The Weekender
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Week in, week out, local stages are packed with talented folks bringing comedy, drama and music to theatre fans in Northeastern Pennsylvania. These actors, directors and technicians volunteer their time for little or no compensation, but once a year, they get a little gold courtesy of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance. This weekend, NEPTA theatres will gather to celebrate the love of theatre and reveal their choices for the best in 30 categories. Here are just some of the people and productions who stand to leave the Scranton Hilton with a little gold statue:
Best Original Production
“The Doctor is In/Out” – Bracken Theatre
“Dames, Diamonds & Death” – EMTC
“All-American Jukebox” – PTPA
“Wizard of Oz” – Over the Edge
“Just Jack & Friends” – Phoenix Theatrics
Best Comedy
“Parallel Lives” – Diva Theater
“The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” – Bracken Theatre
“Clue” – Phoenix Theatrics
“Incorruptible” – EMTC
“Fawlty Towers” – Lakeside Players
“Blithe Spirit” – Worthington
“Barefoot in the Park” – PTPA
Best Musical
“Guys & Dolls, Jr.” – Diva Theater
“Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” – PTPA
“Hello Dolly” – PTPA
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA
“Willie Wonka, Jr.” – PTPA
Best Drama
“Twelve Angry Men” – Bracken Theatre
“Our Town” – Penn Rep
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom
“A Prelude to a Kiss” – Worthington
“Lips Together, Teeth Apart” – Worthington
“Deathtrap” – PTPA
“How I Learned to Drive” – Phoenix Theatrics
Best Family Show
“Guys & Dolls, Jr.” – Diva Theater
“Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC
“Our Town” – Penn Rep
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” – PTPA
“Christmas Carol – A Musical” – PTPA
“Wizard of Oz” – Over the Edge
Best Overall Show
“Fawlty Towers” – Lakeside Players
“Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC
“Hello Dolly” – PTPA
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom
Best Director of a Comedy
Kimmie Wrazien and Ilvin Nieves – “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” – Bracken Theatre
Lee LaChette – “Clue” – Phoenix Theatrics
Bonnie Love – “Incorruptible” – EMTC
Roxan Schwartz – “Fawlty Towers” – Lakeside Players
Tim Hutchins – “The Nerd” – Rock Bottom
Lauren McGill – “Barefoot in the Park” – PTPA
Best Director of a Musical
Paige Balitski – “Guys & Dolls, Jr.”- Diva Theater
Dianna Wayman – “Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC
Lynne Zanolini – “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” – PTPA
Michael Marone – “Hello Dolly” – PTPA
Michael Marone – “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA
Christina Mayernick – “Willie Wonka, Jr.” – PTPA
Best Director of a Drama
John Schugard – “How I Learned to Drive” – Phoenix Theatrics
David Schmidt – “Dames, Diamonds & Death” – EMTC
Michael Harron – “Our Town” – Penn Rep
Tim Hutchins – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” –Rock Bottom
Jon Baptiste – “A Prelude to a Kiss” –Worthington
Best Actor in a Comedy
Frank DeSando – Basil Fawlty – “Fawlty Towers” – Lakeside Players
Dean Hutchins – Willium – “The Nerd” – Rock Bottom
David Swanson – Rick Steadman – “The Nerd” – Rock Bottom
Robin A. Kessler – Charles – “Blithe Spirit” – Worthington
Michael Marone – Paul Bratter – “Barefoot in the Park” – PTPA
Best Actress in a Comedy
Una David – Supreme Being – “Parallel Lives” – Diva Theater
Karen Padden – Multiple Characters – “The Doctor is In/Out” – Bracken Theatre
Marylou Ambrose – Annie Dankworth – “The Housekeeper” – Lakeside Players
Roxan Schwartz – Sybil Fawlty – “Fawlty Towers” – Lakeside Players
Dianna Wayman – Tansy – “The Nerd” – Rock Bottom
Taylor Whidden – Ruth – “Blithe Spirit” – Worthington
Chrystyna Zenovia – Madame Arcati – “Blithe Spirit” – Worthington
Katy Childs – Corie Bratter – “Barefoot in the Park” – PTPA
Best Actor in a Musical
James Trieble – John Truitt – “Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC
Basil Augustine – Ebenezer Scrooge – “Christmas Carol – A Musical” – PTPA
Marty Courtney – Horace Vandergelder – “Hello Dolly” – PTPA
Michael Hurst – Jimmy Smith – “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA
Best Actress in a Musical
Casey Gow – Esther Smith – “Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC
Lynne Zanolini – Dolly Gallagher Levi – “Hello Dolly” – PTPA
Katy Childs – Millie Dillmont - “Thoroughly Modern Millie” – PTPA
Best Actor in a Drama
Dan Hutchins – Nick Holliday – “Dames, Diamonds & Death” – EMTC
Jerry Durkin – Stage Manager – “Our Town” – Penn Rep
Dean Hutchins – Brick – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom
Patrick Turner – Peter – “A Prelude to a Kiss” – Worthington
Jerry Durkin – The Old Man – “A Prelude to a Kiss” – Worthington
Best Actress in a Drama
Eleanor Gwyn-Jones – Anna –“Closer” – Bracken Theatre
Dawn Winarski – Lil Bit – “How I Learned to Drive” – Phoenix Theatrics
Dianna Wayman – Dora Chase – “Dames, Diamonds & Death” – EMTC
Kathy Spigelmyer – Emily Webb – “Our Town” – Penn Rep
Angela Millard – Maggie – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom
Barbara Calchera – Rita – “A Prelude to a Kiss” – Worthington
Denise Crawn – Chloe Haddock – “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” – Worthington
Amy Cramer – Sally Truman – “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” – Worthington
Best Juvenile Actor
Kelly Kriger – Nathan Detroit – “Guys & Dolls, Jr.” – Diva Theater
Chris Rozelle – Nicely Nicely Johnson – “Guys & Dolls, Jr.” – Diva Theater
Tom Frailey – Lon Smith, Jr. – “Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC
Kevin Dwyer – George Gibbs – “Our Town” – Penn Rep
Josh Turner – Son – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom
Dante Alucci – Tiny Tim – “Christmas Carol – A Musical” – PTPA
Addison O’Donnell – Willy Wonka – “Willy Wonka, Jr.” – PTPA
Shane Stevens – Billy & Scarecrow – “Wizard of Oz” – Over the Edge
Best Juvenile Actress
Sara Fulton – Miss Adelaide – “Guys & Dolls, Jr.” – Diva Theater
Bethany Wayman – Tootie Smith – “Meet Me in St. Louis” – EMTC
Anna Koller – Rebecca Gibbs – “Our Town” – Penn Rep
Kali Hutchins – Daughter – “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” – Rock Bottom
Emily Seratch – Violet Beauregarde – “Willy Wonka, Jr.” – PTPA
Justine Quicksall – Dorothy – “Wizard of Oz” – Over the Edge
Kim Van Camp – Ms. Gump/Witch of West – “Wizard of Oz” – Over the Edge
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NEPTA Awards, Saturday, April 18, dinner 6 p.m., show 8 p.m. at Hilton Scranton (100 Adams Ave., Scranton). Tickets: $30 dinner/show, $15 show only. Info: 570.961.3856 or nepta4u@yahoo.com