The January 2025 OVATION! Awards, Celebrating the Musicals of 2024
The 21st Annual OVATION! Awards returned to the groovy St. James Community Hall to present 24 awards to individuals and companies who make musicals happen in the Lower Mainland. THANK YOU to the over 75 performers who revived show tunes from many of the shows presented in the Lower Mainland in 2024.
Here’s a quick run-down of the 2024 season of musicals: There were beauties and beasts and cats and chickens. There were guys and dolls, jersey boys a genderless Jesus and three girls named Heather! There was a chocolate factory, two sponge people, and hearing supercalifragilisticexpialidocious—not once, but twice! When we were Singing, we ran into Pirates in Penzance as we traveled to Victorian London, the Russian Empire and Paris in the 1920’s. We went Into the Woods, Beyond the Meadow and to the Smokey Mountains. We also went into an old warehouse in Gastown to be transported to Georgia in 1913. The jukebox played Johnny Cash singing about ring of fire, Luciano Pavarotti hitting high notes, and there was the musical styling of The Four Seasons!
The 2024 Long-Time Contribution was awarded to Ashley Lambert-Maberly, in recognition of his dedication, leadership, and contribution to the musical theatre community of the Lower Mainland over the years and whose passion & commitment continues to inspire and enrich us all. Ashley has been associated with The Broadway Chorus for 25 years. Since its founding, he has conceived and produced over 30 Broadway Chorus shows, providing hundreds of local performers with their debut, a chance in the spotlight, opportunities to refine their musical skills, learn new techniques, and collaborate on large-scale productions. We are deeply grateful for the lasting impact this community group has had, and for the incredible opportunities it has given so many.
Here is a list of all the nominees. Winners in each category are in bold.
Outstanding Production - Small Cast/Chamber
Outstanding Production - Community
Outstanding Production - Professional/CoOp/Profit Share
Outstanding New Musical
Outstanding MUSIC DIRECTION of a musical
Outstanding DIRECTION of a musical
Outstanding CHOREOGRAPHY of a musical
Outstanding LIGHTING DESIGN of a musical
Outstanding SOUND DESIGN of a musical
Outstanding SET DESIGN of a musical
Outstanding COSTUME DESIGN of a musical
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role - Professional
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role - Professional
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role - Community
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role - Community
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
Outstanding Youth Performance
Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble Role
Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble Role
Outstanding Newcomer
Outstanding Newcomer
OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
Sometimes there are distinctive or special components in a musical that don’t fit into any other category.
Congratulations again to ALL the nominees and everyone who made musicals in the Lower Mainland in 2024!
OVATION! Awards Hashtag #OVawards
APPLAUSE! Musicals Society @applausems
Here’s a quick run-down of the 2024 season of musicals: There were beauties and beasts and cats and chickens. There were guys and dolls, jersey boys a genderless Jesus and three girls named Heather! There was a chocolate factory, two sponge people, and hearing supercalifragilisticexpialidocious—not once, but twice! When we were Singing, we ran into Pirates in Penzance as we traveled to Victorian London, the Russian Empire and Paris in the 1920’s. We went Into the Woods, Beyond the Meadow and to the Smokey Mountains. We also went into an old warehouse in Gastown to be transported to Georgia in 1913. The jukebox played Johnny Cash singing about ring of fire, Luciano Pavarotti hitting high notes, and there was the musical styling of The Four Seasons!
The 2024 Long-Time Contribution was awarded to Ashley Lambert-Maberly, in recognition of his dedication, leadership, and contribution to the musical theatre community of the Lower Mainland over the years and whose passion & commitment continues to inspire and enrich us all. Ashley has been associated with The Broadway Chorus for 25 years. Since its founding, he has conceived and produced over 30 Broadway Chorus shows, providing hundreds of local performers with their debut, a chance in the spotlight, opportunities to refine their musical skills, learn new techniques, and collaborate on large-scale productions. We are deeply grateful for the lasting impact this community group has had, and for the incredible opportunities it has given so many.
Here is a list of all the nominees. Winners in each category are in bold.
