Saluting Dayton’s 2017-18 Theater Season

Stories about a high school rocked by prejudice, families in Brooklyn and Russia trying to hold on against all odds, a pastor’s controversial epiphany, building connections through online gaming, and the African-American experience from the Harlem Renaissance to the Trump Era were the catalysts for some of the best productions of Dayton’s 2017-2018 theater season.

One never knows how a season will be shaped by current events, but Sinclair Community College’s relevant instincts about gun violence and racial divisiveness served them well thanks to particularly thought-provoking productions of Bang Bang, You’re Dead! and Blood at the Root, the latter superbly bolstered by poignant images of various social justice movements throughout our country’s history. At Wright State University, Fiddler on the Roof, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Fun Home, and Urinetown once again showcased the inherent strengths of its esteemed musical theatre department. University of Dayton’s crowd-pleasing Grease was a delight, and Cedarville University impressed with a compelling Diary of Anne Frank.
On professional stages, the Victoria Theatre Association secured an assortment of solid national tours from the breathtakingly choreographed An American in Paris to the Broadway-caliber, kooky Renaissance spoof Something Rotten! The Human Race Theatre Company offered the charming American premiere of the developmental-yet-promising Legendale, the local premiere of the hysterical and biting comedy The House, and a marvelously acted and directed Brighton Beach Memoirs. La Comedia Dinner Theatre put forth its very best with striking productions of Mamma Mia! and The Color Purple. Dare to Defy Productions hit the target with a highly entertaining Seussical and a lovely Little Women. The fantastically raw and reliably risk-taking Playground Theatre cut deep with Tape and a splendid exploration of The Tutors, two knockouts fueling the company’s edgy off-Broadway-flavored pedigree. The pre-professional handiwork of the Muse Machine is also notable considering Sara LiBrandi’s exceptionally mature embodiment of meddlesome matchmaker Dolly Levi in the rousing Hello, Dolly! 

At community theaters, feel-good musicals and diverse plays rose to the top. Dayton Theatre Guild’s penchant for contemporary dramas resulted in a terrifically true-to-life look at The Christians. Young at Heart Players stepped outside the box to deliver a firm local premiere of unconventional Well. Flying under the radar, Undercroft Players warmly appealed with It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play. Before heading to Springboro to begin a new chapter, Playhouse South said farewell to Kettering’s Clark Haines Theatre with a rollicking Rock of Ages. Dayton Playhouse raised the roof with a joyous Sister Act and boosted the potential of FutureFest finalist Desireé York’s The Puppeteer, which feels poised to have a greater cultural impact if given more national exposure. York’s dynamic and topical drama, examining the breadth of the African-American journey as seen through the generational perspective of one woman’s lineage, starred Carolyn L. Seymour in a mesmerizing, decade-shifting execution of style, range and nuance.
Assessing the 80 shows I saw last season, I congratulate the following winners (in bold) and nominees.

BEST TOURING PRODUCTION
An American in Paris, Victoria Theatre Association
Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Victoria Theatre Association, Pittsburgh CLO and Kansas City Starlight Theatre
In the Heights, Victoria Theatre Association and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in collaboration with Teatro del Pueblo
The Phantom of the Opera, Victoria Theatre Association
Something Rotten!, Victoria Theatre Association

 

BEST PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
A Christmas Story, Human Race Theatre Company and Victoria Theatre Association
Brighton Beach Memoirs, Human Race Theatre Company
The House, Human Race Theatre Company
Tape, Playground Theatre
The Tutors, Playground Theatre

BEST LOCALLY-PRODUCED PROFESSIONAL MUSICAL
The Color Purple, La Comedia Dinner Theatre
Legendale, Human Race Theatre Company
Little Women, Dare to Defy Productions
Mamma Mia!, La Comedia Dinner Theatre
Seussical, Dare to Defy Productions

BEST COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
A Few Good Men, Dayton Playhouse
The Christians, Dayton Theatre Guild
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, Undercroft Players
The Other Place, Dayton Theatre Guild
Well, Young at Heart Players

BEST COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Beehive, Dayton Playhouse
Company, Beavercreek Community Theatre
Oklahoma!, Brookville Community Theatre
Rock of Ages, Playhouse South
Sister Act, Dayton Playhouse

BEST COLLEGIATE PRODUCTION OF A PLAY
Blood at the Root, Sinclair Community College
Blues for an Alabama Sky, Sinclair Community College
The Diary of Anne Frank, Cedarville University
The Grapes of Wrath, Wright State University
Radio Plays, Sinclair Community College
You Can’t Take it With You, Wright State University

BEST COLLEGIATE PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
A Charlie Brown Christmas, Sinclair Community College
Fiddler on the Roof, Wright State University
Grease, University of Dayton
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Wright State University
Urinetown, Wright State University

BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT
Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Wright State University
Bang Bang, You’re Dead!, Sinclair Community College
Fun Home, Wright State University
Hello, Dolly!, Muse Machine
Jesus Christ Superstar, Epiphany Lutheran Church

BEST NEW WORK
Andrea Daly and Jeff Bienstock’s Legendale, Human Race Theatre Company
Eli Davis’ First in Flight, Wright State University
Peter Filichia’s Adam’s Gifts, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest
Vince Gatton’s Wake, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest
Olga Humphrey’s Magnificent Hubba Hubba, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest
Desireé York’s The Puppeteer, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Eric Deiboldt as Eugene, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Charles Larkowski as King Lear, King Lear (Clark State Community College)
Skyler McNeely as Toby, The Tutors
Philip Stock as Prior Walter, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Scott Stoney as Martyn Redmond, The House
Richard Young as Paul, The Christians

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Amy Askins as Juliana Smithson, The Other Place
Bryana Bentley as Angel, Blues for an Alabama Sky
Lisa Ann Goldsmith as Kate, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Jenna Gomes as Heidi, The Tutors
Becky Howard as Lucille (a.k.a. The Magnificent Hubba Hubba), Magnificent Hubba Hubba
Caitlin Larsen as Shanny Redmond, The House

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Josh Beasley as Bruce Bechdel, Fun Home
A.J. Breslin as the Cat in the Hat, Seussical
Max Crumm as Andy, Legendale
David Emery as Bobby Strong, Urinetown
Justin Gregory Lopez as Usnavi, In the Heights
Bobby Mitchum as Jon, Tick, Tick…Boom! (Dare to Defy Productions)

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Jennifer Allen as Ursula, Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Sarah Bockel as Carole King, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Victoria Theatre Association)
Melissa Hall as Jo March, Little Women
Cecelia Monica-Lyn as Celie, The Color Purple
Brianna Russ as Judas Iscariot, Jesus Christ Superstar
Tia Seay as Deloris Van Cartier, Sister Act

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Mike Beerbower as George Deever, All My Sons (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Richard Buchanan as Stanley, Brighton Beach Memoirs
B. Lee Drew as Colonel Nathan Jessep, A Few Good Men
Vince Gatton as Fischer Libett, The House
Chaney Mason Morrow as Edmund, King Lear (Clark State Community College)
Rory Sheridan as Jack, Brighton Beach Memoirs

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Kari Carter as Ann Deever, All My Sons (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Jill Evans as Elizabeth, The Christians
Barbara Jorgensen as Ann, Well
Sonia Perez as Blanche, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Fran Pesch as Alice (a.k.a. Headlock Liplock), Magnificent Hubba Hubba
Alex Sunderhaus as Lindsay Libett, The House

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Darren Brown as Uncle Ernie, The Who’s Tommy (Dare to Defy Productions)
Tommy Cole as Barnaby Tucker, Hello, Dolly!
Philip Drennen as Michael, Tick, Tick…Boom! (Dare to Defy Productions)
Justin Matthews as Pontius Pilate, Jesus Christ Superstar
Kyle Miller as John Jasper, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Nathan Pax as Lonny, Rock of Ages

