Here’s reactions by some of the DCMTA reviewers to the WATCH AWARD Nominations announced this past Sunday:
Andrew Baughman:
“It is good to see 2nd Star Productions receive so many nominations. For many years, Jane Wingard and her team have been producing classic musicals in a way that even Broadway has forgotten how to do, they deserve every accolade. I’m proud of my brother Matt for his nomination for Flowers For Algernon at Elden Street; he first performed the role as a senior in high school, and audiences were giving him standing ovations back then. It’s probably his best role ever.”
Mara Bayewitz:
“I thought Gabe Potter in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels accomplished everything one could ask of the actor in that role – he committed so completely to his character that you believed the unbelievable. He had no mask covering himself, he exposed everything inside and out!
I’m very disappointed that Ellie Borzilleri wasn’t nominated as Best Actress in a Musical for Meet Me in St Louis. She was simply brilliant, selling every single moment to the audience with her body, face, and voice. Her final song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” sung with barely an instrument behind her, brought tears to my eyes from the sheer beauty of her voice and emotion. She was unjustly overlooked, in my opinion.
Sydney Chanele-Dawkins:
“I would like to congratulate Port City Playhouse for their two nominations – one for a show I produced – Someone to Watch Over Me ( Erin Cumbo, Outstanding Set Painting in a Play) and Gayle Nichols-Grimes as “Vernadette Simms”(The Dixie Swim Club), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.
Joel Markowitz:
I thought these were the best and most diverse nominations I have seen ever from the Watch Award judges. As we have seen on DCMetroTheaterArts there are fantastic productions on our DC Metro Area Community Theatre stages. It’s amazing how creative so many of these theatres – who have very little resources – are.
When anyone asks me what was my favorite musical of the year I tell them Sunday in the Park with George at Kensington Arts Theatre. I have seen a dozen productions of this musical and KAT’s production was visually stunning and beautifully sung. I was happy to see it receive so many nominations, including nods Ryan Burke who played George and Farrell Parker, who played Dot/Marie and for David Rohde for his musical direction. I have been a fan of Ryan’s since I saw him in The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee at Montgomery College. I was also thrilled to see NightoftheLivingDead (the musical) pick up some nominations, and was thrilled that Brent Stone was nominated for his performance as Fredrik Egerman in The Arlington Players’ A Little Night Music, Molly Hicks Larson for her wonderful performance as Paulette in Reston Community Players’ Legally Blonde, Joshua Redford for his direction of Legally Blonde, Madeline Botteri for her spunky Monica P. Miller and Eric Jones for his performance as Ian in Rooms: A Rock Romance at KAT.
Congratulations to all the nominees! All your nominations were well-deserved.
Don Michael Mendoza:
“I really love the cameo category because it gives people who are usually looked over well deserved recognition for their role interpretations. I was also glad to see many first time nominations such as Joseph Aquilina, Farrell Parker, Larissa Norris, and Stephen Yednock!”
Mike Spain:
“I am glad the production of Side Man by Providence Players of Fairfax was nominated for nine awards. Four of them were for the set which I though was really well done. When I reviewed the play I felt like I was entering Charlie’s Melody Lounge, that I was entering a time, an era, and a place. That is exactly what a well done set is supposed to do.
The WATCH Award Ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 7:00 pm at The Birchmere, in Alexandria, VA. Tickets are $15.50 at the Birchmere Box Office, or are available on Ticketmaster.
