(LAKEWOOD, NJ) -- On September 22nd, the 2024 NJACT Perry Awards were handed out by the New Jersey Association of Community Theaters at the Strand Center for the Arts. The NJACT Perry Awards are given for outstanding achievements in New Jersey Community Theater.
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 scorers 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.
If you are part of a community theater make sure the theater sends press releases to info@newjerseystage.com - New Jersey Stage is happy to help spread the word and make sure the shows appear in our weekly theater column each Tuesday. There is never a cost for New Jersey Stage to run press releases. In addition, if your theater is not listed on our community theater links page, please let us know.
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2024 NJACT Perry Award Winners
Outstanding Production of a Play - 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche, Nutley Little Theatre, Michael Gatto-Producer, Heather Ferreira-Director
Outstanding Production of a Musical - The Prom, Burlington County Footlighters, Kevin Esmond-Producer, Alan Krier-Director
Outstanding Direction of a Play - Heather Ferreira, 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche, Nutley Little Theatre
Outstanding Direction of a Musical - James Grausam, Evil Dead The Musical, Phoenix Productions, Inc.
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play - Jennifer Moffett, She Kills Monsters, Playhouse 22
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical - Mark Reilly, Hair, CDC Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design of a Play - Drew Villafuerte, Gloria: A Life, The Strollers
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical - Chris Mallari, Spamalot, Villagers Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design of a Play - Paris Bates, Ann Lowe, Hailey Haywood, Autumn Hyun, Ruth Scott, Christen Simmons, Mariel Thompson, Is He Dead?, The Summit Playhouse
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical - Gabe Bagdazian, Ragtime, Phoenix Productions, Inc.
Outstanding Properties in a Play - Jeff Parsons, Deathtrap, Players Guild of Leonia
Outstanding Properties in a Musical - Marissa Procopio, Evil Dead The Musical, Phoenix Productions, Inc.
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play - Chris Hietikko, Jeff Parsons, Ed Pierce, Evelyn Pierce, Deathtrap, Players Guild of Leonia
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical - Jim Frazer, The Prom, Burlington County Footlighters
Outstanding Choreography - Heather Fleischman, Maria Mantak, Emma Nasto, Kristy Nasto, 42nd Street, ShowKids Invitational Theatre
Outstanding Music Direction - Joseph Christianson, Titantic The Musical, Old Library Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play - Jonathan Richards, King Charles III, Studio Players
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - Tim Herman, The Prom, Burlington County Footlighters
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - Joanne Guarnaccia, Master Class, Bergen County Players
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical - Elizabeth Rzasa, Into The Woods, North Brunswick Drama Group
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - Kevern Cameron, Is He Dead?, The Summit Playhouse
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - Alex Luckenbaugh, Twelfth Night - The Public Works Musical Adaptation, Villagers Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play - Kate McCracken, Plaza Suite, Main Street Theater Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - Jannette Fisher, Hair, CDC Theatre
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play - Corey Chichizola, Grand Horizons, Chatham Community Players
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Joe Carlucci, Something Rotten, Haddonfield Plays & Players
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play - Jessi Baden, Deathtrap, Players Guild of Leonia
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Susie Paplow, Spring Awakening, BAC Community Players
Outstanding Youth Actor in a Play - Ren Bailey, Jersey Voices One Act Festival 2023, Chatham Community Players
Outstanding Youth Actor in a Musical - Keegan Haack, Ragtime, Phoenix Productions, Inc.
Outstanding Youth Actress in a Play - Devon Reed, The Miracle Worker, Somerset Valley Players
Outstanding Youth Actress in a Musical - Amy Warsaw, Carrie The Musical, Villagers Theatre
Outstanding Production of an Original Musical - Beethoven's Wrong Note: A Steampunk Opera, The Strollers, Jay Stephenson, Ludwig van Beethoven-Authors, Carol Cornicelli-Producer, Jay Stephenson, Director
Outstanding Production of an Original Play - Deadly Dessert Championship, West Hudson Arts and Theater Company, Allyssa Hynes-Author, Amanda Castro-Convoy, Brandi-Leigh Miller-Producers, Allyssa Hynes-Director
Outstanding Stage Management of a Play - John Leslie, The Crucible, Stone Church Players
Outstanding Stage Management of a Musical - Nicole Mory, Dogfight, Main Street Theater Company
Community Theater of the Year - St. Anne Stages
Nomination Committee Member of the Year - Sandra Van Dyke
Lifetime Achievement Award - Angela Dohl
David P. McMenemie Award - Michael Almstedt
The New Jersey Association of Community Theaters (NJACT) is a volunteer organization dedicated to supporting local theater around the state. The group’s core mission is to celebrate outstanding achievements by artists of all disciplines involved in the performance and production of New Jersey Community Theater. This is accomplished through the NJACT Perry Awards, New Jersey’s premiere community theater awards program. Originally founded as the AVY Awards over 50 years ago by William Perry Morgan, the organization has transformed itself several times, but has always kept its focus on celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and community in local theater.
Today, NJACT is led by a volunteer board of directors. These theater veterans are aided by over 200 volunteers across the state. Together, they work to identify the best and the brightest that New Jersey community theater has to offer and celebrate their work with an awards ceremony every fall.