Outstanding Production - Small Cast/Chamber
- Chickens, United Players
- Ring of Fire, Arts Club Theatre Company
- tick, tick… BOOM, Vagabond Players
- Vanities, Ryvers House Productions
- When We Were Singing, United Players in association with Touchstone Theatre
Outstanding Production - Community
- CATS, Theatre Under the Stars
- Into The Woods, Studio 58
- School of Rock, Theatre Under the Stars
- Spring Awakening, Delta Players Theatre
- The SpongeBob Musical, CAPU Theatre
Outstanding Production - Professional/CoOp/Profit Share
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, CTORA Theatre
- Guys and Dolls, Arts Club Theatre Company
- Jersey Boys, Arts Club Theatre Company
- Oliver!, Gateway Theatre
- Parade, Raincity Theatre
Outstanding New Musical
- Sigma Acapella, Annahis Basmadjian (Book), Samuel Gillmore (Music/Lyrics), Sebastian Ochoa Mendoza (Music) - Rushed Productions
- That Was Then, Book/Music/Lyrics by Kate MacColl
Outstanding MUSIC DIRECTION of a musical
- Sean Bayntun, CATS - Theatre Under the Stars
- Steven Charles, Ring of Fire - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Ken Cormier, Jersey Boys - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Tamara Croft, Mary Poppins - Theatre In the Country
- Eliza De Castro, School of Rock - Theatre Under the Stars
- Jeremy Hoffman, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
Outstanding DIRECTION of a musical
- Chris Adams, Parade - Raincity Theatre
- Mark Carter, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Josh Epstein, Oliver! - Gateway Theatre
- Julie Tomaino, Jersey Boys - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Barbara Tomasic, Into the Woods - Studio 58
- Cathy Wilmot, The Spongebob Musical -CAPU Theatre
Outstanding CHOREOGRAPHY of a musical
- Breena Makelki, Spring Awakening - Delta Players Theatre
- Julie Murphy, CATS - Theatre Under the Stars
- Keri Minty, The SpongeBob Musical - CAPU Theatre
- Ken Overbey, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Nicol Spinola, Oliver! - Gateway Theatre
- Shelley Stewart Hunt, Guys and Dolls - Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding LIGHTING DESIGN of a musical
- Darren W. Hales, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Johnathan Kim, Into the Woods - Studio 58
- Gerald King, Guys and Dolls - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Sophie Tang, Oliver! - Gateway Theatre
- John Webber, Cats - Theatre Under the Stars
Outstanding SOUND DESIGN of a musical
- Rick Colhoun, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Brad Danyluk, School of Rock - Theatre Under the Stars
- Kate De Lorme, Jersey Boys - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Matthew Goncalves, The SpongeBob Musical - CAPU Theatre
- Trevor Tews, Ring of Fire - Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding SET DESIGN of a musical
- Brian Ball, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Ryan Cormack, Oliver! - Gateway Theatre
- Emily Dotson, Chickens - United Players
- Patrick Rizzotti, Ring of Fire - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Naju Ururahy, Into the Woods - Studio 58
Outstanding COSTUME DESIGN of a musical
- Brian Ball, The SpongeBob Musical, CAPU Theatre
- Judy Cerny, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Christine Reimer, Guys and Dolls - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Donnie Tejani, CATS - Theatre Under the Stars
- Donnie Tejani, Into the Woods - Studio 58
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role - Professional
- Nevada Banks (Abby), When We Were Singing, United Players in association with Touchstone Theatre
- Devon Busswood (June Carter), Ring of Fire - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Miranda MacDougall (Nancy & Mrs. Sowerberry), Oliver! - Gateway Theatre
- Sabrielle McCurdy (Sarah), That Was Then - Kate MacColl Productions
- Chelsea Rose (Sarah Brown), Guys and Dolls - Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role - Professional
- Scott Bellis (Scrooge), Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Daniel Curalli (Willy Wonka), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Josh Epstein (Leo Frank), Parade - Raincity Theatre
- Jason Sakaki (Bob Gaudio), Jersey Boys - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Anthony Santiago (Fagin), Oliver! - Gateway Theatre
- Jonathan Winsby (Sky Masterson), Guys and Dolls - Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role - Community
- Meghan Gardiner (Mary Poppins), Mary Poppins - Royal City Musical Theatre
- Paula Higgins (Belle), Beauty and the Beast - Align Entertainment
- Sarah Houghton (Anastasia), Anastasia - Theatre in The Country
- Danica Kobayashi (Bakers Wife), Into the Woods - Studio 58
- Emma Love (Rosalie. Mullins), School of Rock - Theatre Under the Stars
- Ava Stark (Sandy Cheeks), The SpongeBob Musical - CAPU Theatre
- Asia Zboyovsky (Wendla), Spring Awakening, Delta Players Theatre
Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role - Community
