WATCH Award Ceremony. Photo by Mark Beachy.
The winners of the 17th Annual Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) were announced Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 7 PM in Alexandria, VA.
103 productions (34 musicals, 69 plays) were adjudicated in 2016. Twenty-seven community theater companies participated in WATCH adjudication.
And now for the Winners (Winners appear in bold font)…
In each of the thirty-eight categories, five nominees were selected based on the average scores of eight judges. In some categories, due to score ties, more than five nominees are announced. Nominations are provided in alphabetical order by nominee.
Nominations for outstanding technical achievements.
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical (5)
Jared Davis – Man of La Mancha – Arlington Players
Bart Healy – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Dan Remmers – West Side Story – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jane B. Wingard – Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions
Jane B. Wingard – H.M.S. Pinafore – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Set Design in a Play (5)
William T. Fleming – Humble Boy – Silver Spring Stage
David M. Moretti – ‘night, Mother – Dominion Stage
Ryan Ronan – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Jane B. Wingard – Philadelphia Story – 2nd Star Productions
Kaitelyn Bauer & Doug Wohlenhaus – Rabbit Hole – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical (5)
Michael Mathes, Todd M. Wingard, Steve Andrewsl – H.M.S. Pinafore – 2nd Star Productions
Tom O’Reilly – Man of La Mancha – Arlington Players
Dan Remmers – West Side Story – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Dan Widerski – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Todd Wingard – Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Set Construction in a Play (5)
Alex J. Bryce – ‘night, Mother – Dominion Stage
William T. Fleming – Humble Boy – Silver Spring Stage
Jim Hutzler & Jeff Nesmeyer – To Kill A Mockingbird – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Ken Kienas & Ryan Ronan – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Doug Wohlenhaus – Rabbit Hole – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical (5)
Jared Davis – Man of La Mancha – Arlington Players
David M. Moretti – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Cathy Rieder – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Jane B. Wingard – H.M.S. Pinafore – 2nd Star Productions
Jane B. Wingard – Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Set Painting in a Play (5)
Tamara Perchiano Battis – A Raisin in the Sun – Castaways Repertory Theatre
Luana Bossolo & Mary Hutzler – To Kill A Mockingbird – Little Theatre of Alexandria
William T. Fleming – Humble Boy – Silver Spring Stage
Ryan Ronan – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Jane B. Wingard, Vivian M. Wingard, Genevieve Ethridge – Philadelphia Story – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical (5)
Jared Davis & Brenna K. Carlson – Man of La Mancha – Arlington Players
Eileen Doherty – Grey Gardens – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Bobbie Herbst & Russell Wyland – West Side Story – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jerry and Bea Morse – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Jane B. Wingard, Michael Mathes, Todd Wingard – H.M.S. Pinafore – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play (6)
Kirstin Apker & Matt Liptak – Steel Magnolias – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Helen Bard-Sobola – The Boys in the Band – Dominion Stage
Malca Giblin & Maria Littlefield – Humble Boy – Silver Spring Stage
Kate Small – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Jeffrey Stevenson – ‘night, Mother – Dominion Stage
Jane B. Wingard & Rosalie Daelemans – Philadelphia Story – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Properties in a Musical (6)
Brenna K. Carlson – Man of La Mancha – Arlington Players
Brian Douglas, Mary Wakefield, Sascha Nelson – Man of La Mancha – Laurel Mill Playhouse
MaryJo Ford – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Maria Littlefield – The Drowsy Chaperone – Damascus Theatre Company
Scott Stark – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Joanne D. Wilson – H.M.S. Pinafore – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Properties in a Play (5)
Lois Banscher – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Helen Bard-Sobola – ‘night, Mother – Dominion Stage
Malia Murray – Lost in Yonkers – Prince George’s Little Theatre
Terri Slivka – The Boys in the Band – Dominion Stage
Kate Small – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical (5)
Jeffery Scott Auerbach – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Ken and Patti Crowley – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Dan Patrick Leano – Cabaret – Kensington Arts Theatre
Tommy Scott – 1776 – Port Tobacco Players
E-hui Woo – Man of La Mancha – Arlington Players
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play (5)
Jeffery Scott Auerbach – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Alex Brady – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Garrett R. Hyde – Lost in Yonkers – Prince George’s Little Theatre
Eric Lund & Alex Brady – Venus in Fur – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Tommy Scott – Blithe Spirit – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (5)
Jeff Clausen – Cabaret – Kensington Arts Theatre
Garrett R. Hyde – H.M.S. Pinafore – 2nd Star Productions
Matthew Mills – Shrek, The Musical – Rockville Musical Theatre
Drew Moberley – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Joshua Redford – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Outstanding Sound Design in a Play (6)
Ben Cornwell – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Brian Donohue – The Birds – Hard Bargain Players
Richard Farella – Deathtrap – Arlington Players
Jason Hamrick – Amadeus – Providence Players of Fairfax
Eric Small – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Alan Wray – The Boys in the Band – Dominion Stage
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical (5)
Kathy Dunlap – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Grant Kevin Lane – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Quentin Nash Sagers – 1776 – Port Tobacco Players
Linda Swann & Hillary Glass – Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions
Charlotte Marson & Judy Whelihan – Mary Poppins – Reston Community Players
Outstanding Costume Design in a Play (7)
Kat Beem – Much Ado About Nothing – Silver Spring Stage
Jeane Binney – Lost in Yonkers – Prince George’s Little Theatre
Erin Bone Steele – The Emperor of North America – Silver Spring Stage
Hillary Glass – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Grant Kevin Lane – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jean Schlicting & Kit Sibley – To Kill A Mockingbird – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Linda Swann – Philadelphia Story – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical (6)
Jenn Branham – Hairspray – Port Tobacco Players
Chris Dore – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Sascha Nelson – Man of La Mancha – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Nikki Ottaviano – Shrek, The Musical – Rockville Musical Theatre
Sydney Studds – Man of La Mancha – Arlington Players
Sydney Studds – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play (5)
Jeane Binney – Lost in Yonkers – Prince George’s Little Theatre
Lori Bonnette – To Kill A Mockingbird – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Larissa Norris – Steel Magnolias – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Christina McAlpine – Boeing Boeing – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Beth Harrison, George Smith, Robbie Snow – Amadeus – Providence Players of Fairfax
Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical (5)
Jenn Branham – Hairspray – Port Tobacco Players
Chris Dore – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Duane Monahan – Shrek, The Musical – Rockville Musical Theatre
Serge Notkid – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Linda Swann – Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Hair Design in a Play (5)
Susan Boyd – Little Women – Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
Sally Cusenza – Clybourne Park – Silver Spring Stage
Rebecca Harris – Steel Magnolias – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Grant Kevin Lane – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Eston Stylez, Stephanie Ladeutt, Ericka Steele – A Raisin in the Sun – Castaways Repertory Theatre
Outstanding Special Effects (5)
Jeff Clausen – The Who’s Tommy – Kensington Arts Theatre
Keith Linville – The Birds – Hard Bargain Players
Keith Linville – White Christmas – Port Tobacco Players
Greg Steele, Sara Birkhead, Rich Bird – Mary Poppins – Reston Community Players
Keith Tittermary – Children of Eden – Damascus Theatre Company
Nominations for outstanding performances by an actor or actress.
Outstanding cameo in a musical (5)
Ivy Elizabeth as “Olive’s Mom” – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Fauquier Community Theatre
Phillip Smith-Cobbs as “Neleus” – Mary Poppins – Reston Community Players
Christine Thomas as “Housekeeper” – Man of La Mancha – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Aaron Verchot-Ware as “Reverend Billy Hightower and others” – Bat Boy: The Musical – Prince William Little Theatre
Jaclyn Young as “Electra” – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Outstanding cameo in a play (5)
Nycole Bell & Tameka Taylor as “Helen Robinson” – To Kill A Mockingbird – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Rebecca Feibel-Kotraba as “Brenda Simmons” – An Act of Imagination – Bowie Community Theatre
Lisa KB Rath as “Mammy O’Dougal” – The Cripple of Inishmaan – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Eric W. Turnbill as “Karl Lindner” – A Raisin in the Sun – Castaways Repertory Theatre
Stephen T. Wheeler as “Doctor” – Comic Potential – McLean Community Players
Outstanding featured actress in a musical (5)
Melanie Jennings-Bales as “Duchess Estonia Dulworth” – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Meg Nemeth as “Sara Jane Moore” – Assassins – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Viki Nova as “Maureen Johnson” – Rent – Rockville Musical Theatre
Tahara Robinson as “Anita” – West Side Story – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Liz Weber as “Fraulein Schneider” – Cabaret – Kensington Arts Theatre
Outstanding featured actor in a musical (5)
Erich DiCenzo as “Tulsa” – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Tom Howley as “Samuel Byck” – Assassins – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Quentin Nash Sagers as “Edna Turnblad” – Hairspray – Port Tobacco Players
Benjamin Simpson as “Wilber Turnblad” – Hairspray – Port Tobacco Players
Jack Stein as “Cookie McGee” – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Outstanding featured actress in a play (5)
Robin Dorsey as “Lena Younger (Mama)” – A Raisin in the Sun – Castaways Repertory Theatre
Paige Fridell as “Lindsey/Betsy” – Clybourne Park – Silver Spring Stage
Julie Janson as “Waitress, Rhonda” – Almost Maine – Providence Players of Fairfax
Mary Rogers as “Bella” – Lost in Yonkers – Prince George’s Little Theatre
Sarah Wade as “Honey” – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Outstanding featured actor in a play (5)
Gary Bernard DiNardo as “Emory” – The Boys in the Band – Dominion Stage
John Davis DuRant, Jr. as “Dillard Nations” – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Matthew P. Gallant as “Karl/Steve” – Clybourne Park – Silver Spring Stage
Ron Giddings as “Nick” – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Bill Hurlbut as “George Pye” – Humble Boy – Silver Spring Stage
Outstanding lead actress in a musical (5)
Maureen R. Goldman as “Billie Bendix” – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Jennifer Lambert as “Rose” – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Lexie McEntire as “Maria” – West Side Story – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jamie Erin Miller as “Miss Adelaide” – Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions
Shaina Murphy as “Mary Poppins” – Mary Poppins – Reston Community Players
Outstanding lead actor in a musical (5)
Kevin Diana as “Sweeney Todd” – Sweeney Todd – St. Mark’s Players
Fred Nelson as “Miguel de Cervantes” – Man of La Mancha – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Jonathan M. Rizzardi as “Emcee” – Cabaret – Kensington Arts Theatre
John Scheeler as “John Adams” – 1776 – Port Tobacco Players
Keith Tittermary as “Man in Chair” – The Drowsy Chaperone – Damascus Theatre Company
Outstanding lead actress in a play (6)
Lisa Anne Bailey as “Maria Callas” – Master Class – Reston Community Players
Debbie Barber-Eaton as “Martha” – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Kathryn Huston as “Annie Nations” – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Natalie Nankervis as “Vanda” – Venus in Fur – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Gayle Nichols-Grimes as “Mama/Thelma” – ‘night, Mother – Dominion Stage
Connie Shabshab as “Jessie Cates” – ‘night, Mother – Dominion Stage
Outstanding lead actor in a play (7)
Joseph Coracle as “Felix Humble” – Humble Boy – Silver Spring Stage
Hans Dettmar as “Various” – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged- Little Theatre of Alexandria
Erich DiCenzo as “Michael” – Snakebit – Dominion Stage
Joe Mariano as “George” – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Mike Rudden as “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart” – Amadeus – Providence Players of Fairfax
David Whitehead as “Antonio Salieri” – Amadeus – Providence Players of Fairfax
Dave Wright as “Various” – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged- Little Theatre of Alexandria
Nominations for outstanding achievement in overall production.
Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography (5)
Michael Donahue – Amadeus – Providence Players of Fairfax
Steve Lada – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Leland Shook – Cabaret – Prince William Little Theatre
Stefan Sittig – West Side Story – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Ruta Douglas Smith – Man of La Mancha – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Outstanding Choreography (5)
Andrew Gordon – Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions
Andrea Heininge – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Andrea Heininge – Mary Poppins – Reston Community Players
John K. Monnett – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Stefan Sittig – West Side Story – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Music Direction (5)
Mitch Bassman – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Joe Biddle – H.M.S. Pinafore – 2nd Star Productions
Steve Przybylski – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Marci Shegogue – Shrek, The Musical – Rockville Musical Theatre
Stuart Y. Weich – Cabaret – Kensington Arts Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (5)
Debbie Barder-Eaton – Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions
Kristina Friedgen – The Drowsy Chaperone – Damascus Theatre Company
John K. Monnett – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players
Paul Tonden – Gypsy – Reston Community Players
Jane B. Wingard – H.M.S. Pinafore – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Direction of a Play (5)
Jim Gallagher – Venus in Fur – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Joanna Henry – The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jennifer Lyman – ‘night, Mother – Dominion Stage
Craig Allen Mummey – Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Frank Pasqualino – Foxfire – Bowie Community Theatre
Outstanding Musical (5)
Guys and Dolls – 2nd Star Productions, Produced by Nathan Bowen, Stage Managed by Joanne D. Wilson
Nice Work If You Can Get It – Arlington Players, Produced by Barbara Esquibel, Stage Managed by Terri Carnahan
The Drowsy Chaperone – Damascus Theatre Company, Produced by Carol Boyle, Stage Managed by Becca Sears
West Side Story – Little Theatre of Alexandria, Produced by Lynn O’Connell, Kevin
O’Dowd and Eddie Page, Stage Managed by Austin Fodrie and Joan A.S. Lada
Gypsy – Reston Community Players, Produced by Chris Dore and Cara Giambrone, Stage Managed by Annie Galvin
Outstanding Play (5)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf – Colonial Players of Annapolis, Produced by Beth Terranova, Stage Managed by Bernadette Arvidson, Kevin Brennan
‘night, Mother – Dominion Stage, Produced by Matthew Randall and Coleen Stock, Stage Managed by Charles Dragonette
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged – Little Theatre of Alexandria, Produced by Rebecca Sheehy and Russell M. Wyland, Stage Managed by Christine Farrell and Joan A.S. Lada
To Kill A Mockingbird – Little Theatre of Alexandria, Produced by Rachel Alberts, Bobbie Herbst and Robert Kraus, Stage Managed by Christine Farrell, Lynn Lacey and Micheal J. O’Connor
Amadeus – Providence Players of Fairfax, Produced by Danine Welsh, Stage Managed by Liz Mykietyn
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