Saluting Dayton’s 2013-14 Theater Season

Looking back on Dayton’s commendable 2013-14 theater season, appealing stories reflecting cries of revolution, love and forgiveness, identity and family, and relationships beyond repair gave audiences thought-provoking, richly rewarding memories.


Wright State University certainly triumphed with an exceptional Les Misérables which catapulted its musical theater component to astonishing degrees from performance to design. The beautiful complexity of The Magic Fire, the wonderful earthiness of Oklahoma!, and the dynamic electricity within The Wild Party also gave the organization cause to celebrate. Collegiate stages elsewhere saw fine work at Sinclair Community College (fittingly bookended by the riotous Monty Python’s Spamalot and A Flea in Her Ear) and in the University of Dayton’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum featuring the final set design of scenic/lighting designer Darrell Anderson who retired after 40 years of service.

In addition, the Dayton Theatre Guild notably delivered a terrific, well-balanced season heightened by its outstanding, superbly designed local premiere of Time Stands Still, an engrossing drama about a New York couple at odds. The Guild also provided praiseworthy accounts of hypocrisy (An Inspector Calls) and desperation (The Dead Guy). The Dayton Playhouse built momentum last summer with an impressive, historic tie for top honors at FutureFest: A Position of Relative Importance and The King’s Face. Additional Playhouse highlights included The Whales of August (helmed by FutureFest co-founder John Riley), Working, and a very entertaining Hairspray. Brookville Community Theatre’s The Importance of Being Earnest and Lebanon Theatre Company’s Into the Woods flew under the radar but delighted all the same. Leading the pack of special theatrical events, Epiphany Lutheran Church offered an absolutely luminous, smile-inducing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Professional companies reaped its share of successes as well. The Victoria Theatre Association’s Premier Health Broadway Series particularly supplied the wondrously inventive local premiere of the Tony Award-winning War Horse and a joyously heartfelt, smartly reconceived national tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. The Human Race Theatre Company brought a refreshingly intimate vision to Fiddler on the Roof and boldly resurrected Torch Song Trilogy with power and passion to enlighten a new generation. The emerging Dare to Defy Productions auspiciously joined the professional ranks with a very winning I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Zoot Theatre Company took an enjoyable leap into the musical theater realm with The Rocky Horror (Puppet) Show while showcasing its pedigree with an insightful, imaginative Animal Farm.
Assessing the 60 shows I saw this season, I congratulate the following winners (in bold) and nominees.

BEST PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Animal Farm, Zoot Theatre Company
Other Desert Cities, Human Race Theatre Company
Torch Song Trilogy, Human Race Theatre Company
War Horse, Victoria Theatre Association

BEST LOCALLY-PRODUCED PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL
Fiddler on the Roof, Human Race Theatre Company
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, Dare to Defy Productions
Play it By Heart, Human Race Theatre Company
The Rocky Horror (Puppet) Show, Zoot Theatre Company

BEST PROFESSIONAL TOURING MUSICAL
Bring it On: The Musical, Victoria Theatre Association
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Victoria Theatre Association
Memphis, Victoria Theatre Association
Million Dollar Quartet, Victoria Theatre Association
Sister Act, Victoria Theatre Association

BEST COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
An Inspector Calls, Dayton Theatre Guild
The Dead Guy, Dayton Theatre Guild
The Importance of Being Earnest, Brookville Community Theatre
Time Stands Still, Dayton Theatre Guild
The Whales of August, Dayton Playhouse

BEST COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
The Gifts of the Magi, Dayton Theatre Guild
Hairspray, Dayton Playhouse
Into the Woods, Lebanon Theatre Company
Working, Dayton Playhouse

BEST COLLEGIATE PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
A Flea in Her Ear, Sinclair Community College
A Shayna Maidel, Sinclair Community College
Harvey, Wright State University
The Magic Fire, Wright State University

BEST COLLEGIATE PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, University of Dayton
Les Misérables, Wright State University
Monty Python’s Spamalot, Sinclair Community College
Oklahoma!, Wright State University
The Wild Party, Wright State University

BEST NEW WORK
Hal Borden’s A Position of Relative Importance, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest
Marya Spring Cordes and Sean Michael Flowers’ Guarding Gold Street, Human Race Theatre Company
Steven Young’s The King’s Face, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest
Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond’s The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, Human Race Theatre Company
Tom Coash’s Veils, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest

BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT
The Best of Broadway, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Human Race Theatre Company
Black Violin, Victoria Theatre Association
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Epiphany Lutheran Church
Ragtime, Vandalia Youth Theatre Company
The Signature: A Poetic Medley Show Season 7 Opener, Oral Funk Poetry Productions and Human Race Theatre Company

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Cameron Blankenship as Elwood P. Dowd, Harvey
Alex Carmichal as James Goodwin, Time Stands Still
Christopher Hahn as Eldon Phelps, The Dead Guy
Josh Katawick as Prince Harry of Monmouth, The King’s Face
Charles Larkowski as Arthur Birling, An Inspector Calls
Jamison Stern as Arnold Beckoff, Torch Song Trilogy

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Cassandra Engber as Sarah Goodwin, Time Stands Still
Marcia C. Nowik as Sarah Webber, The Whales of August
Jennifer Joplin as Brooke Wyeth, Other Desert Cities
Taylor Montgomery as Veta Louise Simmons, Harvey
Annie Pesch as Samar, Veils
Kate Young as Polly Wyeth, Other Desert Cities

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Mark Beyer as Burrs, The Wild Party
JJ Parkey as Dr. Frank N. Furter, The Rocky Horror (Puppet) Show
Darick Pead as the Beast, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Drew Pulver as Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof
Andrew Quiett as Jean Valjean, Les Misérables
Brian Sharp as Edna Turnblad, Hairspray

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Rachel Coloff as Golde, Fiddler on the Roof
Paige Dobkins as Queenie, The Wild Party
Hilary Maiberger as Belle, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Sharva Maynard as Naomi Jasper, Play it By Heart
Lee Merrill as June, Guarding Gold Street
Jasmin Richardson as Felicia Farrell, Memphis

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Eric Arntz as Squealer, Animal Farm
Tommy DiMassimo as Gianni “Juan” Guarneri, The Magic Fire
John Hacker as Alan, Torch Song Trilogy
Charles Larkowski as Johnathon Bradmore, The King’s Face
Tray Shelton as Don Carlos Homenides de Histangua, A Flea in Her Ear
John Spitler as Charles, 45 Seconds From Broadway (Dayton Theatre Guild)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Amy Askins as Gina Yaweth, The Dead Guy
Patty Bell as Raylean, 45 Seconds From Broadway (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Annie Branning as Sybil Birling, An Inspector Calls
Debra A. Kent as Arlene, 45 Seconds From Broadway (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Patricia Linhart as Lady Blues/Mrs. Beckoff, Torch Song Trilogy
Debra Strauss as Cindy, 45 Seconds From Broadway (Dayton Theatre Guild)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Mark Beyer as Enjolras, Les Misérables
Drew Helton as Motel, Fiddler on the Roof
Bobby Mitchum as Willy Porter, The Gifts of the Magi
William “Kip” Moore as Ironworker, Publicist, Retiree and Father/Son, Working
Andrew Quiett as Jud Fry, Oklahoma!
Zack Steele as Marius, Les Misérables

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Kay Bosse as Nan, Guarding Gold Street
Natalie Houliston as Eddie and Dr. Scott, The Rocky Horror (Puppet) Show
Caitlyn Larsen as Yente/Grandma Tzeitel, Fiddler on the Roof
Kelli Locker as Velma Von Tussle, Hairspray
Liz Romey as Eponine, Les Misérables
Amy Wheeler as Fantine, Les Misérables

