And the winners are in… 2023 WATCH Award results!

The Arlington Players' 'Newsies' and Silver Spring Stage's 'Perfect Arrangement' take home the night's top prizes.

The 2023 WATCH Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in community theater in the DC region, were held last night in a sold-out ceremony at The Birchmere. Attendees were able to celebrate their community in person for the first time since 2019. Due to the interruptions to the theater industry caused by the COVID virus, this was the first awards ceremony since COVID and included productions from 2020. Read on for a full list of nominees and recipients. Congratulations to all!

Nominees and Recipients of the
21st Annual Washington Area Theatre
Community Honors
THE WATCH AWARDS

98 productions (38 musicals, 60 plays) were adjudicated in the combined 2020/2022
years. Twenty-seven community theater companies participated in WATCH adjudication.

In each of the forty categories, five nominees were selected based on the average scores of eight judges. In some categories, due to score ties, more than five nominees are announced.

Nominations are provided in alphabetical order by nominee. Recipients in each category are listed in bold.

Outstanding technical achievements

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical (5)
• Robert S. Barr, Jr. – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Richard Farella – Bright Star – Reston Community Players
• Matt Liptak – Bright Star – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Chris Magee – Hello, Dolly! – Port Tobacco Players
• Andrew JM Regiec & Skip Gresko – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players

Outstanding Set Design in a Play (5)
• Julie Fischer – Design for Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Spencer Knoll & Leigh K. Rawls – Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage
• Daniel Lavanga – Fences – Bowie Community Theatre
• Nicholas Queyrane – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Leigh K. Rawls – Native Gardens – Silver Spring Stage

Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical (5)
• Todd Croteau – The Drowsy Chaperone – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
• Jim Hutzler & Jeff Nesmeyer – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Chip Murphy & Nick Summers – Hello, Dolly! – Port Tobacco Players
• Tom O’Reilly – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Tom O’Reilly – Bright Star – Reston Community Players

Outstanding Set Construction in a Play (5)
• Douglas Becker – Native Gardens – Silver Spring Stage
• Ken Brown – Moonlight and Magnolias – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• John Coscia – November – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Jim Hutzler & Jeff Nesmeyer – Design for Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Rick Young – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players

Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical (5)
• Luana Bossolo & Mary Hutzler – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Chris Magee & Mike O’Shields – Beauty and the Beast – Port Tobacco Players
• Mike O’Shields – Hello, Dolly! – Port Tobacco Players
• Cathy Rieder & Joey Olson – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Jane B. Wingard – The Sound of Music – 2nd Star Productions

Outstanding Set Painting in a Play (5)
• Nancy Carlin and Jennifer Georgia – She Stoops to Conquer – Rockville Little Theatre
• Ingrid David, Susan Kaplan, & Tina Hodge Thronson – Enchanted April – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Gabrielle Hasenstab – Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Leigh K. Rawls – Native Gardens – Silver Spring Stage
• Cathy Rieder – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players

Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical (5)
• Charles Dragonette – Bright Star – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Mark Hamberger & Jessie Krupin – Legally Blonde – Rockville Musical Theatre
• Austin Kuhn – Hello, Dolly! – Port Tobacco Players
• Jerry & Bea Morse – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• MYKE – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play (5)
• Kirstin Apker & Deborah Remmers – Design for Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Kate Keifer – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Leigh K. Rawls – Native Gardens – Silver Spring Stage
• No Listing – Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage
• Ali Zaikouk – November – Providence Players of Fairfax

Outstanding Properties in a Musical (5)
• Kirstin Apker – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Helen Bard-Sobola & Margaret Chapman – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Mary Jo Ford – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Jessie Krupin – Legally Blonde – Rockville Musical Theatre
• Austin Kuhn – Hello, Dolly! – Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Properties in a Play (5)
• Johanna Arredondo – Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Shelby Baker – Design for Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Katherine Offut – Native Gardens – Silver Spring Stage
• Luke Rahman – True West – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
• Leigh K. Rawls – Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical (5)
• Franklin Coleman – Bright Star – Reston Community Players
• Ken & Patti Crowley – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Ken & Patti Crowley – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Ken & Patti Crowley – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• John H. Purnell – Rock of Ages – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play (7)
• Ken & Patti Crowley – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Arlington Players
• Eric Hufford – Agnes of God – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• JK Lighting Design – Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• JK Lighting Design – Moonlight and Magnolias – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Peter Ponzini – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Tommy Scott – Macbeth – Port Tobacco Players
• Jenn Smith – The Children – Colonial Players of Annapolis

