Two New Westminster theatre companies are among the big contenders in this year’s Ovation! Awards.
Nominations for the awards, which recognize the best musical theatre presented in the region in 2017, were revealed Jan. 10.
Once again scoring multiple nominations was Royal City Musical Theatre, whose production of Anything Goes – which ran at the Massey Theatre in April – is in the running for Outstanding Production (Large Theatre). It’s also up for Outstanding Music Direction (James Bryson), Outstanding Choreography (Valerie Easton) and Outstanding Lighting Design (Robert Sondergaard).
Numerous performers from the show are also up for performance awards, led by Madeleine Suddaby for Outstanding Lead Performance – Female. Two cast members, Andrew Cownden and Michael Wild, are both up for Outstanding Supporting Performance – Male, while Laura Ross is up for Outstanding Supporting Performance – Female.
Jennifer Lynch is up for Outstanding Chorus Member for her work in both Anything Goes and Arts Club Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast, and Lynch has also scored a nomination for Outstanding Newcomer – Female.
Also earning nominations in multiple categories was Patrick Street Productions, whose production of A Little Night Music hit the stage at the Anvil Centre Theatre in May.
It’s up for Outstanding Production – Professional, putting it up against the perennial powerhouse Arts Club Theatre Company, which is nominated twice (for Beauty and the Beast and Bittergirl: The Musical). Firehall Arts Centre’s Circle Game: Reimagining the Music of Joni Mitchell is also nominated in the same category.
Jessica Bayntun also earned an Outstanding Costume Design nomination for her work on A Little Night Music. Multiple performers from the musical are also nominated: Warren Kimmel for Outstanding Lead Performance – Male, Patti Allan for Outstanding Supporting Performance – Female, and Elizabeth Irving for Outstanding Youth Performance.
Lyndsey Britten is also recognized for Outstanding Newcomer – Female for her choreography work for A Little Night Music and Tomo Suru Players’ Cabaret.
New Westminster’s longtime community theatre company, Vagabond Players, is also up for an Ovation in the Special Award category – which covers any special achievements not recognized in traditional categories. The Vagabond nomination goes to Gilles Malnarich for the plant puppet design and building for the company’s Little Shop of Horrors production, which took to the stage at Bernie Legge Theatre in October.
New West resident Chris Sinosich is also nominated for Outstanding Costume Design for her work on Theatre Under the Stars’ Mary Poppins, while New West actor Caleb Lagayan has scored two nominations – for Outstanding Chorus Member and Outstanding Newcomer for his work in Exit 22’s Thoroughly Modern Millie, URP’s Jesus Christ Superstar and Theatre Under the Stars’ Mary Poppins.
Winners will be announced at a gala at the Vancouver Academy of Music on Sunday, Jan. 28.
See www.tinyurl.com/OvationNominations2017 for the full list of nominees and gala information.