BREAKTHROUGH MALE PERFORMANCE
Ian Benjamin as Thenardier, Les Misérables
A.J. Breslin as Duvid Pechenik, A Shayna Maidel
Andrew Briner as John Worthing, The Importance of Being Earnest
Chris Carter as Milky White, Into the Woods
Law Dunford as Inspector Javert, Les Misérables
Leonardo Santucci as Eric Birling, An Inspector Calls

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE PERFORMANCE
Alyssa Brembeck as Maddalena Guarneri, The Magic Fire
Tori Kocher as Penny Pingleton, Hairspray
Caitlyn Maurmeier as Sheila Birling, An Inspector Calls
Cassie Mikat as Madame Thenardier, Les Misérables
Kelsey Pohl as Kate, The Wild Party
Katrina Pontius as Cecily Cardew, The Importance of Being Earnest

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Geoff Burkman, The King’s Face
Debra A. Kent, Time Stands Still
Lee Merrill, The Magic Fire
Margarett Perry, Other Desert Cities
Scott Stoney, Torch Song Trilogy

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Jamie Cordes, The Wild Party
Gina Kleesattel, Monty Python’s Spamalot
W. Stuart McDowell, Les Misérables
Kevin Moore, Fiddler on the Roof
Megan Wean Sears, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Andy Blankenbuehler, Bring it On: The Musical
Teressa Wylie McWilliams, Oklahoma!
Jermaine R. Rembert, Memphis
Megan Wean Sears, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Dionysia Williams, The Wild Party

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
Michael Amico, Harvey
Fred Blumenthal, 45 Seconds From Broadway (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Tamara L. Honesty, Other Desert Cities
Chris Newman, An Inspector Calls
Blake Senseman, Time Stands Still

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Darrell Anderson, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Dick Block, Fiddler on the Roof
Pam Knauert Lavarnway, Les Misérables
Chris Newman, Hairspray
Terry Stump, Monty Python’s Spamalot

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
D. Bartlett Blair, Harvey
David J. Castellano, The Magic Fire
Carol Finley, An Inspector Calls
Kathleen Hotmer, A Flea in Her Ear
Janet G. Powell, Other Desert Cities

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
D. Bartlett Blair, Les Misérables
Steve Burton and Tim Grewe, Hairspray
Kathleen Hotmer, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Maria Klueber and Lori Watamaniuk, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Lisa Loen, Oklahoma!

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
Daniel Brunk, A Shayna Maidel
David Corson, Time Stands Still
John Falkenbach, The King’s Face
Samantha Jelinek, The Magic Fire
Erin Jones, Harvey

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Matthew P. Benjamin and Erin Jones, Les Misérables
Joe Beumer, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Timothy A. Guth, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Kody Lupori, The Wild Party
John Rensel, Fiddler on the Roof

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
Nathan D. Dean, Animal Farm
Richard M. Dionne, Torch Song Trilogy
James Dunlap, The Magic Fire
Fran Pesch, Veils
K.L Storer, Time Stands Still

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Nathan D. Dean, Fiddler on the Roof
James Dunlap, Les Misérables
James Dunlap, Oklahoma!
Kai Harada, Million Dollar Quartet
Cody Spencer, Bring it On: The Musical

BEST ORCHESTRA
Hairspray (Musical Director: Judy Mansky)
Monty Python’s Spamalot (Musical Director: Daniel Greene; Conductor: Dr. Kenneth Kohlenberg)
Les Misérables (Musical Director: Scot Woolley)
Oklahoma! (Wright State) (Musical Director: Scot Woolley)
The Wild Party (Musical Director: Sherri Sutter; Conductor: Ian Benjamin)

BEST PROPERTIES
Jason Hamen and Adrienne Niess, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
John Lavarnway, Les Misérables
John Lavarnway, The Magic Fire
Tina McPhearson and Chris Newman, Hairspray
Blake Senseman and Deirdre Bray Root, Time Stands Still