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical (6)
• David Correia – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• David Correia – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Ethan Hogarty & PJ Jani – Lightning Thief – Silhouette Stages
• Paul Pesnell – Rock of Ages – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
• Seth Sacher – Bright Star – Reston Community Players
• Liz Shaher – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play (5)
• Richard Atha-Nicholls – Book of Days – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Wes Bedsworth – The Children – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Christopher Crockett – Enchanted April – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Rick Dulick – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Jason Klonkowski – Macbeth – Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical (5)
• Ashley Goodell & Quentin Nash Sagers – Hello, Dolly! – Port Tobacco Players
• Stacey Hamilton – The Pirates of Penzance – Victorian Lyric Opera Company
• Joan Lawrence – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Jean Schlicting & Kit Sibley – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Jean Schlicting & Kit Sibley – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Costume Design in a Play (5)
• Kathy Dunlap – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Lisa Magee – The Importance of Being Earnest – Port Tobacco Players
• Michelle Matthews & Susy Moorstein – The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge – Prince William Little Theatre
• Leigh K. Rawls – Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage
• Jean Schlicting & Kit Sibley – Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical (5)
• Nour Bahri – The Addams Family – Sterling Playmakers
• Susan Boyd – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Mary-Frances Dini – Shrek the Musical – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
• Bianca Lara – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Robin Maline – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play (5)
• Lanae Sterrett – Design for Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Kat Brais – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Sheila Hyman – Macbeth – Port Tobacco Players
• Sascha Nelson – Moonlight and Magnolias – Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Larissa Norris – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Arlington Players

Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical (5)
• Susan Boyd – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Tommy Malek – Cinderella – Silhouette Stages
• Robin Maline – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Sue Pinkman & Wendy Baker – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Bridget Tunstall – Shrek the Musical – City of Fairfax Theatre Company

Outstanding Hair Design in a Play (7)
• Kat Brais – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Kat Brais – The Diary of Anne Frank – Reston Community Players
• Kaitelyn Bauer Dieguez – The Importance of Being Earnest – Port Tobacco Players
• Jennifer Georgia – She Stoops to Conquer – Rockville Little Theatre
• Tommy Malek – Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage
• Robin Maline & Lanae Sterrett – Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Larissa Norris – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Arlington Players

Outstanding Special Effects (5)
• Stephen Foreman – Lightning Thief – Silhouette Stages
• Trinity Fraser & Keith Linville – Beauty and the Beast – Port Tobacco Players
• Keith Linville – Macbeth – Port Tobacco Players
• Maria Littlefield – Firebringer – Dominion Stage
• Nicholas Queyrane – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players

Outstanding performances by an actor or actress

Outstanding cameo in a musical (5)
• Michael Galizia as “Private Willis” – Iolanthe – Victorian Lyric Opera Company
• Drew Goins as “Max” – Bright Star – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Josh Hagins as “Governor Roosevelt” – Newsies – The Arlington Players
• Ellen Quay as “Trix” – The Drowsy Chaperone – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
• Margie Remmers as “Lady Eugenia” – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding cameo in a play (5)
• Jenny Gleason as “Miss Berger” – An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf – Silver Spring Stage
• Charlie Gurson as “Young Harold” – If It’s Monday, This Must Be Christmas! – Sterling Playmakers
• Robert Howard as “Lawrence” – Calendar Girls – Silhouette Stages
• Michael Rufo as “Billy Sullivan” – Blue Stockings – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Jessi Shull as “Miep Gies” – The Diary of Anne Frank – Reston Community Players

Outstanding featured actress in a musical (5)
• Cody Boehm as “Petra” – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Traci Denhardt as “The Drowsy Chaperone” – The Drowsy Chaperone – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
• Kaya Harrison as “Medda Larkin” – Newsies – The Arlington Players
• Anna Phillips-Brown as “Bea” – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Shelby Young as “Anne Egerman” – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players

Outstanding featured actor in a musical (5)
• Chuck Dluhy as “Nostradamus” – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Evan Hamilton as “Davey” – Newsies – The Arlington Players
• John Jennings as “Race” – Newsies – The Arlington Players
• John Kownacki as “Lord Farquaad” – Shrek the Musical – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
• Noah Mutterperl as “William Shakespeare” – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding featured actress in a play (5)
• Carolyn Heier as “Inspector Harriet Goring” – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Katie Kramer as “Daria Chase” – The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Anne Paine West as “Margie Wells” – The Best Worst That Can Happen – Aldersgate Church Community Theater
• Pamela Wilterdink as “Barbara Grant” – Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage
• Jacqueline E. G. Youm as “Stool Pigeon” – King Hedley II – Dominion Stage

