It’s a Wrap!
The greater Wilmington theater community was out in full force for the 11th Wilmington Theater Awards at Thalian Hall on March 20, 2024.
Comedian Jamey Stone and wife Holli Saperstein hosted an unforgettable evening celebrating Wilmington’s vibrant theatrical community. Chiaki Ito provided musical direction for the evening which featured nominations in 21 categories from more than a dozen production companies in southeastern North Carolina. Winners were selected by a combination of votes from the theater companies, the nomination panel and the public.
Click here for photos from the 11th Wilmington Theater Awards
Here are the night’s winners:
Lela Thompson Award for Outstanding Contribution to Wilmington Theater: Kim Henry, Theatre for All
OUTSTANDING PLAY: “The Philadelphia Story,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL: “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, PLAY: Steve Vernon, “Waiting For Godot,” Big Dawg Productions
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, MUSICAL: Fracaswell Hyman, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING ACTOR, PLAY: Jon Wallin, “Waiting for Godot,” Big Dawg Productions
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, PLAY: Mirla Criste, “The Chinese Lady,” Big Dawg Productions
OUTSTANDING ACTOR, MUSICAL: Troy Rudeseal, “The Producers,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, MUSICAL: Denise Jackson, “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR, PLAY: Chad Hsu, “The Chinese Lady,” Big Dawg Productions
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS, PLAY: Arianna Tysinger, “Women Playing Hamlet,” Big Dawg Productions
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR, MUSICAL: Tanner Smith, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS, MUSICAL: Bianca Shaw, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION: Brian Whitted, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY: Kevin Lee-Y Green, “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN: Terry Collins, “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS, MUSICAL: Bianca Shaw, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING MUSIC DIRECTION: Brian Whitted, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY: Kevin Lee-Y Green, “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN: Terry Collins, “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN: Christopher Dean, “Ring of Fire,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN: Cole Marquis, “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN: Debbie Scheu, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL PRODUCTION: “Wilmington Reconstructed,” Mouths of Babes Theatre Company
OUTSTANDING YOUTH PRODUCTION: “Spring Awakening,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER: Tanner Smith
2023 Wilmington Theater Award Winners
Lela Thompson Award for Enduring Contribution to Wilmington Theater
Cherri McKay
BEST PLAY
“School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play,” Big Dawg Productions
BEST MUSICAL
“Newsies,” Opera House Theatre Co.
DIRECTOR, PLAY
Fracaswell Hyman, “School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play,” Big Dawg Productions
DIRECTOR, MUSICAL
Kevin Lee-y Green, “Dreamgirls,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
ACTOR, PLAY
Fracaswell Hyman as Hoke in “Driving Miss Daisy,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
ACTOR, MUSICAL
Brendan Carter as Nick Bottom in “Something Rotten,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
ACTRESS, PLAY
Sydney Smith Martin as Marilyn Monroe in “With Love, Marilyn,” Opera House Theatre Co.
ACTRESS, MUSICAL
Kendra Goehring as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl,” Opera House Theatre Co.
SUPPORTING ACTOR, PLAY
Robin Dale Robertson as Otto Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Opera House Theatre Co.
SUPPORTING ACTOR, MUSICAL
Chad Hsu as George in “Kinky Boots,” Opera House Theatre Co.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, PLAY
Bianca Shaw as Nana in “School Girls; Or the African Mean Girls Play,” Big Dawg Productions
SUPPORTING ACTRESS, MUSICAL
Sydney Smith Martin as Lauren in “Kinky Boots,” Opera House Theatre Co.
BEST NEWCOMER (first time in a show in Wilmington)
Chad Hsu, “Kinky Boots” for Opera House Theatre Co., “Let the Rights One In” for Big Dawg Productions, and others
ENSEMBLE/CHORUS
“Newsies,” Opera House Theatre Co.
BEST CHILDREN’S/YOUTH THEATER PRODUCTION
“Matilda,” Snow Productions
MUSIC DIRECTION
Brian Whitted, “Kinky Boots,” Opera House Theatre Co.
CHOREOGRAPHY
Carson Hobbs, “Newsies,” Opera House Theatre Co.
SET DESIGN
Terry Collins, “Newsies,” Opera House Theatre Co.
SOUND DESIGN
Jason Aycock, “Let the Right One In,” Big Dawg Productions
COSTUMES
Terrill Williams and Allyson Moore-Mojica, “Dreamgirls,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
LIGHTING DESIGN
Cole Marquis, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” Big Dawg Productions
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION (originated in Wilmington, produced here for the first time)
“The Thursday Night Bridge Circle” by Ray Kennedy, Opera House Theatre Co.