The 2015 OnStage Critics Awards

Welcome to the 2015 OnStage Critics Awards!

This past year has truly been a benchmark year for many local theatres across the CT and neighboring NY areas. The purpose of these awards are to recognize productions, performers, directors and designers who don't normally see accolades for all their hard work, come their way.

The award winners were determined on a combination of a public vote as well as the votes of the OnStage Critics Circle. Winners will be sent an official letter confirming the award.

I want to thank the OnStage Critics Circle for all their hard work this year, especially since we increased the number of shows eligible.

Before we get into the awards, I want to once again congratulate our recipients of our inaugural Special Achievement in Theatre Awards. They are:

Todd Santa Maria

Last August, Todd Santa Maria starred in the one-man show Fully Committed, which was performed at the Town Players of Newtown and directed by David Bass. A review of the production stated,

"The play features about 40 different characters and that's the kicker, it's a one man show. It demands nothing less than a tour de force and Mr. Santa Maria delivers just that. He differentiates the roles with virtuosic skill, building each characterization through signature idiosyncrasies of voice, expression, gesture, posture and mannerism."

Congratulations to Todd Santa Maria on his Special Achievement in Theatre Award.

The Lipstick Project

Founded by Rachel Schulte, The Lipstick Project produces all-female productions of Shakespeare to raise money for local charities and women in need. Their productions have included Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing.

Not only have their productions served a great cause, but they're great productions as well. One review of Macbeth stated,

"Their staging of the classic tragedy is chock full of tension, anxiety and hysteria. It’s a full throttle, two hour ride that takes the audience to the brink of Macbeth’s insanity."

Congratulations to The Lipstick Project on their Special Achievement in Theatre Award.

Now onto the awards. You'll want to keep refreshing the page, as we're announcing each category one at a time.

Outstanding Professional Production

Holiday Inn - Goodspeed Opera House
Kiss Me Kate - Hartford Stage
Intimate Apparel - Westport Country Playhouse
Sweeney Todd - White Plains Performing Arts Center
West Side Story - Westchester Broadway Theatre
Seen Change! - A Broken Umbrella Theatre
Arcadia - Yale Rep

And the winner is.....Seen Change! - A Broken Umbrella Theatre

Outstanding High School Production

West Side Story - Immaculate High School
Tarzan - Amity High school
Dead Revolting - Waterbury Arts Magnet School
Once On This Island - Wolcott High School
Little Women - Pomperaug High School
Legally Blonde - Strawberry Hill Players at Stamford High School
Romeo & Juliet - Wilton High School
The Miracle Worker - Hamden Hall Country Day School

And the winner is.....West Side Story - Immaculate High School

Outstanding Hair & Makeup

Reefer Madness - Warner Stage Company
Blithe Spirit - The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts
Sunday in Park with George - Elmwood Playhouse
A Christmas Carol - Landmark Community Theatre
Spamalot - The Opera House Players
RENT - Square Foot Theatre Company
Hair - Clocktower Players
The Last Night of Ballyhoo - Theatreworks New Milford

And the winner is.....Hair - Clocktower Players

Outstanding Sound Design

Tom Libonate - Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford
Kris McMurray and James J. Moran - It's a Bird...It's A Plane...It's Superman! - Connecticut Cabaret Theatre
Gary Kingsbury - A Christmas Carol - Landmark Community Theatre
Nathan Schoonover, Tom Libonate - The Game's Afoot - Theatreworks New Milford
Larry Alexander - Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players
David White - 1984 - Sherman Playhouse

And the winner is.....Tom Libonate - Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford

Outstanding Choreography

Godspell - Sarah Lorenzini - The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts
Hello Dolly - Amber Cameron - Warner Stage Company
Chicago - Foster Reese- Landmark Community Theatre
Reefer Madness- Sheila Waters Fucci - Warner Stage Company
Hair - Josue Jasmin - Clocktower Players

And the winner is.....Chicago - Foster Reese- Landmark Community Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

