2008 CEAs Mark Year 12 for the Cincinnati Theater Community

It's time to vote. No, not for president, but perhaps almost as dramatic. Your opportunity to play a role in our local theater scene has arrived again because it’s time for the 12th year of the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, our city’s original and most inclusive annual theater recognition program.

Since 1997, the CEAs have identified Cincinnati’s best theater performers and productions and invited the public to help with the decision-making. For several years, more than 2,000 people annually have expressed their opinions of favorite theaters, plays, musicals and actors. Through the month of July, you’re invited to be a part of the process, by going to citybeat.com/CEA to use our online ballot. The deadline to vote is Monday, Aug. 4.

CEA nominations are determined by a panel of local theater critics who see a lot of onstage work over the course of a season. So many outstanding productions and performances were presented on Greater Cincinnati stages this season that the 20 award categories have been expanded from four to five nominees. That means 20 percent more recognition. The 2008 CEA nominations encompass more than 40 productions this year, nearly 30 plays and over a dozen musicals. The critics have identified 60 candidates for the 12 categories you are invited to vote for:

LOCAL ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
• Hayley Clark as Juliet in Romeo & Juliet (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Annie Fitzpatrick as Becca in Rabbit Hole (Ensemble Theatre)
• Sherman Fracher as Agnes White in Bug (New Stage Collective)
• Dale Hodges as Mary Tyrone in Long Day’s Journey into Night (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Corinne Mohlenhoff as Imogen in Cymbeline (Cincinnati Shakespeare)

LOCAL ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A PLAY
• Bruce Cromer as King Lear in King Lear (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Cary Davenport as Alan Turing in Breaking the Code (Northern Kentucky University)
• Drew Fracher as Howie in Rabbit Hole (Ensemble Theatre)
• Chris Guthrie as Peter Evans in Bug (New Stage Collective)
• Michael Monks as the Narrator in This Is How It Goes (Ovation Theatre)

LOCAL ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
• Lauren Ashley Carter as Feste in Twelfth Night (UC’s College-Conservatory of Music [CCM])
• Sara Clark as Benvolio in Romeo & Juliet (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Jennifer Dalton as R.C. in Bug (New Stage Collective)
• k. j. Jones as Lois in More Fun than Bowling (Ensemble Theatre)
• Sara Mackie as Izzy in Rabbit Hole (Ensemble Theatre)

LOCAL ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY
• Alex Brooks as Shane Mungitt in Take Me Out (New Stage Collective)
• Giles Davies as Cloten in Cymbeline (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Chris Guthrie as the Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Michael Shooner as Ricky Roma in Glengarry Glen Ross (New Edgecliff Theatre)
• Reggie Willis as Turnbo in Jitney (Queen City Off Broadway)

LOCAL ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
• Julie Conuel as Fosca in Passion (CCM)
• Jessica Hendy as Jeannie in The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Ensemble Theatre)
• Taylore Mahogany Scott as Caroline Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change (New Stage Collective)
• Lori Valentine as Eve/Mama Noah in The Children of Eden (Footlighters)
• Julie Wacksman as Belle in Beauty and the Beast (Cincinnati Music Theatre)

LOCAL ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
• Justin Brown as Giorgio in Passion (CCM)
• Tim Hein as Peter in Bare (Know Theatre)
• Mikhail Roberts as Richard Loeb in Thrill Me (Know Theatre)
• Nick Rose as Jerry Springer in Jerry Springer: The Opera (New Stage Collective)
• Kevin Stout as J. Pierpont Finch in How to Succeed in Business (Showbiz Players)

LOCAL ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
• Aretta Baumgardner as Rose Stopnick Gellman in Caroline, or Change (New Stage Collective)
• Piper Davis as Dotty Moffet in Caroline, or Change (New Stage Collective)
• Deb G. Girdler as Betty in The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Ensemble Theatre)
• Beth Kirkpatrick as Shawntel in Jerry Springer: The Opera (New Stage Collective)
• Amanda Wilson as Nadia in Bare: The Musical (Know Theatre)

LOCAL ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL
• Preston Truman Boyd as Wreck in Wonderful Town (CCM)
• Ryan Breslin in Giving Up Later (Cincinnati Fringe Festival)
• Connor M. Muething as Noah Gellman in Caroline, or Change (New Stage Collective)
• Michael Shawn Starks as Satan and the Warm-Up Man in Jerry Springer: The Opera (New Edgecliff Theatre)
• Wayne Wright as Lumière in Beauty and the Beast (Cincinnati Music Theatre)

ACTING PERFORMANCE BY VISITING ACTOR
• Ted Deasy as Father Flynn in Doubt (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• R. Ward Duffy as Iago in Othello (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Joneal Joplin as James Tyrone in Long Day’s Journey into Night (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Terrence Riggins as Harmond Wilks in Radio Golf (Ensemble Theatre)
• Even Zes as Passepartout in Around the World in 80 Days (Cincinnati Playhouse)

ACTING PERFORMANCE BY A VISITING ACTRESS
• Annalee Jeffries in all roles in The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Carine Montbertrand as Emilia in Othello (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Caitlin O’Connell as Sister Aloysius in Doubt (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Susan Louise O’Connor as Dr. Midge in A Sleeping Country (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Lourelene Snedeker as Nat in Rabbit Hole (Ensemble Theatre)

ENSEMBLE ACTING PERFORMANCE
• Altar Boyz (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Around the World in 80 Days (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Jerry Springer: The Opera (New Stage Collective)
• Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Rabbit Hole (Ensemble Theatre)

OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY THEATER PRODUCTION
• Children of Eden (Footlighters), directed by Jay Woffington
• Weekend Comedy (Mariemont Players), directed by Norma Niinemets
• Beauty and the Beast (Cincinnati Music Theatre), directed by Dennis Murphy
• Give ’Em Hell, Harry! (Mariemont Players), directed by Ellie Shepherd
• The Retreat from Moscow (Stagecrafters), directed by Michael Morehead

Additionally, nominees in eight categories are decided by the critics’ panel — technical theater categories as well as awards for an alternative show, outstanding premiere, outstanding drama and outstanding musical. We limit these CEA categories to the critics, however, since they evaluate dozens of local productions and can put the nominations in perspective.

For instance, as CityBeat’s main theater critic I see more than 75 productions annually. That gives me a broad perspective on aspects of productions like scenic and lighting design, sound and special effects. And because I’ve seen every production nominated for outstanding premiere, play and musical, I’m in a good position to vote for the best work. The nominees in these eight categories are:

ACHIEVEMENT IN SCENIC DESIGN
• Anon(ymous) (CCM; scenic design by Tielor McBride)
• Dracula (Cincinnati Playhouse; scenic design by Paul Shortt)
• Long Day’s Journey into Night (Cincinnati Shakespeare; scenic design by Will Turbyne)
• Passion (CCM; scenic design by Mark Halpin)
• Rabbit Hole (Ensemble Theatre; scenic design by Brian c. Mehring)

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
• Around the World in 80 Days (Cincinnati Playhouse; costume design by David Kay Mickelson)
• Dracula (Cincinnati Playhouse; costume design by Wade Laboissoniere)
• Follies (Cincinnati Music Theatre; costume design by Elaine K. Michael)
• Great American Trailer Park Musical (Ensemble Theatre; costume design by Reba Senske)
• Passion (CCM; costume design by Reba Senske)

ACHIEVEMENT IN LIGHTING, SOUND OR SPECIAL EFFECTS
• The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead (Cincinnati Playhouse; lighting design by Thomas C. Hase, sound design by David Stephen Baker; video design by Peter Nigrini)
• Dracula (Cincinnati Playhouse; lighting design by Kirk Bookman; sound design by David B. Smith)
• King Lear (Cincinnati Shakespeare; drumming and sound design by Christopher Guthrie)
• Long Day’s Journey into Night (Cincinnati Shakespeare; lighting design by Sara Watson)
• Othello (Cincinnati Playhouse; lighting design by Thomas C. Hase; original music by Douglas Lowry)

CHOREOGRAPHY
• Altar Boyz (Cincinnati Playhouse, choreography by Christopher Gattelli)
• Follies (Cincinnati Music Theatre; choreography by JV Katz; additional choreography by Greg Underwood and Melody Thomas Nordmoe)
• Jerry Springer: The Opera (New Stage Collective; choreography by Alan Patrick Kenny)
• Wonderful Town (CCM; choreography by Patti James)

ALTERNATIVE SHOW
• Don’t Make Me Pull This Show Over: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Parenting (R3 Productions/Cincinnati Fringe Festival, directed by Richard Hess)
• The Factory (Pones Inc. Laboratory of Movement/Cincinnati Fringe Festival; directed by Kim Popa and Lindsay Jones)
• Frankenstein, featuring Giles Davies (Cincinnati Shakespeare; directed by Brian Isaac Phillips)
• fricative (Performance Gallery/Cincinnati Fringe Festival; directed by Brian Andrews-Griffin)
• Striking 12 (New Stage Collective; directed by Alan Patrick Kenny)

LOCAL PREMIERE
• Bug by Tracy Letts (New Stage Collective)
• Jerry Springer: The Opera by Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee (New Stage Collective)
• The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh (Know Theatre)
• Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire (Ensemble Theatre)
• Recent Tragic Events by Craig Wright (CCM)

OUTSTANDING PLAY
• Anon(ymous), directed by Richard Hess (CCM)
• Around the World in 80 Days, directed by Michael Evan Haney (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Bug, directed by Alan Patrick Kenny (New Stage Collective)
• Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Brian Isaac Phillips (Cincinnati Shakespeare)
• Radio Golf, directed by Ron OJ Parsons (Ensemble Theatre)

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL
• Altar Boyz, directed by Stafford Arima (Cincinnati Playhouse)
• Caroline, or Change, directed by Alan Patrick Kenny (New Stage Collective)
• The Great American Trailer Park Musical, directed by Aubrey Berg (Ensemble Theatre)
• Passion, directed by Robert Wood (CCM)
• Thrill Me, directed by Jason Bruffy (Know Theatre)

The CEAs offer firm evidence — nearly 100 nominees — why you should have gone to the theater during the 2007-08 season. Even if you didn’t catch every one of them, however, your vote is important.

Pick your favorites and give them your support. And make a vow that next year you’ll try to see even more live theater.

— Rick Pender

Comments

[Maggie]

Could you be any more in love with Alan Patrick Kenny? Does he own CityBeat or something?

[Dawn]

Same old same old. Can we switch up the game one year? I saw Derek Snow in 5 shows last season and he was brilliant in everyone of them. But, I never see his name even mentioned. What about the Ken Earlys and the Curt Shepperds. These are the same nominees every year. No diversity whatsoever. And I thought only the Acclaims were rigged...

[Andrew]

It's time that lighting and sound design got their own categories in the CEAs. These design elements are in every single show and just as important to a production as scenic and costume design.

Why should they be marginalized in a catch all award?

[Jennifer]

Some of the college plays and performers were great last year as well. "Teachers left Behind" was a really good play and had an important message as well. The songs and singing were as good as anything you'll ever hear on broadway!

[Mike]

I disagree with the above posters. Perhaps the theaters are the same, but I see a slew of first-time nominees here. And so what if the same companies are recognized each year? Do you see all of their shows? New Stage Collective does great work, as do these others. Give some credit where credit is due.

[Susan Franklin]

It's pretty clear that very few of the nominating body saw Children of Eden. A record 24 Orchid awards and this is it? The set... featuring a 47-foot tree with actual bark on it, several male vocalists who brought the house down nightly. This makes no sense.

[Jan Costello]

I vote for Lori Valentine as Local Actress in a Leading Role Musical. She was out of this world!!! Her energy, her spirit and her awesome voice and acting abilities make her the perfect candidate for this prestigous award!

I also vote for Children of Eden for Outstanding Community Theater Production. The entire cast should be congratulated for their amazing abilities!

[Marla]

I vote for Sara Mackie as Izzy in Rabbit Hole (Ensemble Theatre)for LOCAL ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A PLAY. She was fantastic. She was so amazing in her role as Izzy. I was either laughing until it hurt, or cried for her and the pain she experienced with her sister, Becca.

[Brian]

Am I missing something here? When we click to vote, it goes back to the list of nominees and there is no way to vote.

[Mark]

I agree. Rigged. SO many brilliant pieces of art have been left out that, comparatively, are so much better. So many actors who blow these nominees out of the water are not shown. So many set designs and choreography in this city that would make these other nominees jealous.
Sure these nominees are talented, but if you are going to give awards, you need to see everything.
Shame.

