The January 2019 Ovation Awards, Celebrating the Musicals of 2018

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. Photography by Roan Shankaruk.

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

 
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

 
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

 
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: