Tag Archives: Best of the Best

The 22nd — and FINAL — Annual Grand Awards to honor theater excellence Oct. 21st at Fountain Street Church

By WKTV Staff

 

A lot of talent has been fêted over the past two decades as the Annual Grand Awards have celebrated and rewarded inspired performances from top productions of a given year, from children’s theater to community and college musicals and plays. This event, comparable to the Tony Awards, is complete with performances, awards, and most importantly the handing out of scholarships to young students pursuing a career in theater.

 

After reveling 22 theater seasons with the Grand Awards, this will be the last year that it continues under its current format. Stay tuned in the coming years because something new and revamped will take its place highlighting the scholarship recipients.

 

The night will celebrate the scholarship recipients, enjoy some repeat performances from the 2017-2018 theater season, acknowledge stand-out performances from the year with awards and enjoy the company of some of Grand Rapids’ MOST talented all under one roof. 

 

This year’s Grand Awards ceremony will be held at Fountain Street Church (24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503) in downtown Grand Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 6pm. Following the ceremony, there will be an after party in the fellowship hall of Fountain Street Church complete with a DJ, food, drinks, and fun going until 11pm.

 

Tickets for the 22nd Annual Grand Awards can be purchased here using credit cards for $40 (general admission and seating). General admission tickets at the door will be cash only. All ticketing for students (with proper ID), nominees, and Grand Awards event performers will be handled at the door the night of the event (cash only):

  • Grand Awards event performer: $30
  • Students: $20
  • Nominees: $10 (must be an individual nominee)

And, the nominees are…

Outstanding Play

  • The Whale at Actors’ Theatre
  • A Few Good Men at Circle Theatre
  • Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • All the Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
  • Fool for Love at Heritage Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

  • Jason Stamp as ‘Charlie’ in The Whale at Actors’ Theatre
  • Todd Lewis as ‘Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep’ in A Few Good Men at Circle Theatre
  • Spencer Tomlin as ‘Leo’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • Jon March as ‘Lyndon Baines Johnson’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Shane German as ‘Arnold Beckoff’ in Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

  • Isaac Thornson as ‘David’ in Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
  • David Houseman as ‘Butch’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • Jason Stamp as ‘Florence’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • GM (Bud) Thompson as ‘Senator Richard Russel’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Eddie Stephens as ‘Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

  • Chelsea Pummill as ‘Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway in A Few Good Men at Circle Theatre
  • Liz Brand as ‘Meg’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • Brooke Bruce as ‘May’ in Fool for Love at Heritage Theatre
  • Lori Jacobs as ‘Olive’ in Olive and The Bitter Herbs at Jewish Theatre
  • Mary Brown as ‘Toinette’ in The Imaginary Invalid at Master Arts Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

  • Madeline Jones as ‘Ellie’ in The Whale at Actors’ Theatre
  • Emily Wetzel as ‘Audrey’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • Margi Hankins as ‘Ladybird Johnson’ in All the Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Shavonne T. Coleman as ‘Wendy’ in Olive and The Bitter Herbs at Jewish Theatre
  • Bernice Houseward as ‘Mrs. Beckoff’ in Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

  • Isaac Thornson as ‘David’ as Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
  • David Houseman as ‘Butch’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • Jason Stamp as ‘Florence’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • GM (Bud) Thompson as ‘Senator Richard Russel’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Eddie Stephens as ‘Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civc Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Play

  • Fred Sebulske for The Whale at Actors’ Theatre
  • Tom Kaechele for Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
  • Bruce Tinker for All the Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Rachel Finan for Fool for Love at Heritage Theatre
  • Michelle Urbane for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Musical

  • If/Then at Actors’ Theatre
  • Fun Home at Circle Theatre
  • Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • On the Town at Circle Theatre

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

  • Nathaniel Beals as ‘Narrator’ in Passing Strange at Actors’ Theatre
  • Jason Morrison as ‘Bruce’ in Fun Home at Circle Theatre
  • Matt Tepper as ‘The Baker’ in Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
  • Scott Mellema as ‘Shrek’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Jason Morrison as ‘Daddy Warbucks’ in Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

  • David Houseman as ‘Lucas’ in If/Then at Actors’ Theatre
  • Darius Tq Colquitt as ‘Mr. Franklin’/’Joop’/’Mr. Venus’ in Passing Strange at Actors’ Theatre
  • Charles Hutchins as ‘Alfred P Doolittle’ in My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Titus Hankins as ‘Donkey’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Kyle Cain as ‘Lord Farquaad’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Cullen Dyk as ‘Pinocchio’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

  • Molly Jones as ‘Elizabeth’ in If/Then at Actors’ Theatre
  • Evangelie Vander Ark as ‘Small Alison’ in Fun Home at Circle Theatre
  • Kelly Carey as ‘The Witch’ in Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
  • Carly Uthoff as ‘Princess Fiona’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Alyssa Bauer as ‘Eliza Doolittle’ in My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

  • Caitlin Cusack as ‘Helen’ in Fun Home at Circle Theatre
  • Madeline Jones as ‘Medium Alison’ in Fun Home at Circle Theatre
  • Morgan Anding as ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’/’Gingy’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Kira Alsum as ‘Grace’ in Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Darla Carrier as ‘Madame Dilly’/’Little Old Lady’/’Club Singer’ in On the Town at Circle Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

  • Jolene Frankey for Fun Home at Circle Theatre
  • Todd Avery for Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
  • Bruce Tinker for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Allyson Paris for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Penelope Notter for On the Town at Circle Theatre

Outstanding Choreography

  • Torrey Thomas for Passing Strange at Actors’ Theatre
  • Torrey Thomas for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Melissa Sefton for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Erin Kacos for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • William Schutte for On the Town at Circle Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction

  • Scott Patrick Bell for If/Then at Actors’ Theatre
  • Brendan Hollins for Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
  • Charles Hutchins for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civc Theatre
  • Charles Hutchins for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Wright McCargar for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design

  • Sam Johnson for Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
  • Sam Johnson for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Sam Johnson for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Steven Nardin for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
  • Sam Johnson for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design

  • Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Fun Home at Circle Theatre
  • Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Into the Woods at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
  • Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

  • Bill Dunckel & Kelly Lucas for On the Town at Circle Theatre
  • Robert Fowle for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Robert Fowle for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Karen Larabel for The Book of Job at Master Arts Theatre
  • Robert Fowle for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design

  • Don Wilson for Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
  • David Len for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Christian Poquette for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
  • David Len for All the Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • David Len for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • David Len for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

For Outstanding Properties Design

  • Michael Wilson for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Jennifer Smith for A Few Good Men at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Michael Wilson for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Michael Wilson for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Camille Hickade for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Theatre for Young Audiences

  • Seussical The Musical at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • Akeelah and the Bee at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
  • School of Rock at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding College Production

  • Equivocation at Aquinas
  • Rhinoceros at Aquinas
  • A Year with Frog & Toad at Aquinas
  • Detroit ’67 at GRCC
  • Oklahoma at GVSU

Outstanding Lead Actor in a College Production

  • Casey Huls as ‘Curly’ in Oklahoma at Grand Valley State University
  • Brock Gabbert as ‘Berenger’ in Rhinoceros at Aquinas
  • Kaeleb Cogswell as ‘Toad’ in A Year with Frog & Toad at Aquinas
  • Michael Francis as ‘Lank’ in Detroit ’67 at GRCC
  • David Dekens as ‘Warren’ in This is Our Youth at GRCC

Outstanding Lead Actress in a College Production

  • Bryanna Lee as ‘Minnie’ in The Terrible Girls at Aquinas
  • Trisha Bond as ‘Penelope Sycamore’ in You Can’t Take it With You at Cornerstone University
  • Marqea Lee as ‘Chelle’ in Detroit ’67 at GRCC
  • Lindsey Normington as ‘Sally Bowles’ in Cabaret at GVSU
  • Alyssa Veldman as ‘Ado Annie Carnes’ in Oklahoma at GVSU

For Outstanding Direction of a College Production

  • Randy Wyatt for Rhinoceros, at Aquinas
  • Kathy Gibson for A Year with Frog & Toad, at Aquinas
  • Sammy A. Publes for Detroit ’67, at GRCC
  • Carrie McNulty for This is Our Youth, at GRCC
  • Christopher Carter for Oklahoma, at GVSU