[Sheila]

The Frachers..again..Chris Guthrie..again...Corinne Mollenhoff.again..come on there are other actors out there and much much better..

[Carlos]

My vote goes to Justin Brown - a fine young talent who performs with passion and enthusiasm.

[Over the Favoritism]

Maybe if the reviewers went to ALL the shows each season, this would be a little more fair. Nothing from NKU? Nothing from Jersey Productions? A little favoritism on the other side of the bridge? If you're only looking at 3 or 4 companies, no wonder they get 15-20 nominations each. Like everything else in Cincinnati, if you aren't a "native" you are nothing. Open your eyes, and your minds a little bit. For such a diverse town (supposedly), you sure are narrow minded, aren't you.

[Ann]

Of course I'm sure the critics miss some shows, but I bet no one on here commenting has seen all of them. Let's not forget that these aren't the Tony's, they're the CEAs. Also, there are a lot of new people nominated too, and a few groups have just one or two nominations. Let's congratulate those that are nominated, and enjoy their work.

[Over the Favoritism]

True, Ann, but if this town is going to dote over 2 or 3 companies, then why should everyone else bother working so hard? You mean to tell me that NO ONE else deserves nominations. It's favoritism and it runs rampant here. As someone who has worked all over the country, the elitist attiude in this town is disturbing.

[Chuck]

CCM's production of Passion was outstanding and deserves serious consideration for best musical. the cast, led by Julie Conuel as Fosca and Justin Brown as Giorgio, displayed great vocal and acting skill. The director, Robert Wood effectively overcame the difficult material to make the story believable. Special Performance!!!

[Andrew]

@Over the Fanaticism

You said:

"if this town is going to dote over 2 or 3 companies, then why should everyone else bother working so hard?"

Call me crazy, but I don't work in theatre for awards: I work in theatre because I believe in the form. I work in theatre to be a part of shows that are compelling, entertaining, beautiful and affect an audience in a meaningful way.

Sometimes shows succeed, sometimes they don't. But it's rarely for lack of trying.

Sure the occasional critical shout out is nice, but that's not the reason we do the work.

Or at least it shouldn't be.

(That said, I still think there should be separate CEA categories for Lighting and Sound Design.)

[A. Nonymous]

All this negativity sure is spoiling something I was very excited about. I've been waiting a long time to get one of these nominations, just to read comments suggesting that I don't deserve it as much as someone who was overlooked. I won't reveal who I am, but I did do a show for New Stage Collective.
It seems to me that those of you doing all the complaining could not possibly have seen the shows you are dissing. I'll use BUG as an example. If you had seen it, there is no way you could deny that Sherman Fracher and Chris Guthrie deserve nominations. They were stunning.
I know for a fact that many of my fellow nominees are first-timers like me. Please don't rain on our parade. There were other years when I felt disappointment at not getting a nomination, but I didn't go online and trash the people who did.
WTF?

[k. Jenny Jones]

What is the old saying..."can't please everyone, all the time"? I firmly believe if the local Community Theater scene (one of the largest and most successful in the nation) did not already have their own method of awarding and recognizing achievement (OCTA's and Orchids), then we might see these organizations represented in their own categories.
One sees similar names year to year because of their consistent outstanding work.
Rick Pender and the staff of Citybeat have been heroes to our ascendant theater scene. They have provided the means for small professional and large budeted companies to come together to celebrate what we do.
Poo-poo to those of you who complain without providing solutions.
Lets have a good time, and if you don't like it...make a suggestion, or keep it to yourself.

[peggy hunt]

Aretta Baumgartner for best supporting role in a musical. Her work is filled with life and wonderful movement.

[Shirley Maul]

I can't believe that the Outstanding Musical list did not include Jerry Springer: The Opera. The local production was superb, sublime, and spectacular, with performances that surpass their counterparts on the You Tube elections from Jerry Springer in London.

[Lisa Lang]

Aretta Baumgartner as
Rose Stopnick-Gellman in "Caroline, or Change" was outstanding!

"Children of Eden" was oustanding and deserving of recognition.

[Jennifer Owen]

Michael Monks was delightfully sinister and yet likeable in "This is How It Goes"; and I'm not just saying that because I costarred with him in that production!! It was a privilege working with him and I truly feel he deserves this award.