The 23rd annual WATCH (Washington Area Theatre Community Honors) Awards were held Monday, March 24, 2025 at the Birchmere with Master of Ceremonies John Dickson Wakefield at the helm. The show opened with a spirited and campy performance of “It’s Not About Me” from the cast of Reston Community Players’ “The Prom.” Wakefield, a self-proclaimed zero-time WATCH award nominee and Maryland Renaissance Festival personality, opened the ceremony with a comedic monologue that encouraged the audience to keep an eye out for “Best Train,” commenting on the three separate productions of “Murder on the Orient Express” (Little Theatre of Alexandria, Reston Community Player, and Rockville Little Theatre) which were nominated for various awards related to their set.
LTA, with their production of “Murder on the Orient Express” as well as “Jekyll & Hyde” and “The Explorers Club” ran away with the night (and “Best Train”), obtaining 16 total awards. Ninety-nine productions (39 musicals, 60 plays) were adjudicated, and 27 community theater companies participated. At the awards show itself, the room was filled with old and new friends hugging and chatting, creating a jubilant atmosphere that was all the more uplifted by performances from each of the “Best Musical” nominees (“The Prom,” LTA’s “Jekyll & Hyde,” PTP’s “Young Frankenstein,” CFTC’s “Legally Blonde,” and LTA’s “Memphis”).
When it came to individual productions, “Legally Blonde” and Colonial Players of Annapolis’ production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” boasted Best Play and Best Musical respectively. Sunday night’s ceremony marked the first year that WATCH did not nominate or award the eight major acting awards based on gender. Instead, there were double the nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play/Musical and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play/Musical, and two of those actors were named winners. When the possibility of genderless acting awards to include non-binary performers has arisen at the national level, some have warned that systemic gender injustice might mean that women win less awards. Ironically, in his opening monologue, Wakefield commented that he believed that the men in the acting categories were doomed, particularly given the (not completely untrue) stereotype of women in community theatre having to beat out a number of other auditionees for their roles, whereas men just have to “match a pitch.” Despite these concerns, the acting awards of the night evened out, with four women and four men going home with awards. Both awards for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical went to women (Amelia Jacquat as “Elle Woods”, in CTFC’s “Legally Blonde” and Melanie McCleerey as “Dee Dee Allen” in RCP’s “The Prom”) while both awards for Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play went to men (Drew Saint Amour as “Christopher” in CPA’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and Kevin Sockwell as “Hoke Coleburn” in FCT’s “Driving Miss Daisy”).
Nominees and winners can be found below. Nominees were selected based on the average scores of eight judges. In some categories, due to score ties, more nominees are announced, and more than one winner is listed.
The WATCH (Washington Area Theatre Community Honors) Awards were held on March 24, 2025 at the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305. To learn more about WATCH, click here. For information about upcoming events at the Birchmere, please go online.
Twenty-seven community theater companies participated in WATCH adjudication.
Aldersgate Church Community Theater
Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
Bowie Community Theatre
City of Fairfax Theatre Company
Castaways Repertory Theatre
Colonial Players of Annapolis
Dominion Stage
Fauquier Community Theatre
Greenbelt Arts Center
Hard Bargain Players
Kentland Community Players
Laurel Mill Playhouse
Little Theatre of Alexandria
Montgomery Playhouse
Port Tobacco Players
Prince William Little Theatre
Providence Players of Fairfax
Reston Community Players
Rockville Little Theatre
Rockville Musical Theatre
Rooftop Productions
2nd Star Productions
St. Mark’s Players
Silver Spring Stage
Sterling Playmakers
The Arlington Players
Victorian Lyric Opera Company
And now for the Winners (shown in BOLD)…
In each of the thirty-six categories, nominees were selected based on the average scores of eight judges. In some categories, due to score ties, more nominees are announced. Nominations are provided in alphabetical order by nominee. The nominations are provided by category and then by theater.
Nominations for outstanding technical achievements.
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical (5)
- Noah Beye – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Julie Fischer – Memphis – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Rebecca Kalant & Adam Ressa – Annie – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Chris Magee – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Dan Widerski & Sheila Widerski – The Prom – Reston Community Players
Outstanding Set Design in a Play (5)
- Kimberly Leone – Murder on the Orient Express – Reston Community Players
- Matt Liptak – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- John Merritt – Wait Until Dark – Port Tobacco Players
- Laurie Nolan – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Bill Pressly – Murder on the Orient Express – Rockville Little Theatre
Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical (5)
- Shah Choudhury & Julie Fischer – Annie – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Shah Choudhury & Julie Fischer – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Todd Croteau – Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
- Jim Eckloff – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Dan Widerski – The Prom – Reston Community Players
Outstanding Set Construction in a Play (6)
- Alan Barnett – Arsenic and Old Lace – Bowie Community Theatre
- Douglas Becker – Dot – Silver Spring Stage
- Sara Birkhead – Murder on the Orient Express – Reston Community Players
- Chuck Hower & John Merritt – Wait Until Dark – Port Tobacco Players
- Jim Hutzler & Jeff Nesmeyer – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- William Kolodrubetz – Murder on the Orient Express – Rockville Little Theatre
Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical (5)
- Shannon Doyle & Kathy Murphy – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Gigi Kingsland – Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
- Diedre “De” Nicholson-Lamb – Annie – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Cathy Rieder – Fiddler on the Roof – Reston Community Players
- Cathy Rieder – The Prom – Reston Community Players
Outstanding Set Painting in a Play (5)
- Luana Bossolo & Matt Liptak – Is He Dead? – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Shannon Doyle & Kathy Murphy – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Rose Hull – Arsenic and Old Lace – Bowie Community Theatre
- Katherine Rogers – Murder on the Orient Express – Rockville Little Theatre
- Kimberly Leone & Catherine Zimmerman – Murder on the Orient Express – Reston Community Players
Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical (5)
- Michelle Brooks – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Mary DeMarco-Logue – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Cathy Gurson & Meg Roosma – The Prom – Reston Community Players
- Donna Reynolds – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Cheryl Stafford & Kathie L. Rogers – Die Fledermaus – Victorian Lyric Opera Company
Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play (5)
- Kacie Carlyle & Kathy Murphy – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Roy Hammond – Arsenic and Old Lace – Bowie Community Theatre
- Kimberly Leone & Alecia Nault – Murder on the Orient Express – Reston Community Players
- Laurie Nolan – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Myke Taister – The Explorers Club – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Properties in a Musical (5)
- Michelle Brooks – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Carol Jones – The Prom – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
- Wren Lake – Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
- Christine Tankersley – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Jane Waldrop – Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka – Sterling Playmakers
Outstanding Properties in a Play (6)
- Mary Jo Ford – Stick Fly – Prince William Little Theatre
- Julia Lisowski & Frank Blackmore – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Brooke Angel Markley – The Explorers Club – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Roy Peterson & Carrie Shade – Tiny Beautiful Things – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Kimberly Leone – Murder on the Orient Express – Reston Community Players
- Constance Robinson – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical (5)
- Beth Becker – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Ken & Patti Crowley – Fiddler on the Roof – Reston Community Players
- JK Lighting – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Tommy Scott – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Dianne Trickey-Rokenbrod – The Prom – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play (5)
- Jeffrey Auerbach & Kimberly Crago – Night Sky – Aldersgate Church Community Theater
- Ken & Patti Crowley – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Ari McSherry – Twelve Angry Jurors – Providence Players of Fairfax
- John H. Purnell III – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Tommy Scott – Wait Until Dark – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (6)
- Lucinda Chase – Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
- Kelsey Clarke – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- David Correia – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Larson Miller – Little Women – The Arlington Players
- Adam Parker – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Elizabeth Shaher – Fiddler on the Roof – Reston Community Players
Outstanding Sound Design in a Play (5)
- Scott R. Bloom – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Erica Herdrich – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Nora Curtis – The Christians – Hard Bargain Players
- Janice Rivera – Anton in Show Business – The Arlington Players
- Janice Rivera – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical (5)
- Ashley Goodell – The Wizard of Oz – Port Tobacco Players
- Maura Lacy – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Jean Schlichting & Kit Sibley – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Bill Smolter – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Mary Wakefield & Quentin Nash Sagers – Sister Act – 2nd Star Productions
Outstanding Costume Design in a Play (5)
- Nicole Andres – Twelve Angry Jurors – Providence Players of Fairfax
- Michelle Harris – The Explorers Club – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Christina R. McAlpine – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Jennifer Morrissey & Becky Bucci – Murder on the Orient Express – Rockville Little Theatre
- Jean Schlichting & Kit Sibley – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical (5)
- Talya Conroy – The Rocky Horror Show – Rooftop Productions
- Sheila Hyman – The Wizard of Oz – Port Tobacco Players
- Sheila Hyman – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Robin Maline & Lanae Sterrett – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Robin Maline – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play (5)
- Nour Bahri & Michael Barret Jones – Murder on the Orient Express – Reston Community Players
- Debbie Martin – Driving Miss Daisy – Fauquier Community Theatre
- Christina R. McAlpine – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Larissa Norris – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Robbie Snow – The Explorers Club – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical (5)
- Kadira Coley – Little Women – The Arlington Players
- Sheila Hyman & Danielle Ward – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Robin Maline & Lanae Sterrett – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Shemika Renée – Dreamgirls – 2nd Star Productions
- Dana Robinson – Sweeney Todd – Rockville Musical Theatre
Outstanding Hair Design in a Play (6)
- Rebecca Harris – The Crucible – Dominion Stage
- Christina R. McAlpine – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Larissa Norris – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Maureen Roult – Dot – Silver Spring Stage
- Robbie Snow – The Explorers Club – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Stephen D. Welsh – Murder on the Orient Express – Rockville Little Theatre
Outstanding Special Effects (6)
- Wes Bedsworth, Eric Hufford, Richard Atha-Nicholls & Amy Atha-Nicholls – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- The Special Effects Team – Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- David M. Moretti – Fun Home – Dominion Stage
- Larry Raby, Jason Klonkowski & Craig Hower – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Arthur Snow & David M. Moretti – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Art Snow, Kadira Coley, Ken & Patti Crowley – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
Nominations for outstanding acting performances
Outstanding Cameo in a Musical (5)
- Dan Brennan as “Blind Hermit” – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Rene “Kieth” Flores as “President Franklin D. Roosevelt” – Annie – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Melanie Kurstin as “Fruma Sarah” – Fiddler on the Roof – Reston Community Players
- Robin Lewis as “Nellie” – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Philip Smith-Cobbs as “Kyle/Pforzheimer” – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
Outstanding Cameo in a Play (6)
- Dionne Belk as “Lieutenant Rooney” – Arsenic and Old Lace – Bowie Community Theatre
- Erica Chester as “Mrs. Johnson” – A Raisin in the Sun – Port Tobacco Players
- Anthony Dieguez as “Karl Lindner” – A Raisin in the Sun – Port Tobacco Players
- Rachael Hubbard as “Countess Glamorgan” – The Explorers Club – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Tanya Johnson-Herron as “Mrs. Muller” – Doubt: A Parable – Rooftop Productions
- Jacqueline Youm as “Tituba/Martha Corey” – The Crucible – Dominion Stage
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical (11)
- Ashley Arnold-Brakefield as “Angie Dickinson” – The Prom – Reston Community Players
- Olivia Clavel-Davis as “Brooke Wyndham” – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Chuck Dluhy as “Igor” – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Ryan Holmes as “Jimmy Early” – Dreamgirls – 2nd Star Productions
- Kendra Hyater as “Elizabeth” – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Amelia Jacquat as “Medium Alison” – Fun Home – Dominion Stage
- Emily “EJ” Jonas as “Paulette Buonufonte” – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Ryan Kieft as “Robbie Fay” – A Man of No Importance – Greenbelt Arts Center
- Judi Laganga as “Frau Blucher” – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Muggs Leone as “Angel Dumott Schunard” – Rent – Dominion Stage
- Gerardo Mijares-Shafai as “Don Armado” – Love’s Labour’s Lost – St. Mark’s Players
Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play (12)
- James-Curtis Bowers as “Fidel” – Dot – Silver Spring Stage
- Kieran Cross as “Lenny Ganz” – Rumors – Rooftop Productions
- Meghan Williams Elkins as “Helen Hubbard” – Murder on the Orient Express – Rockville Little Theatre
- John Henderson as “Sir Harry Percy” – The Explorers Club – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Greg Jones as “Sir Robert Morton” – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Lady’Jordan Matthews-Mason as “Mary Warren” – The Crucible – Dominion Stage
- Trinitee Pearson as “Cheryl” – Stick Fly – Prince William Little Theatre
- Ellen Quay as “Judy” – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Mary Rodrigues as “Kate/Ben/Jackey” – Anton in Show Business – The Arlington Players
- Aparna Sri as “Siobhan” – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Paul Valleau as “Ed” – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Caroline Mae Woodson as “Stephanie” – POTUS – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical (11)
- Jennalee Allen/Jillian Wiley as “Adele” – Die Fledermaus – Victorian Lyric Opera Company
- Jim Bowen-Collinson as “Barry Glickman” – The Prom – Reston Community Players
- Emily Burnworth as “Lizzie Curry” – 110 in the Shade – Prince William Little Theatre
- Daniel DeVera as “Emmett Forrest” – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Iris DeWitt as “Mrs. Lovett” – Sweeney Todd – Rockville Musical Theatre
- Amelia Jacquat as “Elle Woods” – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Colleen Lynch/McKinley Seale as “Emma Nolan” – The Prom – Reston Community Players
- Melanie McCleerey as “Dee Dee Allen” – The Prom – Reston Community Players
- Michael E. McGovern as “Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Edward Hyde” – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Ryan Power as “Sweeney Todd” – Sweeney Todd – Rockville Musical Theatre
- Ted Randall as “Berowne” – Love’s Labour’s Lost – St. Mark’s Players
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play (10)
- Drew Saint Amour as “Christopher” – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Gary Bernard DiNardo as “Arnold” – Torch Song – Dominion Stage
- Melanie Gordon as “Catherine Winslow” – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Eric Kennedy as “Juror #8” – Twelve Angry Jurors – Providence Players of Fairfax
- Michael Kharfen as “Hercule Poirot” – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Tom Newbrough as “Arthur Winslow” – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Bruce Alan Rauscher as “Juror #3” – Twelve Angry Jurors – Providence Players of Fairfax
- Kevin Sockwell as “Hoke Coleburn” – Driving Miss Daisy – Fauquier Community Theatre
- Carolyn Corsano Wong as “Sister Aloysius Beauvier” – Doubt: A Parable – Rooftop Productions
- Jackie Youm as “Miss Evers” – Miss Evers’ Boys – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Leta Hall Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical (5)
- Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- The Prom – Reston Community Players
- The Prom – The Arlington Players
- Sweeney Todd – Rockville Musical Theatre
Leta Hall Outstanding Ensemble in a Play (6)
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Miss Evers’ Boys – Laurel Mill Playhouse
- Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Rumors – Rooftop Productions
- Twelve Angry Jurors – Providence Players of Fairfax
- The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Nominations for outstanding achievement in overall production
Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography (5)
- Brianna Goode & Stefan Sittig – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Craig Hower – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Erin Klarner & Joseph Downs – Crazy for You – Laurel Mill Playhouse
- A. René Gutierrez & Jax Berg – Heathers – Castaways Repertory Theatre
- Mallory Shear – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Outstanding Choreography (5)
- Stacey Yvonne Claytor – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Billy Luzier & Elda Trombley – Big Fish – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
- Jeremy A. McShan – The Prom – The Arlington Players
- Elysia Merrill – The Prom – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
- Summer Moore – Crazy for You – Laurel Mill Playhouse
Outstanding Music Direction (5)
- Mark V. Deal – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Will Derr – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Steve McBride – The Prom – Reston Community Players
- CJ Redden-Liotta – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Stuart Y. Weich & Keith Edward – Sweeney Todd – Rockville Musical Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Musical (6)
- Paul Di Salvo – Love’s Labour’s Lost – St. Mark’s Players
- Mike Gahan – Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
- Jennifer Hardin – Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Maura Lacy – Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Liz Mykietyn – The Prom – Reston Community Players
- Katherine M. Rogers – Die Fledermaus – Victorian Lyric Opera Company
Outstanding Direction of a Play (5)
- Charlynn Mills – Rumors – Rooftop Productions
- Stefan Sittig – Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Steve Tobin – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Mary Fawcett Watko – The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Dave Wright – Twelve Angry Jurors – Providence Players of Fairfax
Outstanding Musical (5)
- Jekyll & Hyde – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Legally Blonde – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Memphis – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- The Prom – Reston Community Players
- Young Frankenstein – Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Play (5)
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Murder on the Orient Express – Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Rumors – Rooftop Productions
- Twelve Angry Jurors – Providence Players of Fairfax
- The Winslow Boy – Colonial Players of Annapolis
Congratulations to all the winners!
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