The 15TH Annual OVATION! Awards, celebrating the Musicals of 2018 was held on Sunday January 27th at the ​Vancouver Academy of Music. With a cast of over 80 performers and a sold out house, it was a great celebration of 2018. Congratulations to all those who make musicals in the Lower Mainland, and to the individuals & companies nominated for 2019 OVATION! Awards. The winners in each category were announced at the sold out show. The winners are in bold below.
 
Outstanding Professional Production of a Musical

• Fun Home - Arts Club Theatre Company
• It's A Wonderful Life - Gateway Theatre
• Les Filles du Roi - Fugue Theatre/Raven Theatre Production in association with Urban Ink & The Cultch
• Mamma Mia - Arts Club Theatre Company
• Once - Arts Club Theatre Company
• Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - The Snapshots Collective

 
Outstanding Community Production of a Musical 

• 42nd Street - Theatre Under The Stars
• Anne of Green Gables - Capilano University
• Cabaret - Royal City Musical Theatre
• Legally Blonde - Align Entertainment
• The Music Man - Highlands United Productions

 
Outstanding Music Director of a Musical

• Wendy Bross Stuart, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street- Snapshots Collective
• James Bryson, Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Steve Charles, Once- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Angus Kellett, It's A Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Christopher King, 42nd Street- Theatre Under The Stars
• Jonathan Monro, Fun Home- Arts Club Theatre Company

 
Outstanding Direction of a Musical

• Lois Anderson, Fun Home- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Kevin Michael Cripps, Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Valerie Easton, Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Peter Jorgensen, It's A Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Robert McQueen, 42nd Street- Theatre Under The Stars
• Corey Payette, Les Filles du Roi- Fugue Theatre /Raven Theatre Production

 
Outstanding Choreography of a Musical - TIE

• Patrice Bowler, Les Filles du Roi- Fugue Theatre/Raven Theatre Production
• Valerie Easton, Mamma Mia- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Valerie Easton, Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Keri Minty, Anne of Green Gables, Capilano University
• Shelley Stewart Hunt, 42nd Street- Theatre Under The Stars
• Nicol Spinola - Cinderella- Theatre Under The Stars

 
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical 

• Emily Fraser, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street- Snapshots Collective
• Christopher David Gauthier, Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Christopher David Gauthier, It's A Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Barbara Gregusova, Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Marshall McMahen, Les Filles du Roi- Fugue Theatre/Raven Theatre

 
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical

• Craig Alfredson, It's A Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Alan Brodie, Fun Home- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Jeff Harrison, Les Filles du Roi- Fugue Theatre/Raven Theatre Production
• Brian Kenney, Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Robert Sondergeaard, Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre

 
Outstanding Set Design of a Musical 

• Brian Ball, Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Brian Ball, It's A Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Marshall McMahen, Les Filles du Roi- Fugue Theatre/Raven Theatre Production
• Conor Moore, A Christmas Story- Align Entertainment
• Amir Ofek, Fun Home- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Ted Roberts, Once- Arts Club Theatre Company

 
The Amy Wallis Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical - Female, Large Theatre

• Lauren Bowler (Sally Bowles) Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Alexandra Ewert (Anne) Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Sara-Jeanne Hosie (Alison) Fun Home- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Emilie Leclerc (Lucy) A Charlie Brown Holiday Double Bill- Carousel Theatre
• Gili Roskies (Girl) Once- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Stefanie Stanley (Mother) A Christmas Story- Align Entertainment
• Julia Ullrich (Elle Woods) Legally Blonde- Align Entertainment
• Kaitlyn Yott (Kateri) Les Filles du Roi- Fugue Theatre/Raven Theatre Production

 
The Amy Wallis Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical - Female, Small Theatre

• Brianna Clark (Ti Moune) Once On This Island- Fabulist Theatre
• Caitlin Clugston (Mary Flynn) Merrily We Roll Along- United Players
• Colleen Winton (Mrs. Lovett) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,The Snapshots Collective
• Lucia Forward (Gretchen) Jasper In Deadland- Awkward Stage Productions
• Merewyn Comeau (Jasper) Jasper In Deadland- Awkward Stage Productions

 
The Denis Simpson Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical - Male

• Andrew Cownden (The Emcee) Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Raes Calvert (Jean-Baptiste) Les Filles du Roi- Fugue Theatre/Raven Theatre Production
• Nick Fontaine (George Bailey) It's A Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Warren Kimmel (Sweeney Todd) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Snapshots Collective
• Paul Kobilke (Quasimodo) Hunchback of Nortre Dame- Theatre In The Country
• Graeme Thompson (Miss Bible Belt) Pageant: A Musical Parody- Something Extra Collective

