Saluting Dayton’s 2011-12 Theater Season

Excellent premieres, impressive resurgences and a superb anniversary heightened Dayton’s commendable 2011-12 theater season.

First and foremost, the Human Race Theatre Company turned 25 with an absolutely marvelous season of diverse local premieres that will surely be remembered as one of its best. In fact, elements of “Caroline, or Change” (which I saw three times) and “Red” clearly surpassed its Broadway counterparts.  Also, an insightful August Wilson Symposium accented the splendid run of “Gem of the Ocean,” and the very promising “Band Geeks!” was a charming, touching finale. Human Race resident artist Scott Stoney also experienced one of his most productive seasons in recent memory as an actor (“Gem of the Ocean,” “Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical,” Wright State’s “Death of a Salesman”) and director (“Caroline, or Change,” Sinclair’s “The Laramie Project”). Moreover in the professional realm, the Victoria Theatre Association struck box office gold ($4.5 million) with the terrific return of “Wicked” featuring the vocally sublime Christine Dwyer’s Broadway-caliber Elphaba. The technically reconceived “Les Miserables,” feel-good “Jersey Boys” and thrillingly acrobatic “Traces” were additional standouts.

Elsewhere, the Dayton Playhouse, responsible for a sweltering FutureFest that led to the elimination of its fall musical, firmly recovered with the tried and true “Scrooge” and a pair of Rodgers and Hammerstein winners (“A Grand Night for Singing,” “The Sound of Music”). Playhouse South delivered its most pleasantly surprising artistic success in years with “Children of Eden.” Encore Theater Company wonderfully revealed the jubilance, heartbreak and loss of innocence within “Spring Awakening.” Zoot Theatre Company produced a little-seen yet mesmerizing adaptation of “The Pearl” that deserves a return engagement. The Dayton Theatre Guild, particularly attempting musical theater for the first time in ages thanks to the regional premiere of “The Story of My Life,” produced a dynamic “Lost in Yonkers” and a luminously engaging “Souvenir.” (Beginning July 5, “Souvenir” returns with the Guild cast at Brookville Community Theatre. Don’t miss it!).

At the collegiate level, Wright State pulled out the stops with an exceptionally infectious “Hairspray” (which I saw three times), but “Death of a Salesman” was an unforgettably gripping showcase. Also, Sinclair supplied a consistent, wonderfully ensemble-driven slate, and the University of Dayton grew stronger with “Eleemosynary” and “Urinetown: The Musical.”

On Saturday, August 11 at Sinclair Community College’s Ponitz Center, Dayton’s theater community will gather for the ninth annual DayTony Awards, honoring the achievements of designers, performers and productions across the area as voted on by participating theaters. The event will be held in conjunction with the 11th annual Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame induction celebrating scenic designer Bruce Brown.
In the meanwhile, assessing the 60 shows I saw this season, here are my choices for the most outstanding artists and productions.

BEST PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
“Gem of the Ocean,” Human Race Theatre Company

Honorable Mentions:
“God of Carnage,” Human Race Theatre
“Red,” Human Race Theatre
“Wishful Drinking,” Victoria Theatre Association

BEST PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
“Caroline, or Change,” Human Race Theatre

Honorable Mentions:
“The Color Purple,” Springfield Arts Council
“Jersey Boys,” Victoria Theatre Association
“Les Miserables,” Victoria Theatre Association
“Wicked,” Victoria Theatre Association

BEST COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
“Lost in Yonkers,” Dayton Theatre Guild

Honorable Mentions:
“Going to St. Ives,” Dayton Theatre Guild
“The Oldest Profession,” Dayton Theatre Guild
“The Pearl,” Zoot Theatre Company
“Wittenberg,” Dayton Theatre Guild

BEST COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
“Spring Awakening,” Encore Theater Company

Honorable Mentions:
“A Grand Night for Singing,” Dayton Playhouse
“Children of Eden,” Playhouse South
“The Sound of Music,” Dayton Playhouse
“The Story of My Life,” Dayton Theatre Guild

BEST COLLEGIATE PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
“Death of a Salesman,” Wright State University

Honorable Mentions:
“Almost, Maine,” Sinclair Community College
“The Crucible,” Sinclair Community College
“Eleemosynary,” University of Dayton
“The Laramie Project,” Sinclair Community College

BEST COLLEGIATE PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
“Hairspray,” Wright State University

Honorable Mentions:
“Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage,” Wright State
“The Phantom of the Opera,” Wright State
“Rent,” Wright State
“Urinetown: The Musical,” University of Dayton

BEST NEW WORK
“Band Geeks!,” Human Race Theatre

Honorable Mentions:
“The Haven,” Dayton Playhouse FutureFest
“Love Makes the World Go ‘Round,” Human Race Theatre
“Play it Cool,” Human Race Theatre
“Pump Up the Volume,” Encore Theater Company

BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT
“Souvenir,” Dayton Theatre Guild