- Patrick Arnott (Bert), Mary Poppins - Theatre In The Country
- Nathaniel Johnson (Jon), tick tick… BOOM - Vagabond Players
- Vuk Prodanovic (Baker), Into the Woods - Studio 58
- Colin Sheen (Dewey Finn), School of Rock - Theatre Under the Stars
- Brett Williams (SpongeBob), The SpongeBob Musical - CAPU Theatre
- Jacob Woike (Beast), Beauty and the Beast - Align Entertainment
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
- Lauren Gibbs (Patrick Star), The SpongeBob Musical - CAPU Theatre
- Joyce Gillespie (Dowager Empress), Anastasia - Theatre in the Country
- Aunya Jayde (Stewar), Chickens - United Players
- Lucy Jefferey (Jack), Into the Woods - Studio 58
- Madeleine Suddaby (Miss Adelaide), Guys and Dolls - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Moriah Wax (Ruth), Pirates of Penzance - North Shore Light Opera Society
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
- Stuart Barkley (Gaston), Beauty and the Beast - Align Entertainment
- Colton Bamber (Rum Tum Tugger), CATS - Theatre Under the Stars
- Dustin Freeland (Alphonzo), Chickens - United Players
- Timothy Marron (Vlad Popov), Anastasia - Theatre in the Country
- Sanders Whiting (Grampa Joe), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Tenaj Williams (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Guys and Dolls - Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Youth Performance
- Elena Banares (Chip), Beauty and the Beast - Align Entertainment
- Riley Calderwood (Michael), Mary Poppins - Royal City Musical Theatre
- Lucas Gregory (Dimitry), Anastasia - Theatre in the Country
- Quinlan McDonald (Charlie), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Rickie Wang (Oliver!), Oliver! - Gateway Theatre
Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble Role
- Jaren Guerreiro (Macavity), CATS - Theatre Under the Stars
- October Penningroth (Mistoffelees), CATS - Theatre Under the Stars
- Owen CB Scott (Ensemble), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - CTORA Theatre
- Daniel Curalli (Benny Southstreet/Ensemble) Guys and Dolls - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Caleb Di Pomponio (Joe Pesci/Ensemble), Jersey Boys - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Noah McKimm (Neleus/Ensemble), Mary Poppins - Royal City Musical Theatre
Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble Role
- Sarah Cantuba (Lorraine/Ensemble), Jersey Boys - Arts Club Theatre Company
- Hailey Fowler (Jennyanydots), CATS - Theatre Under the Stars
- Jenna Lamb & Haley Allen (Rumpleteazer & Mungojerrie), CATS - Theatre Under the Stars
- Thailey Roberge (Summer Hathaway), School of Rock - Theatre Under the Stars
- Rachel Scheibel (Disciple), Godspell - Play on Words Productions
Outstanding Newcomer
- Lucas Gregory, (Dimitry) - Anastasia - Theatre in the Country & (Artful Dodger), Oliver! - Gateway Theatre.
- Zac Bellward (Frankie/Young Soldier), Parade - Raincity Theatre
- Tainui Kuru (Johnny Cash), Ring of Fire - Arts Club Theatre Company & (Britt Craig/Governor Slaton), Parade - Raincity Theatre.
- Nathan Purificacion (Hanschen), Spring Awakening - Delta Players Theatre & (Patrick Star), The Spongebob Musical - Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
- Michael Briganti (Les) When We Were Singing, United Players in association with Touchstone Theatre
- Eric Timuss (Plankton), The SpongeBob Musical - CAPU Theatre & (Kurt), Heathers: The Musical - Sherwood Theatre & (Bob/Mr. Sandford/Mr. Sanders), School of Rock - Theatre Under the Stars
Outstanding Newcomer
- Aunya Jayde (Stewer), Chickens - United Players
- Eleanor Smith (Martha Dunnstock), Heathers: The Musical - Sherwood Theatre
- Ava Stark (Sandy Cheeks) The SpongeBob Musical - CAPU Theatre
- Lauren Gibbs (Patrick Star) The SpongeBob Musical - CAPU Theatre
- Viviana Renteria (Belinda) When We Were Singing - United Players in association with Touchstone Theatre
OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
Sometimes there are distinctive or special components in a musical that don’t fit into any other category.
- Jacob Brand, live foley artist for The SpongeBob Musical - Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
- Daniel Curalli, fight choreography for Heathers: The Musical - Sherwood Theatre.
- Mike Kovac & Sylvie La Riviere, Co-Fight Directors for Oliver! - Gateway Theatre.
- Emma Knox, props design for Into the Woods - Studio 58.
- Mya Forrest (Katie), Crosby Mark (Zach), Fumi Okochi (Lawrence), and Casey Trotter (Freddy) - the onstage singing, dancing, live instrument playing, band kids in School of Rock - Theatre Under the Stars
- The creative teams of Into the Woods - Studio 58, The Pirates of Penzance - North Shore Light Opera Society, and Godspell - Play on Words Productions for bold inclusivity casting and artistic risk-taking.
Congratulations again to ALL the nominees and everyone who made musicals in the Lower Mainland in 2024!
OVATION! Awards Hashtag #OVawards
APPLAUSE! Musicals Society @applausems
In Memoriam Video 2024
