The January 2024 Ovation Awards, Celebrating the Musicals of 2023

The 20th Annual OVATION! Awards 
Sunday January 21, 2024 - 7PM

What a night!

The 20th Annual OVATION! Awards completely sold out, and the festivities were in full swing at the St. James Community Hall. There was anniversary cake, drinks, and soooo many wonderful people. So much love, friendship, and camaraderie. A great night.

A special thank you to the over 100 performers who volunteered their time and talent to revise their roles from shows they performed in 2023. And thankyou to everyone who attended, and everyone who helped to make 35 musicals happen in the Lower Mainland in 2023.

Photography by Canna Zhou.

AND THE 2023 NOMINEES AND WINNERS (in bold)...

OUTSTANDING NEW MUSICAL 
  • Monster: Written by Jill Raymond and Florence Reiher. Music Composition/Arrangement: Florence Reiher – Presented by the Direct Theatre Collective
  • Rubaboo, A Metis Cabaret: Written by Andrea Menard, music by Andrea Menard and Robert Walsh. Co-Produced by the Arts Club Theatre Company and the Grand Theatre. 
  • Starwalker: Book/Music/Lyrics by Corey Payette. Presented by Urban Ink, Raven Theatre, The Cultch and The Musical Stage Co.
 
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION (Ensemble/Small/Chamber Musical)
  • Beehive – First Impressions Theatre
  • Rubaboo, A Metis Cabaret - Arts Club Theatre Company and the Grand Theatre. 
  • Songs For Nobodies – First Impressions Theatre
  • [title of show] – First Impressions Theatre & Play on Words Productions
  • The Marvelous Wonderettes – Vagabond Players
 
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION (Community) 
  • The Addams Family – Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Carrie – CapU Theatre
  • Crazy For You – Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Seussical – Align Entertainment
  • The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre
 
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION (Professional) 
  • As You Like It – Bard on The Beach
  • Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Cinderella – Gateway Theatre
  • Elf: The Musical - Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Little Shop of Horrors - Arts Club Theatre Company
 
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION 
  • Ken Cormier, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Adam Carabine, Songs for Nobodies – First Impressions Theatre
  • Erika Gundesen, [title of show] – First Impressions Theatre & Play on Words Productions
  • Caitlin Hayes, Carrie – CapU Theatre
  • Jeremy Hoffman, The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre
  • Allan Thorpe, The Marvelous Wonderettes – Vagabond Players
 
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION 
  • Mark Carter, The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre
  • Ashlie Corcoran, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Stephen Drover, Elf: The Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Claude Andre’ Giroux, Songs for Nobodies – First Impressions Theatre
  • Stephanie Graham, Matilda The Musical – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Johnna Wright, Cinderella – Gateway Theatre
 
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY 
  • Julie Tomaino, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Keri Minty, Carrie – CapU Theatre
  • Valerie Easton, Crazy for You – Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Krystal Kiran, Matilda The Musical – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Dawn Ewen, Spring Awakening – Renegade Arts Co.
  • Nicol Spinola, Cinderella – Gateway Theatre
 
OUTSTANDING PROJECTION DESIGN
  • Darren W Hales, The Wizard of Oz – CTORA Theatre
  • Joel Grinke, Million Dollar Quartet – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Zac Shore, Victor Valdes, & David C Jones, Eviction Conniption
  • Eileen Smith, Songs for Nobodies - First Impressions Theatre 

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN 
  • Dave Clarke, Little Shop of Horrors – Arts Club Theatre
  • Deanna H. Choi, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Mary Jane Coomber, Rubaboo – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Logan Herbert, The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre
  • Peter McBoyle, As You Like It – Bard on The Beach

OUSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN 
  • Michelle Ramsay, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Gerald King, Carrie – CapU Theatre
  • Darren W Hales, The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre
  • Kimberly Purtell, Rubaboo – Arts Club Theatre Company
 
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN 
  • Brian Ball, Elf: The Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Beyata Hackborn, Little Shop of Horrors – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Cory Sincennes, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • John Bradbury, Jordan Stasuk & Dan Wiebe  Seussical, the Musical – Align Entertainment
  • Jennifer Stewart & Sophie Tang, Cinderella – Gateway Theatre
 
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN 
  • Sarah Airey, The Addams Family – Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Judy Cerny, Jaimie Lievers, Emma Blu Pabuaya, Fiona Raavita, Lily Yuan, & Julie White, The Wizard of Oz – CTORA Theatre
  • Alaia Hamer, Cinderella – Gateway Theatre
  • Stephanie Kong, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Donnie Tejani, Crazy for You – Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Maureen Robertson, Seussical – Align Entertainment
 
OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT
Sometimes there are distinctive or special components in a musical that don’t fit into any other category.
  • Puppet Design: Michael Abraham & Lily Yuan, The Lightning Thief, CTORA Theatre
  • The Puppet Team: design, movement & performance: Beyata Hackborn (Puppet Design), Amy Harris & Michael Gall (puppet construction), Braydon Dowler-Coltman (Puppeteer), Madeleine Suddaby (Voice of Audrey II), Little Shop of Horrors – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • The Special Effects Team: Mark “Sparky” Lawrence (Production Manager), Kade Larson (Technical Director), Mat Herrmann (Head Carpenter), Michel Ostaszewski (Props), Carrie – CapU Theatre
 
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
 
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE (Community Production)
  • Cecilia Federizon (Wednesday Addams) The Addams Family – Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Emily Matchette (Gertrude McFuzz) Seussical - Align Entertainment
  • Anna Pontin (Emma) The Prom - Theatre Under the Stars
  • Jessica Spenst (Annabelle) The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre
  • McKenna Swensrude (Carrie) Carrie – CapU Theatre 
  • Sheila Sharma (Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holliday, Edith Piaf, Maria Callas) Songs for Nobodies – First Impressions Theatre
 