 

 

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• Jacklyn Alexa’s prosthetics/makeup, Jim Foreman and Amanda Gray’s properties, Charles Larkowski’s music selections, Fran Pesch’s set design, Deirdre Root’s costumes, and Blake Senseman’s props and extractor fabrication for The King’s Face
• George Abud, Jay Brunner, Brent Eresman, and Joel Greenberg as the kletzmer band of Fiddler on the Roof
• Michael and Sandy Bashaw’s music accompaniment for Fellow Passengers (Dayton Playhouse)
• Julia Brown’s piano accompaniment and Josh Vantilburgh’s violin accompaniment for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
• Bruce Brown’s scenic design for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Tiffany Cichanowicz as Dream Laurey in the Dream Ballet of Oklahoma! choreographed by Barbara Pontecorvo (Dayton Playhouse)
• Deb Colvin-Tener, Jamie Cordes, Marya Spring Cordes, Scott Hunt, Patricia Linhart, Claire Northcut, Katie Pees, Jay Pierce, Scott Stoney, and Michelle Zimmerman in The Best of Broadway
• Megan Cooper, Franklin Johnson and Charles Larkowski as Ebenezer Scrooge and others in Fellow Passengers (Dayton Playhouse)
• John Countryman as Jerry Lee Lewis, Tyler K. Hunter as Elvis Presley, Scott Moreau as Johnny Cash, and H. Bradley Waters as Carl Perkins in Million Dollar Quartet
• D. Tristan Cupp and Leesa Haapapuro’s puppet design for Animal Farm
• Jackie Darnell, Zach King, Bobby Mitchum and Mackensie Vonderbrink in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
• Fred Garbo, Joe Deer, Lula Elzy, Douglas Merk, and Timothy Olt fashioning “The Circus McGurkus” for Seussical (Muse Machine)
• Director Steven Haines and Bryan Wallingford as the Baker for Into the Woods
• David Hallowren as Jud Fry, Karen Righter as Aunt Eller and Jeff Sams as Curly in Oklahoma! (Dayton Playhouse)
• David Hallowren as Ebenezer Scrooge, Leonardo Santucci as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and Maximillian Santucci as Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play (Undercroft Players)
• Mathys Herbert as Otto Berg in The Magic Fire
• Tony Ray Hicks’ costumes for Fiddler on the Roof
• Joshua Hughes’ rendition of “Those Canaan Days” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Director Lisa Howard-Welch and Patti King as Lady Bracknell for The Importance of Being Earnest
• Jux-ta-posed, Sinclair’s presentation of new works, featuring Nelson Sheeley’s The Art of Dying and John Ray’s Gilligan, the Titanic, and Other Small Tragedies
• Annettte Looper’s choreography for Hairspray
• The Muse Machine’s All You Need is Love: The Music of the Beatles and Friends summer concert featuring Amber Knicole’s renditions of “Eleanor Rigby” and “Hey Jude”
• Chris Newman’s scenic design for Fellow Passengers and Oklahoma! (Dayton Playhouse)
• John Riley’s scenic design for The Whales of August
• Director Bijan Sheibani, Handspring Puppet Company’s puppetry, Tony-winning sound designer Christopher Shutt, and Karen Spahn’s adaptation of Paule Constable’s Tony-winning lighting design for War Horse
• Linda Sellers’ costumes for The Gifts of the Magi
• K.L. Storer’s music selections for Time Stands Still
• Deborah Thomas’ dialect coaching and Lydia Watson’s scenic design for The Magic Fire
• Rodney Veal’s choreography for Monty Python’s Spamalot
• Luke Williams’ piano accompaniment for The Gifts of the Magi and Into the Woods
• Ayn Kaetchen Wood’s costumes for The Rocky Horror (Puppet) Show
• Ray Zupp’s set design for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change