Outstanding featured actor in a play (6)
• Mack Leamon as “Jimmy” – Playing Juliet and Casting Othello – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Ben Lowater as “Nick Bottom” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – The Arlington Players
• D’Manda Martini as “Lady Bracknell” – The Importance of Being Earnest – Port Tobacco Players
• Fred Nelson as “Victor Fleming” – Moonlight and Magnolias – Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Matthew Randall as “Archer Brown” – November – Providence Players of Fairfax
• Noah Steurer as “Brian” – No Sex Please, We’re British – Kensington Arts Theatre

Outstanding lead actress in a musical (5)
• Cody Boehm as “Alice Murphy” – Bright Star – Reston Community Players
• Olivia Clavel-Davis as “Katherine” – Newsies – The Arlington Players
• Maura Lacy as “Alice Murphy” – Bright Star – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Jennifer Redford as “Desiree Armfeldt” – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Sara Watson as “Fiona” – Shrek the Musical – City of Fairfax Theatre Company

Outstanding lead actor in a musical (5)
• Chuck Dluhy as “D’Ysquith Family” – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Drew Goins as “Montague “Monty” Navarro” – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Reid Murphy as “Percy Jackson” – Lightning Thief – Silhouette Stages
• Joshua Redford as “Fredrik Egerman” – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Tom Wyatt as “Man in Chair” – The Drowsy Chaperone – Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Outstanding lead actress in a play (5)
• Ashleigh Bayer as “Sister Agnes” – Agnes of God – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Laura Gayvert as “Dr. Martha Livingstone” – Agnes of God – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Lezlie T. Hatcher as “Lena Younger” – A Raisin in the Sun – Rockville Little Theatre
• Mary MacLeod as “Mother Miriam Ruth” – Agnes of God – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Andrea Spitz as “Charlotte Hay” – Moon Over Buffalo – Rockville Little Theatre

Outstanding lead actor in a play (5)
• Christopher Andersen as “Lee” – True West – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
• Tom Howley as “George Hay” – Moon Over Buffalo – Rockville Little Theatre
• Tom Howley as “Ebenezer Scrooge” – Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Mack Leamon as “King Hedley II” – King Hedley II – Dominion Stage
• Louis B. Murray as “Troy Maxson” – Fences – Bowie Community Theatre

Leta Hall Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical (6)
• Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Beauty and the Beast – Port Tobacco Players
• Hello, Dolly! – Port Tobacco Players
• A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Bright Star – Reston Community Players
• Newsies – The Arlington Players

Leta Hall Outstanding Ensemble in a Play (7)
• King Hedley II – Dominion Stage
• Noises Off – Fauquier Community Theatre
• Moonlight and Magnolias – Laurel Mill Playhouse
• Moonlight and Magnolias – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• The Importance of Being Earnest – Port Tobacco Players
• Calendar Girls – Silhouette Stages
• Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage

Outstanding achievement in overall production

Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography (6)
• Casey Kaleba – Macbeth – Port Tobacco Players
• Casey Kaleba – True West – City of Fairfax Theatre Company
• Russell Rinker – Lightning Thief – Silhouette Stages
• Tessa N. Silvestro & Benjamin Simpson – Beauty and the Beast – Port Tobacco Players
• Stefan Sittig – Design for Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Stefan Sittig – Moonlight and Magnolias – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Choreography (5)
• Brianna Galligan – Newsies – The Arlington Players
• Hayley North – Legally Blonde – Rockville Musical Theatre
• Benjamin Simpson – Beauty and the Beast – Port Tobacco Players
• Stefan Sittig – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Philip Smith-Cobbs – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players

Outstanding Music Direction (5)
• Josh Cleveland – Bright Star – Reston Community Players
• Justin DeLong – Newsies – The Arlington Players
• Lucia LaNave – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Christopher A. Tomasino – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Christopher A. Tomasino – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Direction of a Musical (5)
• Richard Farella – Bright Star – Reston Community Players
• Emily “EJ” Jonas – Newsies – The Arlington Players
• Andrew JM Regiec – A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Frank D. Shutts II – Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Frank D. Shutts II – A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria

Outstanding Direction of a Play (5)
• Juli Tarabek Blacker – Moonlight and Magnolias – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Rikki Howie Lacewell – King Hedley II – Dominion Stage
• Leigh K. Rawls – Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage
• Jeff Sprague – Agnes of God – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• Rachael Wallace – The Importance of Being Earnest – Port Tobacco Players

Outstanding Musical (5)
• Something Rotten! – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Little Theatre of Alexandria
• Hello, Dolly! – Port Tobacco Players
• A Little Night Music – Reston Community Players
• Newsies – The Arlington Players

Outstanding Play (5)
• Fences – Bowie Community Theatre
• Agnes of God – Colonial Players of Annapolis
• King Hedley II – Dominion Stage
• The Game’s Afoot – Reston Community Players
• Perfect Arrangement – Silver Spring Stage

Congratulations to all! For more information on the 2023 WATCH Awards go here.

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