(RAHWAY, NJ) -- The 2018 NJACT/Perry Awards will be held on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at the Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) in Rahway. The awards are given for outstanding achievements in New Jersey Community Theater. This year's nominations were announced during a ceremony at Playhouse 22 in East Brunswick on July 28.
At the beginning of each season, NJACT Member Theaters submit their shows for award consideration. Two NJACT Reviewers attend each production, evaluate all on-stage aspects of the performance, and provide separate numerical scores for over 50 different criteria across 10 different review categories. More than 200 shows produced by theater companies around the state are submitted each year, which require over 400 reviews by trained NJACT volunteers.
NJACT bestows Perry Awards in 33 performance and technical categories based on NJACT reviewer scores. Candidates with the top seven scores in each category are considered nominees. The nominee with the highest score in each category receives the Perry Award.
There are also four Special Perry Awards available each year: Community Theater of the Year Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, the David P. McMenemie Award, and the Perry Award for Outstanding Stage Management. Candidates for these awards are nominated by members of the community, and the recipient is determined by NJACT Board vote of those nominated.
Scroll down to see the nominations for 2018. For more information on the awards visit njact.org
Outstanding Production of a Play
PETER & THE STARCATCHER Villagers Theatre Nicholas Wainwright- Director, Donna Kimberlin & Angela Green- Producers
PETER & THE STARCATCHER Sketch Club Players Patricia Mangano- Director, Producer
PICNIC Center Players Ray Parnese- Director, Roberta Fallon- Producer
PLAZA SUITE The Studio Players Paul Bettys- Director UKNOWN- Producer
STEEL MAGNOLIAS Bergen County Players Ellyn Essig- Director, Rhea Smith- Producer
SEMINAR Chester Theater Group Lauri MacMillian- Director, Roxanna Wagner- Producer
SLEUTH Maurer Productions OnStage Diana Gilman Maurer- Director, John M. Maurer & Diana Gilman Maurer- Producers
Outstanding Production of a Musical
BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company Scott Angehr- Director, Laurie Hudson- Producer
GODSPELL Cumberland County College Deborah Bradshaw- Director/Producer
MARY POPPINS Showkids Invitational Theater Carolyn Newman/Kristen Nasto- Directors, Diane Lehnert, Carolyn Newman,
MY FAIR LADY Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center Matthew Muccigrossi- Director, Jennifer Moffett- producer
TITANIC Playful Theater Productions Frank Ferrara- Director, Hillary Leboff- Producer
WHITE CHRISTMAS M&M Stage Productions John M. Maurer- Director, Mike Almstedt- Producer
THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club Sean Eugene Lough- Director, Joe Leo- Producer
Outstanding Direction of a Play
Paul Bettys PLAZA SUITE Studio Players
Kevern Cameron TO KILL MOCKINGBIRD Summit Playhouse
Beatriz Esteban-Messina ‘NIGHT MOTHER Fearless Productions
Dottie Fischer OTHER DESERT CITIES Chester Theatre Group
Diana Gilman Maurer SLEUTH Maurer Productions OnStage
Laurie MacMillian SEMINAR Chester Theater Group
Nicholas Wainwright PETER & THE STARCATCHER Villagers Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Scott Angehr BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
John Blackwell HAIR The Road Company
Amy Calzone THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Old Library Theater
Sean Eugene Lough THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Matthew Muccigrossi MY FAIR LADY Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Letitia Townes HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Joe Vierno THE FANTASTICKS Villagers Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play
Gerard Bourcien STEEL MAGNOLIAS Bergen County Players
Caitlyn DuBois, Ragan Hoffman INHERIT THE WIND The Off Broad Street Players
Rob Garcia YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU Cumberland County College
Ellen Fraker Glasscock SEMINAR Chester Theater Group
Mark Lamhut PICNIC Center Players
Bill Sesselberg GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER Villagers Theatre
Dan Shulze PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Villagers Theatre
Ed Whitman MR. ROBERTS Westfield Community Players
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical
Julian Denison, Barry deVersterre MARY POPPINS Showkids Invitational Theater
Jeff McCrum THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Shawn McGovern GODSPELL Cumberland County College
Judi Parrish TITANIC Playful Theater Productions
Lauren Pastanovich, Ed Fraiser, Laurie Hudson BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Lauren Pastanovich, Ed Fraiser, Laurie Hudson HAIR The Road Company
Anthony Spano HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play
Rob DeScherer STEEL MAGNOLIAS Bergen County Players
John Dowgin TERRA NOVA Circle Players
Andy Gordinier, Diane L. Parker GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER Villagers Theatre
Bob Jacuk SEMINAR Chester Theatre Group
Mark Lamhut PICNIC Center Players
Sid Maycock PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Sketch Club Players
Brielle McArdle HAMLET Dover Little Theater
Sean Perdrick INHERIT THE WIND The Off Broad Street Players
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical
Monica Alia MY FAIR LADY Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Scott Coumbe GODSPELL Cumberland County College
Pat DeFusco KISS ME KATE Haddonfield Plays & Players
Michael Ferentinos THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Lauri Hudson HAIR The Road Company
Evan Pine TITANIC Playful Theater Productions
Lauren Pastanovich BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play
Ed Bontempo MR. ROBERTS Westfield Community Players
Faith Dowgin THE MARRAGE OF BETTE & BOO Circle Players
Derek Egidio, Heather Stevenson HAMLET Dover Little Theater
Maureen Mulvihill LOST IN YONKERS Players Guild of Leonia
Mike Patierno PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Villagers Theatre
Shannon Sheridan INHERIT THE WIND The Off Broad Street Players
Laurie Mullen Wood GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER Villagers Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical
Kristin Gallagher MARY POPPINS Showkids Invitational Theater
Annika Higgins MY FAIR LADY Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Elizabeth Howard THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Louisa Murey WHITE CHRISTMAS M&M Stage Productions
Michelle Rittmann TITANIC Playful Theater Productions
Leslie Romanuski, Justin Mead, BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Sue Shubeck HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Outstanding Properties in a Play
Crystal Coddington GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER Villagers Theatre
Michael DelValle, Bryan Morris OTHER DESERT CITIES Bergen County Players
Tish Lum, Katie Pierce STEEL MAGNOLIAS Chatham Community Players
Diane Gilman Maurer, John M. Maurer SLEUTH Maurer Productions OnStage
Carrie J. Miller CALENDAR GIRLS Somerset Valley Players
Barbara Murtha, Gloria Bumbaco, Lawrence Laterza STEEL MAGNOLIAS Bergen County Players
Ray Parnese PICNIC Center Players
Outstanding Properties in a Musical
Robin Adams, Sheryl Bunca MARY POPPINS Showkids Invitational Theater
Patrick Ahearn GODSPELL Cumberland County College
Diana Gilman Maurer FIDDLER ON THE ROOM Maurer Productions OnStage
Betty Ann Hickman OKLAHOMA The Off Broad Street Players
Lynn Jack The BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY The Summit Playhouse
Denise Lallier BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Joe Leo THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Nancy Russell TITANIC Playful Theater Productions
Outstanding Choreography
Angela Cusumano SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Raven Dunbar THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Laura Ghaffoor WHITE CHRISTMAS M&M Stage Productions
Lauren Patanovich HAIR The Road Company
Michael Scannelli CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Old Library Theatre
