With an astounding 43 nominations, The Little Theatre of Alexandria led the way as the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors announced the nominees for the 2012 WATCH Awards Jan. 15 at the Birchmere Music Hall.
Last summer's blockbuster production of "Hairspray" garnered 22 nominations — including Outstanding Musical — the most of any single community theatre production in the Washington region. The farcical comedy "Noises Off" was nominated for Outstanding Play.
"I'm very happy," said Sue Pinkman, who earned a nod as Outstanding Director of a Musical for "Hairspray." "Everyone worked so hard on all of these productions and we are very excited about our nominations."
Shannon Kingett earned an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical nomination for her role as the spunky Tracy Turnblad and Christopher Harris is up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his role as Tracy's mother Edna. Other acting nominations from "Hairspray" include Adrian Cubbage as Seaweed J. Stubbs, Jaclyn Young as Penny Pingleton, Scott J. Strasbaugh as Mr. Pinky, Gina C. Tomkus as Matron/Gym Teacher, Mark Williams as High School Principal and Brenda Parker as Motormouth Maybelle.
"Noises Off" walked away with six nominations, including Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play for Adam Downs. "Move Over Mrs. Markham" earned six nominations and "Widdershins" is up for four awards. The musical "Oliver! garnered three nominations and the mesmerizing drama "Rabbit Hole" walked away with two, including Outstanding Direction of a Play for Joanna Henry.
Alexandria's Port City Playhouse received three nominations, all in the marquee acting categories: Mark Lee Adams as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play for "Mindgame," Robin Zerbe as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play for "Angel: A Nightmare in Two Acts" and Lolita-Marie as Outstanding Actress in a Play for what is commonly referred to as the "No" play.
"I am so proud of Port City," said Adams after his nomination was announced. "Sometimes it's hard for the smaller theatre companies to break through the WATCH Awards. But that was the best role I have ever played. You know it's a good role when you miss it after the show closes."
Nominees were selected from 127 productions that were adjudicated at 32 community theatre companies. In each of 38 categories, five nominees (more in case of a tie) were selected based on the average scores of eight judges.
Winners will be announced at the WATCH Awards ceremony March 11 at The Birchmere Music Hall.
Little Theatre of Alexandria 2012 WATCH Nominations
- Outstanding Cameo in a Musical - Scott J. Strasbaugh as "Mr. Pinky" - Hairspray
- Outstanding Cameo in a Musical - Gina C. Tomkus as "Matron/Gym Teacher" - Hairspray
- Outstanding Cameo in a Musical - Mark Williams as "High School Principal" - Hairspray
- Outstanding Choreography - Ivan Davila - Hairspray
- Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical - Jean Schlichting & Kit Sibley - Hairspray
- Outstanding Direction of a Musical - Sue Pinkman - Hairspray
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Adrian Cubbage as "Seaweed J. Stubbs" - Hairspray
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Brenda Parker as "Motormouth Maybelle" - Hairspray
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Jaclyn Young as "Penny Pingleton" - Hairspray
- Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical - Anna Michelle Jackson & Irene Kasotakis - Hairspray
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - Christopher Harris as "Edna Turnblad" - Hairspray
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical - Shannon Kingett as "Tracy Turnblad" - Hairspray
- Outstanding Light Design in a Musical - Franklin C. Coleman - Hairspray
- Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical - Robin Parker - Hairspray
- Outstanding Music Direction - Christopher A. Tomasino - Hairspray
- Outstanding Musical - Hairspray
- Outstanding Properties in a Musical - Judy Kee & Margaret Snow - Hairspray
- Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical - Chris Feldmann - Hairspray
- Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical - Marian Holmes & Russell Wyland - Hairspray
- Outstanding Set Design in a Musical - Myke Taister - Hairspray
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical - Kevin O'Dowd - Hairspray
- Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical - David Correia & David Hale - Hairspray
- Outstanding Hair Design in a Play - Howard Vincent Kurtz - Move Over, Mrs. Markham
- Outstanding Light Design in a Play - Liz Owens & Nancy Owens - Move Over, Mrs. Markham
- Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play - Howard Vincent Kurtz - Move Over, Mrs. Markham
- Outstanding Properties in a Play - Rebecca & John Johnson - Move Over, Mrs. Markham
- Outstanding Set Construction in a Play - Chris Feldmann - Move Over, Mrs. Markham
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Play - Mary Hutzler - Move Over, Mrs. Markham
- Outstanding Costume Design in a Play - Annie Vroom - Noises Off
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play - Adam Downs as "Garry Lejeune" - Noises Off
- Outstanding Play - Noises Off
*Outstanding Set Construction in a Play - Dan Remmers - Noises Off
*Outstanding Set Design in a Play - C. Evans Kirk & Dan Remmers - Noises Off
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Play - Kevin O'Dowd - Noises Off
- Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical - Nancyanne Burton et al - Oliver
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical - Erin Cumbo - Oliver
- Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical - David Correia - Oliver
- Outstanding Direction of a Play - Joanna Henry - Rabbit Hole
- Outstanding Properties in a Play - Nicole Zuchetto - Rabbit Hole
- Outstanding Costume Design in a Play - Annie Vroom - Widdershins
- Outstanding Light Design in a Play - Ken & Patti Crowley - Widdershins
- Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play - C. Evans Kirk - Widdershins
- Outstanding Special Effects - Ken & Patti Crowley - Widdershins
Port City Playhouse
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - Robin Zerbe as "Irma Grese" - Angel: A Nightmare in Two Acts
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play - Mark Lee Adams as "Dr. Farquhar" - Mindgame
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - Lolita-Marie as "Mattie Cheeks" - No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs