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
Outstanding Community Production of a Musical
Outstanding Music Director of a Musical
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Outstanding Choreography of a Musical - TIE
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Outstanding Set Design of a Musical
The Amy Wallis Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical - Female, Large Theatre
The Amy Wallis Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical - Female, Small Theatre
The Denis Simpson Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical - Male
Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Musical - Female
Outstanding Supporting Performance of a Musical - Male
Outstanding Ensemble Member of a Musical - Female
Outstanding Ensemble Member of a Musical - Male
Outstanding Newcomer in a Musical - Female
Outstanding Newcomer in a Musical - Male
The 2018 Jury found the following outstanding elements that make up a Special OVATION! Award category:
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
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