Q HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Koren Zander WEST SIDE STORY PinnWorth Productions
Outstanding Music Direction
Jack Bender THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Emily Bengels MY FAIR LADY Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Emily Bengels THE FANTASTICKS Villagers Theatre
Charles Linnell GREASE Aspire Performing Arts Company
Ruslan Odintsow BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Jennifer Palermo MARY POPPINS Showkids Invitational Theater
Bob Sammond THE FANTASTICKS Premier Theater Company
François Suhr WEST SIDE STORY PinnWorth Productions
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play
Laura Byrne-Cristiano PLAZA SUITE Studio Players
John M. Maurer, Jeff Cantor SLEUTH Maurer Productions OnStage
Stephen Moldt, Marcie Weinstein OTHER DESERT CITIES Bergen County Players
Ray Parnese PICNIC Center Players
Roy Pancirov, Bob Lukasik STEEL MAGNOLIAS Chatham Community Players
Michael Smith, Lynn Lupfer STEEL MAGNOLIAS Bergen County Players
Chris Totora, Patrick Ahera YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU Cumberland County College
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical
Mike Almstedt, John M. Maurer WHITE CHRISTMAS M&M Stage Productions
Frank Bergson, Crina Magalio THE PRODUCERS Readington Community Theater
Bree Guell BIG FISH Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Bree Guell AVENUE Q Villagers Theater
John M. Maurer, Haley Schmalbach, Jeff Cantor FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Maurer Productions OnStage
Michael Shubeck, Kenneth Guell HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Chip Totora GODSPELL Cumberland County College
Diane Wiselinski, Paula Farrar, Lauri Hudson BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Roy Harry OTHER DESERT CITIES Bergen County Players
George Hartpence SLEUTH Maurer Productions OnStage
John AC Kennedy SEMINAR Chester Theater Group
Dan Keyser SLEUTH Maurer Productions OnStage
Dale Monroe BOEING, BOEING Summit Players
Eric M. Pertger THE BOYS NEXT DOOR Center Players
Bill Zeoli PETER & THE STARCATCHER Sketch Club Players
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Thom Boyer MY FAR LADY Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Shane Long THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
AJ Mendini GODSPELL Cumberland County College
Jared Milan SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Joseph P. Necci THE FANTASTICKS Premier Theater Company
Will Roper THE FANTASTICKS Villagers Theater
John Zimmerman FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Maurer Productions OnStage
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Debra Carozza PLAZA SUITE Studio Players
Janica Carpenter STEEL MAGNOLIAS Bergen County Players
Bobbie Kokal EXTREMITIES Cumberland Players
Brittany Haydock OTHER DESERT CITIES Bergen County Players
Dawn Lanoue ‘NIGHT MOTHER Fearless Productions
Marian McCabe OTHER DESERT CITIES Bergen County Players
Sky Spiegel Monroe VENUS IN FUR Chester Theatre Group
Cynthia Ross ‘NIGHT MOTHER Fearless Productions
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Kim Apadula SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Tina Kaye THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Summit Playhouse
Lauren Ann Palmeri THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY Old Library Theatre
Colleen Renee’ THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Jessica Rose THE FANTASTICKS Villagers Theatre
Cat Tierney MY FAIR LADY Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Rachel Valvocen HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Derek Egidio A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM Main Street Theater Company
Matthew Gochman A PHILADELPHIA STORY First Avenue Playhouse
Jason Mangano PETER & THE STARCATCHER Sketch Club Players
Josh Musgrave TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Summit Players
Mike Patierno PETER & THE STARCATCHER Villagers Theatre
Allen Pines OTHER DESERT CITIES Bergen County Players
Chip Prestera TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Summit Players