 
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical - Female

• Caitlin Clugston (Madame) Cinderella- Theatre Under The Stars
• Laura Cowan (Marie) Cinderella- Theatre Under The Stars
• Amy Gartner (Gussie Carnegie) Merrily We Roll Along- United Players
• Cheryl Mullen (Fraulein Schneider) Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Erin Palm (Mary Hatch) It's A Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Kelli Ogmundson (Medium Alison)Fun Home- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Amanda Russell (Miss Shields) A Christmas Story- Align Entertainment
• Rebecca Talbot (Sally) Charlie Brown Double Bill- Carousel Theatre

 
Outstanding Supporting Performance of a Musical - Male

• Greg Armstrong-Morris (Clarence) It's A Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Damon Calderwood (Herr Schultz)Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Chris Cochrane (Billy) Once- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Daniel Curalli (Jean-Michel) Cinderella - Theatre Under The Stars
• Jim HIbbard - It’s A Wonderful Life - Uncle Billy
• Michael Torontow (Sam Carmichaell) Mamma Mia- Arts Club Theatre Company
• Jonathan Winsby (Pirelli) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street- The Snapshots Collective

 
Outstanding Ensemble Member of a Musical - Female

• Jessie Chan, Cinderella - Theatre Under The Stars, Once On This Island - Fabulist Theatre & A Christmas Story- Align Entertainment
• Jennifer Lynch, Mamma Mia - Arts Club Theatre Company & Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre
• Vanessa Merenda, Legally Blonde- Align Entertainment, Cinderella - Theatre Under The Stars, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Snapshots Collective, Rent - Renegade Productions & It's a Wonderful Life- Gateway Theatre
• Tiana Swan, Rent - Renegade Productions, Rocky Horror Show - Alchemy Theatre, Legally Blonde - Align Entertainment
• Ali Watson, Legally Blonde - Align Entertainment

 
Outstanding Ensemble Member of a Musical - Male

• Jarret Cody, Mamma Mia - Arts Club Theatre Company
• Cameron Dunster, It's A Wonderful Life - Gateway Theatre
• Max Fritz-Borowski, Jasper In Deadland - Awkward Stage Productions
• Colton Fyfe, Guys & Dolls - Fighting Chance Productions, Rent- Renegade Productions, Legally Blonde- Align Entertainment, Albireo- Rushed Productions
• Jed Weiss, Albiereo- Rushed Productions

 
Outstanding Newcomer in a Musical - Female

• Fiorella Artoni (Miss Stacy) Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Brianna Clark (Ti Moune) Once On This Island- Fabulist Theatre
• Kyra Leroux (Ensemble) 42nd Street- Theatre Under The Stars
• Amanda Lourenco (Charlotte) Cinderella- Theatre Under The Stars
• Katherine Matlashewski (Luisa) The Fantasticks- Stage 43
• Sara Prato (Marilla) Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Kapila Rego (Holly) Albiereo- Rushed Productions
• Amanda Spinosa (Diana) Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Allegra Wright (Sarah) This is Now- Kate MacColl, Producer

 
Outstanding Newcomer in a Musical - Male

• Argel Monte De Ramos (Nicely-Nicely Johnson) Guys and Dolls- Fighting Chance Productions
• Brad Dewar (Lord High Chancellor) Iolanthe- FVGSS
• Max Hall (Miss Deep South) Pageant: A Musical Parody- Something Extra Collective
• Caleb Lagayan (Gilbert Blythe) Anne of Green Gables- Capilano University
• Georgiy Rhatushnyak (Randy) A Christmas Story- Align Entertainment
• Braeden Saucy (Ensemble) It's A Wonderful Life, (Matthew) Anne of Green Gables
• Owen Scott (Ralphie) A Christmas Story- Align Entertainment
• Ryan Waechter (Brad) Rocky Horror Show- Alchemy Theatre

 
The 2018 Jury found the following outstanding elements that make up a Special OVATION! Award category: 

• Outstanding arrangements & orchestrations by Nico Rhodes for It's A Wonderful Life - Gateway Theatre.
• Outstanding beadwork design by Konwahonhonwa:wi Stacey for Les Filles du Roi- Fugue Theatre/Raven Theatre Production.
• Outstanding body work: fight choreography of Ryan McNeill Bolton & Mike Kovac for Little Miss Glitz, Cinderella, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street andCabaret.
• Outstanding children's ensemble in A Christmas Story- Align Entertainment. 
• Outstanding "Kit Kat Girls & Boys", Cabaret- Royal City Musical Theatre. 
• Outstanding transformation and creative use of alternative space for a musical, Snapshots Collective - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
• Outstanding work as an ensemble, the cast of Once - Arts Club Theatre Company.

 
The 2018 Audience choice awards were announced leading up to the awards show. They were:
- Favorite company of 2018, with a $100 donation towards their next production: FVGSS, A Musical Theatre Company
- Outstanding Special Event or Non Juried Show: Burstin' With Broadway Chorus show "Broadway Here I Come"
- Outstanding Panto, Metro Theatre - King Arthur's Court

Awards Generously Sponsored by: