Nominees for the 16th annual Ovation Awards were announced today, with the Arts Club Theatre Company production of Matilda garnering the most nods in the juried musical theatre awards.
In a mix of community and professional productions from across the Lower Mainland, other multiple nominated shows include Royal City Musical Theatre’s Singin’ in the Rain, Studio 58/Langara College’s Cabaret, Theatre Under the Stars’ Newsies, and the Raincity Theatre production of Company.
A total of 35 musicals, including seven seasonal pantos, produced in the Lower Mainland in 2019 are recognized in this year’s nominations. Nominees and winners are chosen by a jury of peers from the musical theatre community who attend shows throughout the year.
Audiences also have an opportunity to vote for two additional awards including outstanding panto, and favourite musical theatre special event or un-juried show. Votes will be accepted online until 5:00 pm on January 20.
The Ovation Awards, presented by Applause! Musical Society will be handed out at a ceremony on January 26. Visit https://applausemusicals.com for more information.
Here is the complete list of nominees:
Outstanding Professional Production
Amelie, West Moon Theatre
Company, Raincity Theatre
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Gateway Theatre
Matilda, Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Community Production (Large + Small Theatres)
Cabaret – Studio 58/Langara College
Newsies – Theatre Under The Stars
Singin’ in the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre
Outstanding Music DirectionÂ
Peter Abando, Amelie – West Moon Theatre
Arielle Ballance, Company – Raincity Theatre
James Bryson, Singin’ in the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre
Rob Hamilton, American Idiot – URP
Christopher King, Newsies – Theatre Under The Stars
Kevin Woo, Annie – Align Entertainment
Outstanding Direction
Daryl Cloran, Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Valerie Easton, Singin’ in the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre
Josh Epstein, Cabaret – Studio 58/Langara College
Chris Lam, Amelie – West Moon Theatre
Julie Tomaino, Newsies – Theatre Under the Stars
Outstanding Choreography
Valerie Easton, Singin’ in the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre
Emily Matchette, American Idiot – URP
Kimberley Rampersad, Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Nicol Spinola, Annie – Align Entertainment
Julie Tomaino, Newsies – Theatre Under the Stars
Outstanding Costume Design
Christopher David Gauthier, 9 to 5 – Capilano University
Christopher David Gauthier, Singin’ in the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre
Amy McDougall, Cabaret – Studio 58/Langara College
Cory Sincennes, Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Christina Sinosich, Company – Raincity Theatre
Donnie Tejani, Rock of Ages – Renegade Arts Co.
Outstanding Set Design
Francesca Albertazzi, Mamma Mia! – Theatre Under the Stars
Brian Ball, Singin’ In the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre
Drew Facey, Cabaret – Studio 58/Langara College
Drew Facey, The Sound of Music – Arts Club Theatre Company
Cory Sincennes, Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Michael Smith, Forever Plaid – First Impressions Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design
Itai Erdal, Cabaret – Studio 58/Langara College
Gerald King, Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Gerald King, Singin’ In the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre
Robert Sondergaard, American Idiot – URP
Sophie Tang, Herringbone – Patrick Street Productions
Amy Wallis Outstanding Leading Performance – Female
Georgia Acken & Thailey Roberge (Matilda), Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Paige Fraser (Emcee), Cabaret – Studio 58/Langara College
Luisa Jojic (Herringbone and others), Herringbone – Patrick Street Productions
Erin Palm (Sally), Cabaret – Studio 58/Langara College
Chelsea Rose (Narrator), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat – Gateway Theatre
Tessa Trach (Amelie), Amelie – West Moon Theatre
Synthia Yusuf (Maria), The Sound of Music – Arts Club Theatre Company
Denis Simpson Outstanding Leading Performance – Male
Oliver Castillo (Joseph), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat – Gateway Theatre
Adam Charles (Jack), Newsies – Theatre Under the Stars
Julien Galipeau (Will), Girlfriend – Fighting Chance Productions
Caleb Lagayan (Peter), Bare: A Pop Opera – Eternal Theatre Collective
Seth Gordon Little (Hannibal Lecter), Silence! The Musical – DSR Productions with Neanderthal Arts Festival
Colin Sheen (Johnny), American Idiot – URP
Jonathan Winsby (Robert), Company – Raincity Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Performance – Female
Meghan Gardiner (Elsa), The Sound of Music – Arts Club Theatre Company
Alex Gullason (Amy), Company – Raincity Theatre
Alison MacDonald (Miss Honey), Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Madeleine Suddaby (Pharaoh), Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat – Gateway Theatre
Robyn Wallis (Lina Lamont), Singin’ in the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre
Sheryl Anne Wheaton (Rosie), Mamma Mia! – Theatre Under the Stars
Outstanding Supporting Performance – Male
Daniel Curalli (Rooster), Annie – Align Entertainment
Ben Elliot (Mr. Wormwood), Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Cole Smuland (Crutchie), Newsies – Theatre Under the Stars
John Ullyatt (Miss Trunchbull), Matilda – Arts Club Theatre Company
Scott Walters (Stacee), Rock of Ages – Renegade Arts Co.
Outstanding Newcomer – Female
Haley Allen (9 to 5 – Capilano University, Newsies – Theatre Under the Stars)
Jenaya Barker (9 to 5 – Capilano University, American Idiot – URP)
Kailley Roesler (9 to 5 – Capilano University, Mamma Mia! – Theatre Under the Stars)
Outstanding Newcomer – Male
Graeme Kitagawa (Singin’ In the Rain – Royal City Musical Theatre, Newsies – Theatre Under the Stars)
Joaquin Little (9 to 5 – Capilano University, Newsies – Theatre Under the Stars, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Gateway Theatre)
Chris M. Ward (9 to 5 – Capilano University, Mamma Mia! – Theatre Under the Stars, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Gateway Theatre)
Outstanding Artistic AchievementÂ
Sean Bayntun for his exceptional piano performance for Herringbone presented by Patrick Street Productions
The children’s ensemble of the production of Matilda, presented by the Arts Club Theatre Company (Helena Ayas, Angelo Cornel, Sienna Fetigan, Ema Lake, Jenna Lamb, Matthew Mintsis, Owen Scott, and Xandrie Umandal).
Michael Kovac & Ryan McNeill Bolton for Fight Direction for Newsies presented by Theatre Under the Stars
Other awards to be presented at the awards show include the Cheryl Hutcherson Award, Behind the Scenes Award and the Long-time Achievement Award.