The 39 Steps - Matthew Dettmer - Warner Stage Company
Secondary Cause of Death - Lori Richnavsky - Phoenix Stage Company
The Mystery of Edwin Drood - Dorothy Pangrazio - The Bijou Theatre
Ragtime - Renee C. Purdy - Warner Stage Company
The Game's Afoot - Susan Aziz - Theatreworks New Milford
Sunday in the Park with George - Claudia Stefany - Elmwood Playhouse
The Marvelous Wonderettes - Joe Guttadauro & Christine Mallardi - Carriage House Arts Center

And the winner is.....Sunday in the Park with George - Claudia Stefany - Elmwood Playhouse

Outstanding Set Design

The Game's Afoot - Richard Pettibone, Scott Wyshynski, Glenn R. Couture - Theatreworks New Milford
Miss Saigon - David Lovett - Clocktower Players
A Time To Kill - Robert Doran - Town Players of New Canaan
Dividing the Estate - David White - Sherman Playhouse
Blame It On Beckett - Kevin Pelkey - Eastbound Theatre
Fifth of July - Duane Langenwalter - Town Players of Newtown
Time Stands Still - Anthony Valbiro - Armonk Players
Watch on the Rhine - Dave Eger - Westport Community Theatre

And the winner is.....The Game's Afoot - Richard Pettibone, Scott Wyshynski, Glenn R. Couture - Theatreworks New Milford

Outstanding Lighting Design

Fifth of July - Nick Kaye - Town Players of Newtown
Avenue Q - Scott Wyshynski - Theatreworks New Milford
Ragtime - Andrew Smith - Warner Stage Company
Sunday in the Park with George - Mike Gnazzo - Elmwood Playhouse
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - J-P LaRocco - Hole in the Wall Theatre
Chicago - Alex Dunn - Landmark Community Theatre

And the winner is.....Ragtime - Andrew Smith - Warner Stage Company

Outstanding Principal Cast in a Musical

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Connecticut Cabaret Theatre
Godspell - The Brookfield Theatre for the Arts
Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford
The Mystery of Edwin Drood - The Bijou Theatre
Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players
She Loves Me - The Wilton Playshop
The Addams Family - Little Radical Theatrics

And the winner is.....Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical

Chicago - Landmark Community Theatre
She Loves Me - The Wilton Playshop
Spamalot - Opera House Players
Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
South Pacific - Little Theatre of Manchester

And the winner is.....Chicago - Landmark Community Theatre

Outstanding Cast in a Play

The Crucible - Hole in the Wall Theatre
A Time To Kill- The Town Players of New Canaan
The Normal Heart - Brookfield Theatre of the Arts
Doubt - New Haven Theatre Company
God of Carnage - Darien Arts Center
Hamlet/Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead - The Bijou Theatre
Dividing the Estate - Sherman Playhouse

And the winner is.....A Time To Kill- The Town Players of New Canaan

Outstanding Youth Performance

April Lichtman - The Fifth of July - The Town Players of Newtown
Rhiannon Carta - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
Kennedy Morris - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
Trevor Rinaldi - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
Joey Abate - How To Succeed in Business... - Square Foot Theatre Company
Carey Cannata - Brighton Beach Memoirs - Seven Angels Theatre
Harry Wendorff - She Loves Me - The Wilton Playshop
Jess Cocomazzi - A Christmas Carol - Landmark Community Theatre
Lindsey Taft - Next to Normal - Little Theatre of Manchester
Mark Sumner - RENT - Square Foot Theatre Company

And the winner is.....Kennedy Morris - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company

Outstanding Director of a Play

Kelley Mountzoures - The Crucible - Hole in the Wall Theatre
Maureen Trotto - Fifth of July - Town Players of Newtown
Kevin Sosbe - 1984 - Sherman Playhouse
Pia Haas - Time Stands Still - Armonk Playhouse
Katherine Ray - The 39 Steps - Warner Stage Company
Nancy Herman - The Last Romance - Eastbound Theatre
Erik E Tonner & Rebecca Pokorski - Blithe Spirit - Brookfield Theatre of the Arts
Marla Manning - Stop Kiss - Ridgefield Theatre Barn
Mark Graham - God of Carnage - Darien Arts Center
Joe Albert Lima - Intimate Apparel - Elmwood Playhouse

And the winner is.....Kevin Sosbe - 1984 - Sherman Playhouse

Outstanding Director of a Musical

Joe Keach-Longo - Next to Normal - Little Theatre of Manchester
Phillip Bettencourt - Murder Ballad - The Bijou Theatre
Bradford Blake - Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford
Foster Reese - Chicago - Landmark Community Theatre
Kris McMurray - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Be - Connecticut Cabaret Theatre
Mensah Robinson - Godspell - Brookfield Theatre of the Arts
Claudia Stefany & Jennie Marino - Sunday in the Park with George - Elmwood Playhouse
David Robertson - Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players
Sharon A. Wilcox - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
John Pike - The Spitfire Grill - Opera House Players

And the winner is.....Sharon A. Wilcox - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company

Outstanding Music Direction

Charles Smith- Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford
Bret Portecorvo - Hair - Clocktower Players
Daniel M. Koch - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
Phillip Bettencourt- Murder Ballad - The Bijou Theatre
George Croom - Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players

And the winner is.....George Croom - Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

Barry Hatrick - Blame it on Beckett - Eastbound Theatre
Joe Russo - The Lyons - Theatreworks New Milford
Ben McLaughlin - The Crucible - Hole in the Wall Theatre
John R. Smith - Hamlet - The Bijou Theatre
Greg Chrzczon - Souvenir - Theatreworks New Milford
Steve Yudelson - Oblivion - Ridgefield Theatre Barn
Eric Dino - A Time To Kill - Town Players of New Canaan
Leo Paul - Dividing the Estate - Sherman Playhouse
Tom Petrone - Watch on the Rhine - Westport Community Theatre
Steve Allen - Intimate Apparel - Elmwood Playhouse

And the winner is.....Steve Allen - Intimate Apparel - Elmwood Playhouse

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

Paulette Layton - Five Women Wearing the Same Dress - Ridgefield Theatre Barn
Mary Roane - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Hole in the Wall Theatre
Julie Thaxter-Gourlay - A Time To Kill - Town Players of New Canaan
Kate Bunce- The Crucible - Hole in the Wall Theatre
Lydia Babbitt - Steel Magnolias - Goshen Players
Andrea Garmun - The Last Romance - Eastbound Theatre
Deborah Burke- I'm Not Rappaport - Westport Community Theatre
Liz Harrington - Time Stands Still - Armonk Players
Holly Martin - The 39 Steps - Warner Stage Company
Erin Shaughnessy - The Last Night of Ballyhoo - Theatreworks New Milford

And the winner is.....Holly Martin - The 39 Steps - Warner Stage Company

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

Garth West - Hairspray - Connecticut Theatre Company
Bobby Schultz - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Be - Connecticut Cabaret Theatre
Chuck Stango - Next to Normal - Two Planks Theatre Company
Bob Filipowich - She Loves Me - The Wilton Playshop
P.J. Morello - She Loves Me - The Wilton Playshop
Tom Chute - Chicago - Landmark Community Theatre
Jamison Daniels - Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford
Joshua Newey - Reefer Madness - Warner Stage Company
Dan Porri - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
Marc Christopher Improta - Assassins - The Bijou Theatre

And the winner is.....Bob Filipowich - She Loves Me - The Wilton Playshop

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

Laura Donaldson - Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players
Jessica Rubin - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Be - Connecticut Cabaret Theatre
Chelsea Kelle - Hairspray - Connecticut Theatre Company
Karen Hanley - The Mystery of Edwin Drood - The Bijou Theatre
Tina-Marie Valente - RENT - Square Foot Theatre Company
Gia Wright - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
Jasmin Love Barbosa - Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford
Sandra Lee- South Pacific - Little Theatre of Manchester
Ashley Wool - The Addams Family - Little Radical Theatrics
Anne Collin - The Spitfire Grill - Opera House Players