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Ethan James Lynch MY FAIR LADY Playhouse 22 @ The East Brunswick Community Arts Center
Michael McEntee AVENUE Q Villagers Theatre
Eric Parkin THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM Old Library Theatre
Matt Serra GODSPELL Cumberland County College
Jesse Simpson HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Phil Solomon THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Dennis Summerville BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Cathy Coryat BAREFOOT IN THE PARK Yardley Players
Rachel Gordon OTHER DESERT CITIES Bergen County Players
Jodi Freeman Maloy STEEL MAGNOLIAS Chatham Community Players
Chloe Neville STEEL MAGNOLIAS Bergen County Players
Dori Persson LOST IN YONKERS Players Guild of Leonia
Sarah Pharaon TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Summit Players
Alyssa Robishaw PROOF The Road Company
Roberta Steve CALIFORNIA SUITE Somerset Valley Players
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Nicole Boscarino THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Corinne Chandler HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Kaitlyn Cox OKLAHOMA The Off Broad Street Players
Susie Speidel ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Cranford Dramatic Club
Danielle Harley-Smith HAIR The Road Company
Laurie Hudson BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Lorraine C. Perri WEST SIDE STORY PinnWorth Productions
Jordan Virgil FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Maurer Productions OnStage
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Bob Dumpert THE MARRAGE OF BETTE & BOO Circle Players
Ed Bontempo MR. ROBERTS Westfield Community Players
Cullen Flanagan PETER & THE STARCATCHER Sketch Club Players
Daniel Gleason GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS Pennington Players
Barry Leonard BAREFOOT IN THE PARK Yardley Players
Chip Prestera THE 23RD ANNUAL JERSEY VOICES Chatham Community Players
Will Roper SHOWS FOR DAYS Chester Theater Group
Eric Walby PETER & THE STARCATCHER Villagers Theatre
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Christopher Harrison Parkhurst Abbott ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Cranford Dramatic Club
Jordan Gulick KISS ME KATE Haddonfield Plays & Players
Patsy Palma HAIRSPRAY Mystic Vision Players
Andrew Santiago THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Andrew Ruggieri BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Kahill Wyatt KISS ME KATE Haddonfield Plays & Players
Bill Zeoli RAGTIME Sketch Club Players
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Lisa Black ARSENIC & OLD LACE The Lord Stirling Theater Company
Darlene C. Ellis GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER Villagers Theatre
Diane Gilch THE 23RD ANNUAL JERSEY VOICES Chatham Community Players
Katrina KuharichPETER & THE STARCATCHER Sketch Club Players
Mary L. Laido LOST IN YONKERS Players Guild of Leonia
Kate Murray THE MARRAGE OF BETTE & BOO Circle Players
Jessica Phelan COME BACK TO THE FIVE & DIME JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN Maplewood Strollers
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Katherine Brown THE WILD PARTY Cranford Dramatic Club
Samantha Kaplan THE BRIDGES OVER MADISON COUNTY Summit Playhouse
Ruth Markeo FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Maurer Productions OnStage
Faith McCleery KISS ME KATE Haddonfield Plays & Players
Danielle Slaboda ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Yardley Players
Liz Susswein FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Maurer Productions OnStage
Sarah Webster 42nd STREET Maurer Productions OnStage
Outstanding Youth Actor in a Play
Ted Guarino PETER & THE STARCATCHER Villagers Theatre
Benjamin Harris A CHRISTMAS TAIL Porch Light Studio
Arden Henley OUR TOWN Chester Theater Group
Connor McGorty A CHRISTMAS TAIL Porch Light Studio
Daniel Nugent HENRY V Circle Players
Cyrus Shields TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Summit Playhouse
Demetrios Spaccavento LOST IN YONKERS Players Guild of Leonia