Honorable Mentions:
“‘Master Harold’…and the Boys,” Dayton Playhouse
“The Wizard of Oz,” Muse Machine
“Tonight: The Songs of West Side Story & More,” Muse Machine
“Traces,” Victoria Theatre Association

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Scott Stoney as Willy Loman, “Death of a Salesman”

Honorable Mentions:
Jonathan Berry as Citizen Barlow, “Gem of the Ocean”
Franklin Johnson as Sam, “‘Master Harold’…and the Boys”
Tim Lile as Michael, “God of Carnage”
Michael Kenwood Lippert as Mark Rothko, “Red”

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Renee‘ Franck-Reed as Florence Foster Jenkins, “Souvenir”

Honorable Mentions:
Cassandra Engber as Blanche DuBois, “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Xenia Area Community Theater)
Jennifer Johansen as Veronica, “God of Carnage”
Dwandra Nickole as Aunt Ester Tyler, “Gem of the Ocean”
Kate Smith as Jackie Cochran, “Jinxed” (Dayton Playhouse FutureFest)

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Drew Helton as Edna Turnblad, “Hairspray”

Honorable Mentions:
Mykal Kilgore as Elliott Goodman, “Band Geeks!”
J. Mark McVey as Jean Valjean, “Les Miserables”
David Shough as Captain Georg von Trapp, “The Sound of Music”
Ray Zupp as Melchior Gabor, “Spring Awakening”

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Christine Dwyer as Elphaba, “Wicked”

Honorable Mentions:
Deb Colvin-Tener as Mary, “Play it Cool”
Beth Conley as Tracy Turnblad, “Hairspray”
Tanesha Gary as Caroline Thibodeaux, “Caroline, or Change”
Ashley Ware as Celie, “The Color Purple”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Will Allan as Ken, “Red”

Honorable Mentions:
Kevin Brown as Eli, “Gem of the Ocean”
Alan Bomar Jones as Solly Two Kings, “Gem of the Ocean”
Charles Larkowski as Cosme’ McMoon, “Souvenir”
Patrick Ross as Biff Loman, “Death of a Salesman”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Barbara Jorgensen as Grandma Kurnitz, “Lost in Yonkers”

Honorable Mentions:
Kes-lina Luoma as Mary Warren, “The Crucible”
Lee Merrill as Linda Loman, “Death of a Salesman”
Marcia Nowick as Ursula, “The Oldest Profession”
Marva M.B. Williams as Black Mary, “Gem of the Ocean”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Drew Bowen as Moritz Stiefel, “Spring Awakening”

Honorable Mentions:
Bobby Mitchum as Snake/Cain/Japeth, “Children of Eden”
Chris Shea as Adult Man, “Spring Awakening”
Zachary Jordan Steele as Will, “Play it Cool”
Christopher Timson as Igor, “Young Frankenstein” (Victoria Theatre Association)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Taprena Augustine as Dotty Moffett, “Caroline, or Change”

Honorable Mentions:
Samantha Helmstetter as herself, “Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage”
Natalie Houliston as Adult Woman, “Spring Awakening”
Kate Hunt as Penelope Pennywise, “Urinetown: The Musical”
Katie Klaus as Laura Jane Kirk, “Band Geeks!”

BREAKTHROUGH MALE PERFORMANCE
Ian DeVine as Link Larkin, “Hairspray”

Honorable Mentions:
Joel Daniel as Arty, “Lost in Yonkers”
Chris Hahn as John Proctor, “The Crucible”
Jared Mola as Hamlet, “Wittenberg”
Philip Stock as Jay, “Lost in Yonkers”

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Yvette Williams as Emmie Thibodeaux, “Caroline, or Change”

Honorable Mentions:
Amy Diederich as Bella, “Lost in Yonkers”
Tametha Divvleeon as Tituba, “The Crucible”
Lisa Glover as Wendla Bergman, “Spring Awakening”
Katie Kerry as Roxie Hart, “Chicago” (Beavercreek Community Theatre)

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Mark Clayton Southers, “Gem of the Ocean”

Honorable Mentions:
Greg Hellems, “Death of a Salesman”
Richard E. Hess, “Red”
Sharon Leahy, “The Pearl”
Scott Stoney, “The Laramie Project”

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Joe Deer, “Hairspray”

Honorable Mentions:
Scott Hunt, “Rent”
Gina Kleesattel, “Urinetown: The Musical”
JJ Parkey, “Spring Awakening”
Scott Stoney, “Caroline, or Change”

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Teressa Wylie McWilliams, “Hairspray”

Honorable Mentions:
Lula Elzy, “The Wizard of Oz”
Greg Hellems, “Band Geeks!”
Annette Looper, “Chicago” (Beavercreek Community Theatre)
Nikki Wetter, “Spring Awakening”

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
Dick Block, “Gem of the Ocean”

Honorable Mentions:
David A. Centers, “God of Carnage”
Don David, “Death of a Salesman”
Mark Halpin, “Red”
Terry Stump, “The Crucible”

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Pam Knauert-Lavarnway, “Hairspray”

Honorable Mentions:
Don David, “The Phantom of the Opera”
Dan Gray, “Caroline, or Change”
Matt Kinley, “Les Miserables”
Robin Wagner, “Young Frankenstein” (Victoria Theatre Association)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
Colleen Alexis Metzger, “Gem of the Ocean”

Honorable Mentions:
Kathleen Hotmer, “The Crucible”
Mary Beth McLaughlin, “Death of a Salesman”
Linda Sellers, “Wittenberg”
Shirley Wasser, “The Pearl”

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Lisa Loen, “The Phantom of the Opera”

Honorable Mentions:
Costume Department/Costumer Janet Denman, “Hairspray”
Kristine Kearney, “Caroline, or Change”
Linda Sellers and Kim Kroll, “Chicago” (Beavercreek Community Theatre)
Molly Walz, “Spring Awakening”

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
John Rensel, “Gem of the Ocean”

Honorable Mentions:
Andy Balmert, “The Pearl”
Nicholas Crumbley, “Death of a Salesman”
Gina Neurer, “The Crucible”
John Rensel, “Red”

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Nicholas Crumbley, “The Phantom of the Opera”

Honorable Mentions:
Matthew P. Benjamin, “Hairspray”
Matthew P. Benjamin, “Rent”
Nicholas Crumbley, “Spring Awakening”
John Rensel, “Caroline, or Change”

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
Rich Dionne, “Gem of the Ocean”

Honorable Mentions:
Matthew J. Evans and Kyle Himsworth, “Eleemosynary”
Jon Lamb, “The Pearl”
Bob Mills and Fran Pesch, “Lost in Yonkers”
K.L. Storer, “Souvenir”

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
James Dunlap, “The Phantom of the Opera”

Honorable Mentions:
Nathan D. Dean, “Caroline, or Change”
James Dunlap, “Hairspray”
Mick Potter, “Les Miserables”
David Sherman, “The Wizard of Oz”

BEST VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN OF A PLAY
Patti Celek and Gion Defrancesco, “The Laramie Project”

Honorable Mentions:
Jake Pinholster and Daniel Brodie, “Wishful Drinking”
Tessa Trozzolillo, Alvoro Leite and Alfred C. Taylor, “Eleemosynary”

BEST VIDEO/PROJECTION DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Fifty-Nine Productions, “Les Miserables”

Honorable Mentions:
Michael Clark, “Jersey Boys”
Nicholas Crumbley, “Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage”
Jackson Gallagher, “Pump Up the Volume”
David Sherman, “The Wizard of Oz”

BEST ORCHESTRA
“Hairspray,” Musical director: Rick Church

Honorable Mentions:
“A Grand Night for Singing,” Musical director: Ron Kindell
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” Musical director: Thomas Kushmaul, Jr. (Clark State Community College)
“The Phantom of the Opera,” Musical director: Ryan Heinrich
“Wicked,” Musical director: Adam Souza

BEST PROPERTIES
Heather Powell, “Red”

Honorable Mentions:
John Lavarnway, “Hairspray”
John Lavarnway and Kim Townsend, “The Phantom of the Opera”
Heather Powell, “God of Carnage”
Terry Stump, “The Crucible”

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Stephen Brooker, Chris Jahnke and Stephen Metcalfe’s new and additional orchestrations for “Les Miserables”
Musical director Susan Carlock’s piano accompaniment for “Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage”
Shana Carroll and Gypsy Snider’s acrobatic choreography for “Traces”
Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” (Nutter Center)
Tristan Cupp’s mask design for “The Pearl”
Musical director Brad Ellis’ piano accompaniment and portrayal of Henry in “Love Makes the World Go ‘Round”
Robin Farinet’s costumes for the role of Florence Foster Jenkins in “Souvenir”
Carrie Fisher as herself in “Wishful Drinking”
Julian Fleisher’s original music for “Almost, Maine” (Sinclair)
Margaret Foley as Auditioner #10 in “The Auditioners”/Nebraska or Bust!: A Theater Benefit (Stivers School for the Arts)
Rick Good’s original music for “The Pearl”
Terry K. Hitt, Patrick Hayes, Wendi Michael and Jacqui Theobald’s illustrations for “Drawing Room” (Dayton Playhouse FutureFest)
Ashanti J’Aria, Kimberly Shay Hamby and Shawn Storms as the Radio in “Caroline, or Change”
Sharon Leahy’s choreography for “The Pearl”
Eugene Lee’s Tony-winning scenic design, Susan Hilferty’s Tony-winning costumes and Kenneth Posner’s Tony-nominated lighting design for “Wicked”
Natalie Sanders’ vocals as Eve/Mama in “Children of Eden”
Musical director Scot Woolley’s piano accompaniment for “Play it Cool”