performance - Female
· Laura Cowan Beattie, The Addams Family, Align Entertainment (Morticia)
· Paige Fraser - You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Company (Lucy)
· Adelleh Furseth - Oklahoma, Studio 58 (Ado Annie)
· Sara-Jeanne Hosie - A Christmas Story, Arts Club Theatre Company (Miss Shields)
· Jennie Neumann - Les Miserables, Arts Club Theatre Company (Eponine)
· Jennifer Suratos - Into the Woods, Fighting Chance Productions (Baker’s Wife)
· Georgia Valeria Swinton - Snapshots, WRS Productions (Suzie)
Outstanding Chorus Member “Gypsy”- Female
· Kat Palmer - Oliver + My Fair Lady
· Lauren Gula - Jesus Christ Superstar
· Stefanie Stanley Dalton - The It Girl + The Addams Family
· Michelle Baynton - Dogfight
· Nicol Spinoa - Hairspray
Outstanding Chorus Member “Gypsy” - Male
· Jesse Alvarez - Jurassic Parody
· Michael Antonakos - In the Heights
· Nicholas Bradbury - Rocky Horror Show, Oliver
· Daren Dyhengco - The The Secret Garden, Hairspray
· Justin Lapena - My Fair Lady, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Wizard of Oz
· Ryan Nunez - The The Secret Garden, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The IT Girl
Outstanding Performance - Youth (under 18)
· Cameron Andres - Les Miserables (Gavroche), A Christmas Story (Schwartz)
· Jordyn Bennett - A Christmas Story (Esther Jane)
· Marisa Gold - Hairspray (Little Inez)
· Avery Johnson - The Addams Family (Pugsley), A Christmas Story (Scut Farcus)
· Aubrey Joy Maddock - Godspell (John the Baptist)
· Graham Verchere - A Christmas Story (Flick)
Outstanding Newcomer - Female
· Cecilly Day - Hairspray (Motormouth Maybelle), Murder Ballad (Narrator)
· Laura Geluch - The Addams Family (Wednesday), OC The Musical (Summer)
· Elyse Maloway - The Secret Garden (Colin), Hairspray (Amber Von Tussle)
· Katie Purych - The It Girl (Betty Lou), Dogfight (Rose), One + One (Nikki), The Addams Family (Egyptian)
· Hannah Williams - The Addams Family (Courtesan), Hairspray (Penny Pingleton)
· Charlotte Wright - Oliver (Mrs. Bedlim), Triumph of Love (Harlequin)
Outstanding Newcomer - Male
· Nathan Cottell - Triumph of Love (Dimas), Oliver (Mr. Threadgoode), Titus (Titus), The Wizard of Oz (Uncle Henry)
· Ryan Lino - Into The Woods (Milky White), Jesus Christ Superstar (Ensemble)
· Kamyar Pazandeh - Oklahoma (Judd Fry)
· Sean Sonier - Oklahoma (Will Parker)
· Zach Wolfman - Triumph of Love (Agis), Into The Woods (Prince), Titus (Bassianus), Oliver (Mr. Sowerberry)
Sometimes there are things outstanding without a category, so the jury would like to nominate the following outstanding elements from shows of 2015.
· The ensemble performance of Miss Shakespeare.
· The video/projection work of Sean Nieuwenhuis in Godspell (Arts Club Theatre Company) and The Wizard of Oz (Gateway Theatre).
· The Band - Murder Ballad, presented by Fighting Chance Productions.
· The Band - Hairspray, presented by Theatre Under The Stars.
· Leah Cuff + Jan Ballard for makeup and wigs for The Addams Family, presented by Align Entertainment.
· Makeup by Ines Ortner for Ebenezer A Christmas Ghost Story, presented by Seven Tyrants Theatre.
The following AUDIENCE CHOICE Award Winners were also announced.
Outstanding Panto: Hansel and Gretel, An East Side Panto. The Cultch and Theatre Replacement.
Outstanding Remounted Musical: Cheslsea Hotel, The Songs of Leonard Cohen. Firehall Arts Centre.
Outstanding Special Event: SMACKDOWN, 24 Hour Musical Contest - Awkward Stage Productions.
The Awards Show will once again this year be MC'd by the terrific twin duo Daniel and Timothy Johnston and will feature a cast of over 50 performers.
Congratulations to everyone who made musicals in 2015. The following is a list of the nominees - and winners (IN BOLD) that were announced at the 12th Annual OVATION! Awards on Sunday January 31st at the Vancouver Academy of Music.
Co-hosted by Daniel and Timothy Johnston the evening featured a cast of over 100 performers, and songs from a number of musicals of 2015.
A Longtime Contribution Award was presented to VALERIE EASTON, for her many years of participation and leadership
in the musical theatre community in the Lower Mainland.
The Cheryl Hutcherson Award was presented to Nicholas Bradbury, a second year student studying Musical Theatre at Capilano University.
Thanks to the special guest performers - Off Key Musical Improv, and Showstoppers.
Outstanding Community Production - Large Theatre
· The Addams Family - Align Entertainment
· Hairspray - TUTS
· My Fair Lady - Royal City Musical Theatre
· The Secret Garden - Exit 22/Capilano University
· Triumph of Love - UBC Theatre
Outstanding Community Production - Small Theatre
· Dogfight - Awkward Stage Productions
· Drowsy Chaperone - SAMC/Trinity Western University
· Into The Woods - Fighting Chance Productions
· Oklahoma - Studio 58
· The IT Girl, DramaNatrix Productions
Outstanding Professional Production
· A Christmas Story - Arts Club Theatre Company
· In the Heights - Arts Club Theatre Company
· Love’s Labour’s Lost - Bard On The Beach
· Miss Shakespeare - TheatreK with The Escape Artists
· The Best Laid Plans: a Musical - Commissioned, Developed and Produced by Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions.
Outstanding Chamber/Small Cast Production (6 or less in cast)
· Hamelin - Axis Theatre
· Love Bomb, Firehall Arts Centre/Shameless Hussy Productions
· Murder Ballad - Fighting Chance Productions
· The Last Five Years, Lion Fish Entertainment
· You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Play On Words Productions
Outstanding New Work
· The Best Laid Plans: a Musical, based on the novel by Terry Fallis. Book by Vern Thiessen, music and lyrics by Benjamin Elliott + Anton Lipovetsky. Commissioned, Developed and Produced by Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions.
· Hamelin - Axis Theatre, book and lyrics by Leslie Mildiner, music by Bob Buckley. Presented by Axis Theatre.
· Love Bomb, book and lyrics by Meghan Gardiner, music and additional lyrics by Steve Charles. Presented by the Firehall Arts Centre and Shameless Hussy Productions.
· Miss Shakespeare, book and lyrics by Tracey Power, music co-written with Steve Charles. Presented by TheatreK with The Escape Artists
· Titus - The Light and Delightful Musical Comedy of Titus Andronicus, music by Jenny Andersen, book and lyrics by Andrew Wade. Presented by Awkward Stage Productions.