Frankie Tinelli LOST IN YONKERS Players Guild of Leonia
Outstanding Youth Actor in a Musical
Teddy Brendel TITANIC Playful Theater Productions
Jonathan Cocca GREASE Aspire Performing Arts Company
Tristan Davis ANNIE GET YOUR GUN Yardley Players
Chance Friedman LEGALLY BLONDE Pebble Players
Joseph Grisanzio BEAUTY & THE BEAST Rising Stars Youth Performing Arts
Noah Hinsdale BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Jonah Lione MARY POPPINS Showkids Invitational Theater
Liam Redford BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Outstanding Youth Actress in a Play
Emily Acosta A CHRISTMAS TAIL Porch light Studio
Madelyn Barkocy APPROPRIATE Studio Players
Madelyn Barcocy PETS & THEIR HUMANS Fearless Productions
Rosie Gueta TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Summit Playhouse
Siera Martinez PETER & THE STARCATCHER Villagers Theatre
Charlotte Rivera A CHRISTMAS TAIL Porch light Studio
Alexa Yudoff OUR TOWN Chester Theater Group
Outstanding Youth Actress in a Musical
Geovanna Ayala A CHRISTMAS CAROL Cranford Dramatic Club
Courtney Bulger GREASE Aspire Performing Arts Company
Julia DiGirolamo HEATHERS Aspire Performing Arts Company
Carlie Goldfarb THE MUSIC MAN Rising Stars Youth Performing Arts
Ginger May GREASE Aspire Performing Arts Company
Nathalie Mehl MARY POPPINS Showkids Invitational Theater
Kaleigh Robinson BILLY ELLIOT The Road Company
Deidre Thompson LEGALLY BLONDE Pebble Players
Outstanding Production of an Original Musical
AND THE WINNER WAS… Bergen County Players Ray Yucis- Director, Lynn Lupfer- Producer
AUDITIONS-THE MUSICAL REVIEW Radburn Players Amy Sellars- Director, Producer, Laura Belle- Author
OUT OF CHARACTER Old Library Theater Linda Wielkotz- Director/Producer
Original Production of an Original Play
THE 23RD ANNUAL JERSEY VOICES Chatham Community Players Bob Denmark- Producer, Dawn Afanado, Arnold J. Buchaine, John AC Kennedy, Lynn Polan, Joann Lopresti Scanlon, George Seylaz- Directors, Bill Kovacsik, Ralph Greco Jr., Chip Bolik, Michael Weems, Jeanne Johnston, Joann Scanlon, Gary Shaffer- Authors
A CHRISTMAS TAIL Porch Light Studio Ryan Pifher- Director/Author, Ryan Pifher, Jenn Pifher- Producers
AN AMERICAN TREE Behind The Veil Productions Courtni Saizon- Director, Di Shawn J Gandy, Dawn Monique Gandy- producers, Di Shawn Gandy- Author
COCKTAIL HOUR CONFESSIONS Fearless Productions Lynn Polan- Director, Jared Kelner, Kristin Barber- Producers, Jared Kelner- Author
THE CURIOUS CASE OF A CASUAL TERRORIST Edison Valley Playhouse Sudipta Bhawmik- Director, Richard Montiero- Producer, Sudipta Bhawmik- Author
PETS & THEIR HUMANS Fearless Productions Beatriz Esteban-Messina- Director, Kristin Barber- Producer, Mike Soclol- Author
STOLEN DREAMS The Darress Theater Organization Lawrence Francis- Director, Thomas Timbrook- Producer, Lawrence Francis- Author
Outstanding Stage Management of a Play
Anita Esteve OTHER DESERT CITIES Chester Theater Group
Brielle McArdle HAMLET Dover Little Theater
CJ Miller CALENDAR GIRLS Somerset Valley Players
Kevin Ohlweiler APPROPRIATE Studio Players
Shannen Rivers THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Somerset Valley Players
Michele Roth IT’S ONLY A PLAY Bergen County Players
Harriet Trainor CALIFORNIA SUITE Somerset Valley Players
Outstanding Stage Management of a Musical
Ellie Anderson/Kayla Gurriell SINGING IN THE RAIN Old Library Theater
Deanna Fulgoni-Johnson OKLAHOMA Mighty Oak Players
Melissa Gaynor WHITE CHRISTMAS M&M Stage Productions
Holly Lessing GRAND HOTEL Somerset Valley Players
Diana Gilman Maurer FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Maurer Productions On Stage
Dennis Tolentino MEMPHIS PinnWorth Productions
Emily M Windus DISASTER! THE MUSICAL Somerset Valley Players
2018 Hall Of Fame Inductees
Ryan Pifher- Theater Educator
Khy Garner- Music Director
Patricia Mangano- Producer
Megan Lahiff Ferentinos- Choreographer
Jeff Fiorello- Director
Terri Sturtevant- Actor
Deborah Bradshaw- Director
Andrew DePrisco- Theater Activist
The Union County Performing Arts Center is located at 1601 Irving Street in Rahway, New Jersey.
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