And the winner is....Tina-Marie Valente - RENT - Square Foot Theatre Company

Outstanding Actor in a Play

David Victor- Watch on the Rhine - Westport Community Theatre
Chris Kozlowski - A Time To Kill - Town Players of New Canaan
John Thompson - Blithe Spirit - Brookfield Theatre of the Arts
Charles Schoenfeld - The Game's Afoot- Theatreworks New Milford
Will Jeffries - On Golden Pond - Darien Arts Center
Tony Palmieri - The Crucible - Hole in the Wall Theatre
Daniel Willey - Barefoot in the Park - Theatreworks New Milford
Michael Wright - The Normal Heart - Brookfield Theatre of the Arts
Steve Scarpa - Doubt - New Haven Theatre Company
Alex Echevarria - 1984- Sherman Playhouse

And the winner is.....Chris Kozlowski - A Time To Kill - Town Players of New Canaan

Outstanding Actress in a Play

Jessie Gilbert - God of Carnage - Darien Arts Center
Sarah Stryker - Twelfth Night - Flock Theatre
Emily Trudeau - The Crucible - Hole in the Wall Theatre
Trish Maskell - Relative Values - The Wilton Playshop
Ellen Burnett - Dividing the Estate - Sherman Playhouse

Amber Mason - Stop Kiss - Ridgefield Theatre Barn
Jody Bayer - The Lyons - Theatreworks New Milford
Jessica Alex - Barefoot in the Park - Theatreworks New Milford
Ebonee Collens - Intimate Apparel - Elmwood Playhouse
Marilyn Olsen - Master Class - Phoenix Stage Company

And the winner is.....Emily Trudeau - The Crucible - Hole in the Wall Theatre

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Mike L'Atrella - Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford
Marcelo Calderon - Godspell - Brookfield Theatre of the Arts
Damian Long - She Loves Me - The Wilton Playshop
Christian Cardozo - Murder Ballad - The Bijou Theatre
Tony Morello - The Mystery of Edwin Drood- The Bijou Theatre
Brent McGee - Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players
Rob Girardan - The Buddy Holly Story - Landmark Community Theatre
John C. Carter - Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
David Chmielewski - Sunday in the Park with George - Elmwood Playhouse
Jonathan Jacobson - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Warner Stage Company

And the winner is.....Brent McGee - Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Arielle Boutin - Murder Ballad - The Bijou Theatre
Maggie Pangrazio - Murder Ballad - The Bijou Theatre
Kimberly Hawkey - Sunday in the Park with George - Elmwood Playhouse
Betsy Simpson - She Loves Me - Wilton Playshop
Mika Nishida - Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players
Sarah Giggar - The Mystery of Edwin Drood - The Bijou Theatre
Emily Diedrich - Chicago - Landmark Community Theatre
Roxie Quinn - Hello Dolly! - Warner Stage Company
Kate Suppes - The Spitfire Grill - Opera House Players
Juliette Garrison Koch - Next to Normal - Two Planks Theatre Company

And the winner is.....Juliette Garrison Koch - Next to Normal - Two Planks Theatre Company

Outstanding Play

The Crucible - Hole in the Wall Theatre
Blithe Spirit - Brookfield Theatre of the Arts
Intimate Apparel - Elmwood Playhouse
A Time To Kill - Town Players of New Canaan
God of Carnage - Darien Arts Center
Stop Kiss - Ridgefield Theatre Barn
Time Stands Still - Armonk Players
The 39 Steps - Warner Stage Company
Fifth of July - Town Players of Newtown
The Last Night of Ballyhoo - Theatreworks New Milford

And the winner is.....A Time To Kill - Town Players of New Canaan

Outstanding Musical

Murder Ballad - The Bijou Theatre
Chicago - Landmark Community Theatre
The Spitfire Grill - Opera House Players
Miss Saigon - Clocktower Players
Ragtime - Warner Stage Company
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Connecticut Cabaret Theatre
Sunday in the Park with George - Elmwood Playhouse
South Pacific- Little Theatre of Manchester
Godspell - Brookfield Theatre of the Arts
Avenue Q - Theatreworks New Milford