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Dana Bixler as Small Allison, Fun Home
Erica Lynn Bridge as Sophie, Mamma Mia!
Abby Church as Cow Maiden/Zelayna, Legendale
Kim Comacho as Gertrude McFuzz, Seussical
Meghan Rupper as Medium Allison, Fun Home
Alejandria Solis as Little Sally, Urinetown

BREAKTHROUGH MALE PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Ryan Grissett as Milo, The Tutors
Zach Katris as Stanley Kowalski, A Streetcar Named Desire (Beavercreek Community Theatre)
Justin Lampkins as Guy, Blues for an Alabama Sky
Jack Lockwood as Adam Romano and Young William, Adam’s Gifts
Nick Martin as Joe Pitt, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Jamie McQuinn as Morrie Schwartz, Tuesdays with Morrie (Young at Heart Players)

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Isabella Andrews as Harper Pitt, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
Sydney Baker as Sara, Radio Plays
Gwendolyn Gay as Joanne Galloway, A Few Good Men
Carolyn L. Seymour as Constance/Connie, The Puppeteer
Katie Sinicki as Nora, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Kelsie Slaugh as Amy, Tape

BREAKTHROUGH MALE PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Tristan Allen as Caldwell B. Cladwell, Urinetown
Will Graber as Glenn Curtiss, First in Flight
Jake Jones as Horace Vandergelder, Hello, Dolly!
Chavin Medina as Jojo, Seussical
Thomas Pedrotti as Jud Fry, Oklahoma!
Garrett Young as Bat Boy, Bat Boy: The Musical (Dare to Defy Productions)

BREAKTHROUGH FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Casey Borghesi as Princess Puffer, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Samantha Faye Creech as Shelley Parker, Bat Boy: The Musical (Dare to Defy Productions)
Kara Freeman as Sherrie, Rock of Ages
Sara LiBrandi as Dolly Gallagher Levi, Hello, Dolly!
Alaina Saliba as Sandy Dumbrowski, Grease
Kiama Wa-Tenza as Irene Molloy, Hello, Dolly!

BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Marya Spring Cordes, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Christopher Hahn and Jenna Valyn, The Tutors
Chris Harmon, Blood at the Root
Diane Conrad Merchant, The Diary of Anne Frank
Margarett Perry, The House
Annie Pesch, Magnificent Hubba Hubba

BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
Joe Deer, Hello, Dolly!
Greg Hellems, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
W. Stuart McDowell, Fiddler on the Roof
Megan Wean Sears, Jesus Christ Superstar
John Simpkins, Legendale
Megan Valle, Fun Home

BEST LOCAL CHOREOGRAPHY
Jessica Eggleston, Urinetown
Lula Elzy, Hello, Dolly!
Amy Renee Jones, Grease
Teressa Wylie McWilliams, Fiddler on the Roof
Michael Shepherd, Seussical
Rodney Veal, Blood at the Root

BEST TOURING CHOREOGRAPHY
Scott Ambler, The Phantom of the Opera
Alberto Justiniano and James A. Rocco, In the Heights
John MacInnis, Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Casey Nicholaw, Something Rotten!
Josh Prince, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Victoria Theatre Association)
Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY
Dick Block, A Christmas Story
David J. Castellano, You Can’t Take it With You
Dan Gray, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Chris Harmon, All My Sons (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Gisela Mullican, The Diary of Anne Frank
Terry Stump, Blues for an Alabama Sky

BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Bruce Brockman, Hello, Dolly!
Paul Brown, The Phantom of the Opera
Matthew J. Evans, Grease
Pam Knauert Lavarnway, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Michael Schweikardt, Legendale
Ray Zupp, The Color Purple

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY
David Arevalo, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Elizabeth Bourgeois, The Grapes of Wrath
Carol Finley, All My Sons (Dayton Theatre Guild)
Kathleen Hotmer, Blues for an Alabama Sky
Rebekah Priebe, The Diary of Anne Frank
Courtney Zimmerman, You Can’t Take it With You

BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Elizabeth Bourgeois, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Emercita Erb, The Color Purple
Jordan Norgaard, Little Women
Naomi Reisner, Fiddler on the Roof
Dixon Reynolds, Hello, Dolly!
Ayn Kaethchen Wood, Anna Juul Holm and Lotte Blichfeldt, Legendale

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY
Derek Dunavent, The Tutors
Emily Hope, The Grapes of Wrath
Gisela Mullican, The Diary of Anne Frank
Gabe Reichert, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
John Rensel, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Jennifer Watson, You Can’t Take it With You

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Matthew P. Benjamin, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Emily Hope, Urinetown
Charlie Morrison, Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Gabe Reichert, Fun Home
John Rensel, Legendale
Richard Lee Waldeck, Bat Boy: The Musical (Dare to Defy Productions)

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY
T.L. Denen, The Diary of Anne Frank
James Dunlap, The Grapes of Wrath
Sarah Parrott, Radio Plays
Sarah Saunders, Jonathan Kalis, Mandy Shannon, Allison Clark, Cate Shannon, Terry Morris, and Cassie Wigginton-Hayes, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play
Silas Sheckels, You Can’t Take it With You
K.L. Storer, All My Sons (Dayton Theatre Guild)

BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL
Jay Brunner, Legendale
Ryan Burgdorf, Fiddler on the Roof
Ed Chapman and Randy Hansen, Disney’s The Little Mermaid
James Dunlap, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Mick Potter, The Phantom of the Opera
Chuck Young, Bat Boy: The Musical (Dare to Defy Productions)

BEST ORCHESTRA
An American in Paris, Musical Director: David Andrews Rogers
Chess, Musical Director: Andrew Hackworth (Playhouse South)
Fiddler on the Roof, Musical Director: Scot Woolley
Hello, Dolly!, Musical Director: Sean Michael Flowers
Seussical, Musical Director: Lorri Topping
Something Rotten!, Musical Director: Brian P. Kennedy

BEST PROPERTIES
Gregory Davis, Radio Plays
Blake Hansher, Hunter Johnson, Ahna Mellinger, and Sara Warnshuis, The Diary of Anne Frank
John Lavarnway, You Can’t Take it With You
Heather Powell, The House
Heather Powell, Anna Juul Holm and Lotte Blichfeldt, Legendale
Deidre Root, Bakersfield Mist (Dayton Theatre Guild)

BEST PROJECTION DESIGN
David Bengali, Legendale
Matthew P. Benjamin, The Grapes of Wrath
Bobby Morgan, Jesus Christ Superstar
Gary Thompson, The Other Place
Rodney Veal, Fahrenheit 451 (Sinclair Community College)

 

ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

• The cast of Adam’s Gifts: Saul Caplan as William Pront, Matthew Lindsay as Jason Romano and Sam Falcon, Tori Kocher as Glynis, Cassandra Engber as Lisa Pinewski and Mary Chalmers, Jack Lockwood as Adam Romano and Young William, and Kelli Locker as Narrator
• The cast of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches: Justin Matthews as Roy Cohn, Nick Martin as Joe Pitt, Isabella Andrews as Harper Pitt, Philip Stock as Prior Walter, Hunter Minor as Louis Ironson, Mark Antony Howard as Belize, Heather Cooperman as Hannah Pitt and others, and Kaitlyn Campbell as Angel and others
• The cast of Bachelorette (Playground Theatre): Kaleigh-Brooke Dillingham as Regan, Mary (Alaska) Stoughton as Gena, MacKenzie Aaryn Stephens as Katie, Jenna Valyn as Becky, Darren Lee Brown as Jeff, and Christopher Hahn as Joe
• The cast of Beehive: Kailey Yeakley as Alison, Madeline Hart as Pattie, Tamar Fishbein as Wanda, Shanna Comacho as Laura, Elana Elmore as Gina, and Alicia Walton as Jasmine
• The cast of Blood at the Root: S. Francis Livisay as Justin, Justin Lampkins as De’Andre, Elisha Chamberlin as Colin, Paige Jacobs as Asha, Amber Smith as Raylynn, Chelsey Hall as Toria, and ensemble members DeShawn Christian, Karley Holdeman, Christopher Goez, Valkyrie Williams, and Shaun Diggs
• The cast of Blues for an Alabama Sky: Bryana Bentley as Angel, Justin Lampkins as Guy, Erin McGee as Delia, S. Francis Livisay as Sam, and Shaun Diggs as Leland
• The cast of Brighton Beach Memoirs: Richard Buchanan as Stanley, Eric Deiboldt as Eugene, Lisa Ann Goldsmith as Kate, Julie Murphy as Laurie, Sonia Perez as Blanche, Rory Sheridan as Jack, and Katie Sinicki as Nora
• The cast of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] (Human Race Theatre Company): Bruce Cromer as Bruce, Jordan Laroya as Jordan, and Shaun Patrick Tubbs as Shaun
• The cast of The Diary of Anne Frank: Gabrielle Bauman as Anne Frank, Andrew J Standley as Mr. Frank, Heather Lange as Mrs. Frank, Christine Amadea Nietert as Margot Frank, Stephen M. De Jong as Mr. van Daan, Claire Feathers as Mrs. van Daan, William Douglas as Peter van Daan, Remy James Patterson as Mr. Dussel, Nathan Robertson as Mr. Kraler, and Susanna Edwards as Miep
• The cast of Fun Home: Megan Valle as Allison Bechdel, Meghan Rupper as Medium Allison, Dana Bixler as Small Allison, Josh Beasley as Bruce Bechdel, Rachel Mary Green as Helen Bechdel, Aaron Roitman as Christian Bechdel, Kyle Krichbaum as John Bechdel, Hannah Neff as Joan, and Tristan Allen as Pete/Roy/Mark/Bobby/Jeremy
• The cast of The Grapes of Wrath: Christina Fiala as Reverend Casey, Dylan Tacker as Tom Joad, Louis Kurtzman as Al Joad, Nick Martin as Noah Joad, Hailey Noll as Ruthie Joad, Eric Pettit as Winfred Joad, MacKenzie Stephens as Rose of Sharon, Isaac Ingle as Pa Joad, Alexia Vlahos as Ma Joad, Eli Davis as Grandpa, Haley Knuth as Grandma, Joe Green as Uncle John, Aaron Roitman as Connie Rivers; Female Ensemble: Lauren Everett, Mallory Kraus, Brynann McNeill, Sophie Kirk, Donnasis Allen, Caitlyn Shiner; Male Ensemble: Colin Hodgkin, David Bayes, Jeremy Farley, Rayquon Brown, Everett Walker, Ross Bloedorn, Logan Kitchens, Christian Schaefer, and George Heddleston.
• The cast of Magnificent Hubba Hubba: Becky Howard as Lucille, Thomas L. Troutman as Roy, Fran Pesch as Alice, Hannah Stickel as Lulu, David Hallowren as Zane/Announcer, Melissa Ertsgaard in various roles, and Shanna Camacho in various roles
• The cast of Radio Plays: Sydney Baker as Sara and Karla, Chelsea Overman as Amber, Christopher Goetz as Mike/Rumbling Voice/Voice 3, Olivia Weldon as Lindsay, DeShawn Christian as Joshua/Cold Voice, Micah Koverman as Spokesperson/Jim/Voice 1, Sabrina Lundberg as Mom/Ms. Hannigan/Voice 2, Elisha Chamberlin as Jeff, Leonardo Santucci as James Brent, Karley Holdeman as Pam Brent, Sarah Skeans as Mary Curtis/Operator/Woman, Sara Eldred as Fay/Mrs. Lamb, Robert Hyer as Evan Curtis/Porter/Station Announcer/Man, and Maximilian Santucci as Mr. Enerdby/Porter/Inspector Narracott and playwright of Frog Eater
• The cast of Sex with Strangers (Human Race Theatre Company): Jennifer Johansen as Olivia and Ben Palacios as Ethan
• The cast of Stella and Lou (Dayton Theatre Guild): Geoff Burkman as Lou, Amy Taint as Stella, and Adam Clevenger as Donnie
• The cast of Tape: A.J. Breslin as Jon, Christopher Hahn as Vince, and Kelsie Slaugh as Amy
• The cast of Tick, Tick…Boom! (Dare to Defy Productions): Bobby Mitchum as Jon, Philip Drennen as Michael, and Danielle Ruddy as Susan
• The cast of The Tutors: A.J. Breslin as Joe, Jenna Gomes as Heidi, Ryan Grissett as Milo, Skyler McNeely as Toby, and Boyang Zhang as Kwan
• The cast of Well: Annie Pesch as Lisa, Barbara Jorgensen as Ann, Steve Strawser as Howard Norris and others, Bryana Bentley as Lori Jones and others, Kerry Simpson as Joy and others, and Justin Lampkins as Big Oscar and others
• The women of The Color Purple: Cecelia Monica-Lyn as Celie, Amber Eldreion as Sofia, Kendra Guy as Shug Avery, El More as Church Lady Darlene, Sarah-Gloriel M. Ogayonne as Church Lady Jarene, Samantha Renee’ as Church Lady Doris, Bri Thomas as Squeak, and Tenna Torres as Nettie
• Celia Arthur as Vi in Wright State University’s The Memory of Water 
• David Baker as Adam/Felicia in INNOVAtheatre’s Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
• Danielle Bessler as Mayzie LaBird in Seussical
• Aaron Brewer as Drew, Nick Bellmyer as Dennis, Jordan Eechaute-Lopez as Regina, Tyler Wessel as Stacee Jaxx, Stephen Gogel as Franz, Ted Elzroth as Hertz, Madison Galloway as Justice, Aeriel Aniballi as Protester, and percussionist Tyler Ohlemacher in Rock of Ages
• Andrew Brewer as Gerry Goffin, Sarah Goeke as Cynthia Weil, and Jacob Heimer as Barry Mann in Victoria Theatre Association’s Beautiful – The Carole King Musical
• Ashton Brunn as Josh in Bang Bang, You’re Dead!
• Geoff Burkman as Gloucester, Mike Taint as Kent, Larry Coressel as Cornwall, Kathleen Day as Goneril, and Emily Parsons as Regan in Clark State Community College’s King Lear
• Lindsey Cardoza as Florence, TC Schreier as Freddie, TJ Montgomery as Anatoly, Jim Brown as Molokov, Madison Galloway as Svetlana, and Matthew Clifton as Arbiter in Playhouse South’s Chess
• Kathleen Carroll, Tim Grewe and Tina McPhearson’s costumes, Annette Looper’s choreography, Steve Burton’s wigs, and musical directors Tim Rezash and Ron Kindell’s orchestra for Beehive
• Patti Celek’s archival photo collection for Blood at the Root
• Laurence Connor’s direction of The Phantom of the Opera
• Marya Spring Cordes’ direction of The Grapes of Wrath
• Bruce Coughlin’s orchestrations and Gina Cerimele-Mechley’s fight choreography for Legendale
• Tristan Cupp’s set for Dayton Theatre Guild’s Stella and Lou
• James Dunlap and Rick Good’s original songs for The Grapes of Wrath
• Sean Michael Flowers’ music direction for First in Flight
• Steven Greenwalt as Cornelius Hackl, Ben Kneblik as Ambrose Kemper, Charlotte Kunesh as Ermengarde, Diane Isom as Ernestina, Melanie Dodson as Mrs. Rose, David Shockey as Rudolph, Fischer Barnett as Head Cook/Painter, Michael Taylor as Judge, Darian Watson as Court Reporter, and the Parade Kids in Hello, Dolly!