Outstanding Music Direction
· Danny Balkwill - Godspell, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Benjamin Elliott - Love’s Labour’s Lost, Bard On The Beach
· Brent Hughes - The Addams Family, Align Entertainment
· Angus Kellett - Into the Woods, Fighting Chance Productions
· Christopher King - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
· Clare Wyatt - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions
Outstanding Direction
· Gillian Barber - The Secret Garden, Exit 22/Capilano University
· Peter Jorgensen – The Best Laid Plans: a Musical, Touchstone Theatre + Patrick Street Productions
· Angela Konrad - The Drowsy Chaperone, SAMC/Trinity Western University
· Chris Lam - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions
· Chad Matchette - The Addams Family, Align Entertainment
· James MacDonald - Miss Shakespeare, TheatreK with The Escape Artists
· Sarah Rodgers - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
Outstanding Choreography
· Erika Babins - The IT Girl, Drama Natrix Productions
· Valerie Easton - Love’s Labour’s Lost, Bard on the Beach
· Lisa Goebel - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions
· Shelley Stewart Hunt - Oklahoma, Studio 58
· Lisa Stevens - In the Heights, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Julie Tomaino - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
Outstanding Lighting Design
· Alan Brodie - Godspell, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Gerald King - My Fair Lady, Royal City Musical Theatre
· Conor Moore - The Secret Garden, Exit 22/Capilano University
· David Newham - Ebenezer, A Christmas Ghost Story, Seven Tyrants Theatre
· Cory Sincennes - Miss Shakespeare, TheatreK with The Escape Artists
Outstanding Set Design
· Brian Ball - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
· Pam Johnston - Snapshots, WRS Productions
· Amir Ofek - A Christmas Story, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Carolyn Rapanos - The Drowsy Chaperone, SAMC/Trinity Western University
· Ted Roberts - In the Heights, Arts Club Theatre Company
· Patrick Smith - Triumph of Love, Theatre UBC
Outstanding Costume Design
· Carmen Alatorre – The Wizard of Oz, Gateway Theatre
· Patricia Jansen - Triumph of Love, UBC Theatre
· Ines Ortner - Ebenezer A Christmas Ghost Story, Seven Tyrants Theatre
· Marilyn Rapanos + Julie White - The Addams Family, Align Entertainment
· Chris Sinosich - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars
· Rebekka Sorensen-Kjelstrup - Love’s Labours Lost, Bard on the Beach
Outstanding Lead Performance - Female - TIE
· Cecilly Day - Murder Ballad, Fighting Chance Productions (Narrator)
· Bridget Esler – The Wizard of Oz, Gateway Theatre (Dorothy)
· Tracy Neff - My Fair Lady, Royal City Musical Theatre (Eliza Doolittle)
· Katie Purych - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions (Rose)
· Sara Vickruck - Love Bomb, Firehall Arts Centre/Shameless Hussy Productions (Justine)
· Erin Walker - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars (Tracy Turnblad)
Outstanding Lead Performance - Male - TIE
· Brennan Cuff - The Addams Family, Align Entertainment (Gomez)
· Nick Fontaine – The Best Laid Plans: A Musical, Touchstone Theatre + Patrick Street Productions (Daniel)
· Riley Qualtieri - Dogfight, Awkward Stage Productions (Eddie)
· Luc Roderique - In the Heights, Arts Club Theatre Company (Usnavi)
· Andy Toth - Hairspray, Theatre Under The Stars (Edna Turnblad)
· Warren Kimmel - My Fair Lady, Royal City Musical Theatre (Henry Higgins)
Outstanding Supporting Performance - Male
· Darren Adams - The Secret Garden, Exit 22/Capilano Univerity (Dickon)
· Andrew Cownden - Love’s Labor’s Lost, Bard on the Beach (Costard)
· Caleb Di Pomponio - In the Heights, Arts Club Theatre Company (Sonny)
· Kamyar Pazandeh - Oklahoma, Studio 58 (Jud Fry)
· John Payne - My Fair Lady, Royal City Musical Theatre (Alfred Doolittle)