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE (Professional Production)
  • Meghan Gardiner (Opia) Reflections on Crooked Walking – Firehall Arts Centre
  • Kaylee Harwood (Carole King) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Chelsea Rose (Rosalind) As You Like It – Bard on the Beach
  • Synthia Yusuf (Audrey) Little Shop of Horrors – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Ali Watson, (Cinderella) Cinderella – Gateway Theatre
 
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE (Community Production)
  • Greg Armstrong-Morris (Barry Glickman) The Prom – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Argel Monte de Ramos (Horton, the elephant) Seussical – Align Entertainment
  • Timothy Marron (Gomez Addams) The Addams Family – Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Todd Talbot (Bobby) Crazy For You – Royal City Musical Theatre
  • Brett Williams (Percy Jackson) The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre
 
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE (Professional Production)
  • Daniel Curalli (Gerry Goffin) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Oscar Derkx (Orlando de Boys) As You Like It – Bard on the Beach
  • Andrew McNee (Buddy) Elf: The Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Kamyar Pazandeh (Prince Topher), Cinderella – Gateway Theatre
  • Tenaj Williams (Seymour) Little Shop of Horrors – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Tanner Zerr (Johnny Cash) Million Dollar Quartet – Arts Club Theatre Company
 
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE (Community Production)
  • Alexis Hope (Sally Jackson) The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre
  • Paula Higgins (Miss Honey) Matilda The Musical – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Amanda Lourenco (Mayzie) Seussical – Align Entertainment
  • Cheryl Mullen (Huckabee/The Boy’s Father) The Fantasticks – White Rock Players
  • Jyla Robinson (Miss Trunchbull) Matilda The Musical – Theatre Under the Stars
 
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE (Professional Production) 
  • Sarah Cantuba (Charlotte) Cinderella – Gateway Theatre 
  • Daniela Fernandez (Cynthia Weil) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Jennifer Lynch (Feathertoes) Reflections of Crooked Walking – Firehall Arts Centre
  • Madeleine Suddaby (Audrey II) Little Shop of Horrors – Arts Club Theatre Company
 
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE (Community Production) 
  • Patrick Arnott (Uncle Fester) The Addams Family – Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Boris Bilic (Mr. Brunner) The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre 
  • Victor Hunter (Mr. Wormwood) Matilda The Musical – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Keith MacMillan (Scarecrow/Hunk) The Wizard of Oz – CTORA Theatre 
  • Gus Moutafis (Moritz) Spring Awakening – Renegade Arts Co.
  • Ted Angelo Ngkaion (Grover) The Lightning Thief – CTORA Theatre 
 
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE (Professional Production)
  • Scott Bellis (Jacques/Le Beau) As You Like It – Bard on the Beach
  • Jeffrey Michael Follis (Levi) Starwalker – Urban Ink, Raven Theatre, The Cultch & The Musical Stage Co.
  • Ryan Maschke (Lord Pinkleton) Cinderella – Gateway Theatre
  • Kamyar Pazandeh (Barry Mann) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
 
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE (Youth)
  • Scotia Browner (Luisa) The Fantasticks – White Rock Players
  • Preston Culili (Bruce) Matilda The Musical – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Siggi Kaldestad (Matilda) Matilda The Musical – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Ema Lake (Jojo) Seussical – Align Entertainment
  • Rickie Wang (Michael Hobbs) Elf: The Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
 
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE (Ensemble Member)
  • Meghan Anderssen (Deb/Ensemble) Elf: The Musical – Arts Club Theatre
  • Ivy Charles, Rochelle Laplante & Ali Watson (Ronnette, Chiffon, Crystal) Little Shop of Horrors – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Marija Danyluk (Kaylee/Ensemble) The Prom – Theatre Under the Stars 
 
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE (Ensemble Member)
  • Simon Abraham, Daniel Curalli, & Thomas Schultes (The Wickersham Brothers), Seussical, the Musical– Align Entertainment
  • Jaren Guerreiro (Rudolpho/Ensemble) Matilta The Musical – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Argel Monte de Ramos (Manager/Ensemble) Elf: The Musical – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Matheus Severo (Townsperson) Reflections of Crooked Walking – Firehall Arts Centre
 
OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER “Ones to watch!” 
  • Ivy Charles (Richie) A Chorus Line – Studio 58 + (Ronnette) Little Shop of Horrors – Arts Club Theatre Company
  • Cecilia Federizon (Wednesday) The Addams Family – Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Anna Pontin (Emma) The Prom – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Juliet McEwen (Alice Beineke) The Addams Family – Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Lauren Ridder (Margaret White) Carrie – CapU Theatre
  • Kelsey Tierney (Missy Miller) The Marvelous Wonderettes – Vagabond Players
 
OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER “Ones to watch!” 
  • Isaac Johnson (Otto) Spring Awakening – Renegade Arts Co.
  • Ted Angelo Ngkaion (Grover) The Lighting Thief – CTORA Theatre, + (Townsperson) Reflections of Crooked Walking – Firehall Arts Centre
  • Kevin Khonje (Tom Hopkins) The Prom – Theatre Under the Stars
  • Timothy Marron (Gomez Addams) The Addams Family – Fraser Valley Musical Theatre
  • Ryan Maschke (Sissy) Starwalker - Urban Ink, Raven Theatre, The Cultch and The Musical Stage Co. + (Lord Pinkleton) Cinderella - Gateway Theatre

OVATION! Awards Hashtag #OVawards
APPLAUSE! Musicals Society @applausems