• Chris Harmon’s set and Josh Hollister’s costumes for Beavercreek Community Theatre’s Urinetown
• Chris Harmon’s set for Beavercreek Community Theatre’s A Streetcar Named Desire and Company
• Patrick Allyn Hayes as Mitch Albom in Young at Heart Players’ Tuesdays with Morrie
• Patrick Allyn Hayes’ set design and Patrick Allyn Hayes, Deirdre Root, Mark Mickle, and Rick Flynn’s set dressing for Dayton Theatre Guild’s Bakersfield Mist
• Diana Huey as Ariel and Paul Rubin’s flying sequences in the national tour of Disney’s The Little Mermaid
• De’Aaron Isaac as Curly, Monica Impson as Laurey, Cindi Cuny as Aunt Eller, Kendal Garrett as Will Parker, Elizabeth Pedrotti as Ado Annie Carnes, and Allison Gabert as Dream Laurey in Oklahoma!
• McGee Maddox as Jerry Mulligan, Allison Walsh as Lise Dassin, Matthew Scott as Adam Hochberg, Kirsten Scott as Milo Davenport, Bob Crowley and 59 Productions’ Tony-winning scenic design/projection design, and Natasha Katz’s Tony-winning lighting design in An American in Paris
• Greg Mallios as Ralph Parker and others and Katie Pees as Miss Shields and others in A Christmas Story
• Rob McClure as Nick Bottom, Josh Grisetti as Nigel Bottom, Adam Pascal as William Shakespeare, and Autumn Hurlbert as Portia in Something Rotten!
• Abbie Miller as April and Danielle Ruddy’s rendition of “Getting Married Today” as Amy in Company
• Bobby Mitchum as Lorraine in Dare to Defy’s Bat Boy: The Musical
• William “Kip” Moore’s cultural imagery for The Puppeteer
• Chris Newman’s artwork for Dayton Playhouse FutureFest’s On Pine Knoll Street
• The orchestra of Dare to Defy’s The Who’s Tommy, Musical Director: Zac Clemens
• Kean Petrello as Jesus Christ, Desmond Thomas as Judas Iscariot, Kara Miller and Laura Jacobs as Mary Magdalene, Christian Schaefer as Pontius Pilate, David Egbert and Nick Kress as Caiaphas, Rachel Woeste and Margo Russ as Annas, Bridget Miley and Lily Cutler as Peter, Meghan Rupper and Andrew Gochenaur as Simon Zealotes, Timmy Seiler and Chris Scharf as King Herod, Marisha Osowski as Dancer, and Brian Hoff, Kellie Daab, and Sam Layman as the Priests in Jesus Christ Superstar
• Angelé Price as Ursula, William “Kip” Moore as Sebastian, Samantha Creech as Scuttle, Chavin Medina as Flounder, Chris “Red” Newman’s sets, Janet Powell’s costumes, Richard Lee Waldeck’s lighting, and Ray Zupp’s projections for Dayton Playhouse’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid
• Rebekah Priebe’s hair and makeup design, Calvin Hitchcock’s music direction, Rebecca Baker’s dialect coaching, instrumentalists Sharri K. Hall and Josh Dissmore, and the vocal talent of Natalia Kirychuk, Jeremy Smith and Josh Gram for The Diary of Anne Frank
• Jeff Sams as Chris Keller and David Williamson as Joe Keller in Dayton Theatre Guild’s All My Sons
• Christian Schaefer’s direction of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches
• Lindsay Sherman as Meg March, Samantha Creech as Amy March, Jessi Stark as Beth March, and Lorri Topping as Marmee March in Little Women
• Deborah Thomas’ dialect coaching for The Mystery of Edwin Drood
• Shyra Thomas as Esme in Wake
• Aaron Vega’s direction and Jay Brunner’s sound design of The Human Race Theatre Company’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]
• Alicia Walton as Sister Mary Robert, Shanna Camacho as Sister Mary Patrick, Donna Cason as Sister Mary Lazarus, Elaine Smith as Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours, Dawn Roth-Smith as Sister Mary Theresa, and the Nun Ensemble of Sister Act