· Scott Perrie - Godspell, Arts Club Theatre Company (The Misfit)
· Gordon Roberts – The Best Laid Plans: a Musical, Touchstone Theatre + Patrick Street Productions (Eric)
· Sayer Roberts - Les Miserables, Arts Club Theatre Company (Marius)
Outstanding Supporting Performance - Female
· Laura Cowan Beattie, The Addams Family, Align Entertainment (Morticia)
· Paige Fraser - You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Company (Lucy)
· Adelleh Furseth - Oklahoma, Studio 58 (Ado Annie)
· Sara-Jeanne Hosie - A Christmas Story, Arts Club Theatre Company (Miss Shields)
· Jennie Neumann - Les Miserables, Arts Club Theatre Company (Eponine)
· Jennifer Suratos - Into the Woods, Fighting Chance Productions (Baker’s Wife)
· Georgia Valeria Swinton - Snapshots, WRS Productions (Suzie)
Outstanding Chorus Member “Gypsy”- Female
· Kat Palmer - Oliver + My Fair Lady
· Lauren Gula - Jesus Christ Superstar
· Stefanie Stanley Dalton - The It Girl + The Addams Family
· Michelle Baynton - Dogfight
· Nicol Spinoa - Hairspray
Outstanding Chorus Member “Gypsy” - Male
· Jesse Alvarez - Jurassic Parody
· Michael Antonakos - In the Heights
· Nicholas Bradbury - Rocky Horror Show, Oliver
· Daren Dyhengco - The The Secret Garden, Hairspray
· Justin Lapena - My Fair Lady, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Wizard of Oz
· Ryan Nunez - The The Secret Garden, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The IT Girl
Outstanding Performance - Youth (under 18)
· Cameron Andres - Les Miserables (Gavroche), A Christmas Story (Schwartz)
· Jordyn Bennett - A Christmas Story (Esther Jane)
· Marisa Gold - Hairspray (Little Inez)
· Avery Johnson - The Addams Family (Pugsley), A Christmas Story (Scut Farcus)
· Aubrey Joy Maddock - Godspell (John the Baptist)
· Graham Verchere - A Christmas Story (Flick)
Outstanding Newcomer - Female
· Cecilly Day - Hairspray (Motormouth Maybelle), Murder Ballad (Narrator)
· Laura Geluch - The Addams Family (Wednesday), OC The Musical (Summer)
· Elyse Maloway - The Secret Garden (Colin), Hairspray (Amber Von Tussle)
· Katie Purych - The It Girl (Betty Lou), Dogfight (Rose), One + One (Nikki), The Addams Family (Egyptian)
· Hannah Williams - The Addams Family (Courtesan), Hairspray (Penny Pingleton)
· Charlotte Wright - Oliver (Mrs. Bedlim), Triumph of Love (Harlequin)
Outstanding Newcomer - Male
· Nathan Cottell - Triumph of Love (Dimas), Oliver (Mr. Threadgoode), Titus (Titus), The Wizard of Oz (Uncle Henry)
· Ryan Lino - Into The Woods (Milky White), Jesus Christ Superstar (Ensemble)
· Kamyar Pazandeh - Oklahoma (Judd Fry)
· Sean Sonier - Oklahoma (Will Parker)
· Zach Wolfman - Triumph of Love (Agis), Into The Woods (Prince), Titus (Bassianus), Oliver (Mr. Sowerberry)
Sometimes there are things outstanding without a category, so the jury would like to nominate the following outstanding elements from shows of 2015.
· The ensemble performance of Miss Shakespeare.
· The video/projection work of Sean Nieuwenhuis in Godspell (Arts Club Theatre Company) and The Wizard of Oz (Gateway Theatre).
· The Band - Murder Ballad, presented by Fighting Chance Productions.
· The Band - Hairspray, presented by Theatre Under The Stars.
· Leah Cuff + Jan Ballard for makeup and wigs for The Addams Family, presented by Align Entertainment.
· Makeup by Ines Ortner for Ebenezer A Christmas Ghost Story, presented by Seven Tyrants Theatre.
The following AUDIENCE CHOICE Award Winners were also announced.
Outstanding Panto: Hansel and Gretel, An East Side Panto. The Cultch and Theatre Replacement.
Outstanding Remounted Musical: Cheslsea Hotel, The Songs of Leonard Cohen. Firehall Arts Centre.
Outstanding Special Event: SMACKDOWN, 24 Hour Musical Contest - Awkward Stage Productions.
The Awards Show will once again this year be MC'd by the terrific twin duo Daniel and Timothy Johnston and will feature a cast of over 50 performers.
