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Nominations Announced for the 2025 Wilmington Theater Awards
Wilmington, NC — Opera House Theatre Co.’s “Beautiful” is the most nominated musical vying for the 2025 Wilmington Theater Awards. The musical snagged 10 mentions when nominations were announced Wednesday during a ceremony at The Eagles Dare in downtown Wilmington.
With nine nominations, Opera House Theatre Company’s “Death of a Salesman” was the most nominated play. Thalian Association Community Theater led all local theater companies with 27 total nominations.
The Wilmington Theater Awards honor the outstanding contributions of the local theater community, celebrating the actors, directors, designers, and technicians who bring stories to life on Wilmington stages. This year’s crop of nominees represent 14 theater companies from across Southeastern North Carolina.
In the Outstanding Musical category, “Beautiful” will compete against “Beauty and the Beast” (Thalian Association), “Fiddler on the Roof”( Opera House), “Lizzie” (Panache Theatrical Productions) and “The SpongeBob Musical”( Thalian Association).
Joining “Death of a Salesman” in the Outstanding Play category are “HIR” and “Shining City” from Sihr Theatre and “The Thanksgiving Play” and “The 39 Steps” from Big Dawg Productions.
In addition to the nominees in 20 categories, the evening will honor Steve Vernon, artistic director of Big Dawg Productions, with the Lela Thompson Award for Enduring Contribution to Wilmington Theater. Vernon also was nominated Wednesday for outstanding actor in a play for his role in “the Real Inspector Hound.”
Nine individuals received double nominations this year: Christopher Dean (sound design), Madisyn Fleming (actress in a play, newcomer), Ethan Golden (sound design), Logan Hayes (director of a musical, choreography), Ricki Nelson (actress in a play. newcomer), Luc Pages (supporting actor in a musical, choreography), Debbe Scheu (costume design), Heather Setzler (supporting actress in a play, supporting actress in a musical) and Mathis Turner (actor in a musical, supporting actor in a musical).
The 2025 Wilmington Theater Awards ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. March 26 at historic Thalian Hall in Wilmington. The red carpet opens at 6 p.m. The show will feature performances by some of this year’s nominated performers in a celebration of the past year of local theater
Voting for the awards will run through Feb. 13. The ballot can be found here: https://forms.gle/xFVicZQkiaf6mAMWA.
2025 Wilmington Theater Nominations
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL
“Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
“Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
“Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
“Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
“The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
OUTSTANDING PLAY
“Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
“HIR,” Sihr Theatre
“Shining City,” Sihr Theatre
“The Thanksgiving Play,” Big Dawg Productions
“The 39 Steps,” Big Dawg Productions
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Chandler Davis, “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Logan Hayes, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Anthony Lawson, “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
Justin Smith, “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Suellen Yates, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Tony-Elias Choufani, “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
Randy Davis, “The 39 Steps,” Big Dawg Productions
Terri Hsu and Steve Vernon, “The Thanksgiving Play,” Big Dawg Productions
Stoney B. Mootoo, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Elizabeth Wellman, “Everybody,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Kaleb Edley as The Beast in “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Kellen Hanson as Phil Davis in “White Christmas,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Connor Perry as SpongeBob in “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Jamey Stone as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Mathis Turner as Gerry Goffin in “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
ACTOR IN A PLAY
Brendan Carter as John in “Shining City,” Sihr Theatre
Chad Hsu as Richard Hannay in “The 39 Steps,” Big Dawg Productions
Fracaswell Hyman as Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Luke Robbins as Isaac in “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
Steve Vernon as Birdboot in “The Real Inspector Hound,” Big Dawg Productions
ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Sydney Smith Martin as Lizzie Borden in “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
Meghan McDonald as Inga in “Young Frankenstein,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Holli Saperstein as Golde in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Lyndsey Schroeder as Carole King in “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Hallie-Claire Weems as Sandy Cheeks in “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Madisyn Fleming as Shelby in “Steel Magnolias,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Tamica Katzmann as Logan in “The Thanksgiving Play,” Big Dawg Productions
Elizabeth Montgomery as Chris Gorman in “Rumors,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
Ricki Nelson as Daughter in “Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery,” Cleod Nine Productions
Natasha Yvette Williams as Linda Loman in “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Jon Berry as Barry Mann in “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Gregory Devon Brown as Lester in “The House That Gordy Built,” Techmoja Dance & Theater Company
Luc Pages as Damian in “Mean Girls,” Panache Theatrical Productions
Mathis Turner as Gaston in “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Cole Warren as Igor in “Young Frankenstein,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Dontonio Demarco as Biff in “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Devin DiMattia as Simon Gascoyne in “The Real Inspector Hound,” Big Dawg Productions
Louie Johnson as Max in “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
Victor Rodriguez as George Zimmerman in “The Ballad of George Zimmerman” from “Scotopia: Short Plays to Help You See in the Dark,” Mouths of Babes Theatre
Brett Sicola as multiple characters in “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Big Dawg Productions
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Rayana D. Briggs as Penny in “The House that Gordy Built,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
Coleman Cox as Tzeitel in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Kendra Goehring as Cynthia Weil in “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Heather Setzler as Emma Borden in “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
Lily Zukerman as Maggie in “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Anna Gamel Huber as multiple characters in “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Big Dawg Productions
Elizabeth Michaels as Clairee in “Steel Magnolias,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Maya Noor as Neasa in “Shining City,” Sihr Theatre
Alaina Olsen as Alicia in “The Thanksgiving Play,” Big Dawg Productions
Heather Setzler as Clown 2 in “The 39 Steps,” Big Dawg Productions
MUSICAL DIRECTION
Amanda Clawges, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Bettsy Curtis, “Head Over Heels,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
Sherome Amoire Clay, “The House that Gordy Built,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
Denice Hopper and Linda Carlisle Markas, “Godspell,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Brian Whitted, “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
CHOREOGRAPHY
Kevin Lee-Y Green and Luc Pages, “Mean Girls,” Panache Theatrical Productions
Logan Hayes, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Carson Hobbs, “Annie,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Samantha Ray Mifsud, “White Christmas,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Timothy Mills, “Godspell,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
COSTUME DESIGN
Stephanie Aman and Debbie Scheu, “White Christmas,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Melanie Hodge, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Debbie Scheu, “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Mark Sorenson, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
Terrill Williams, “The House that Gordy Built,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.
LIGHTING DESIGN
David Castaneda, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Andrew Fisher, “Godspell,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Hannah Funderburke, “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
Cole Marquis, “Night of the Living Dead,” Big Dawg Productions
Joshua Zieseniss, “Beauty and the Beast,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
SET DESIGN
Michael Allen, “Rumors,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
Terry Collins, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Randall Enlow, “Young Frankenstein,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Benedict Fancy, “Steel Magnolias,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Ashley Flowers, “HIR,” Sihr Theatre
SOUND DESIGN
Jason Aycock (Foley) and Ethan Golden, “The SpongeBob Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Christopher Dean, “Beautiful,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Christopher Dean, “Lizzie,” Panache Theatrical Productions
Ethan Golden, “Young Frankenstein,” Thalian Association Community Theatre
Max Lydy, “Everybody,” UNCW Dept. of Theatre
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION
“Laughing in the Dark,” Pineapple-Shaped Lamps
“Night of the Living Dead” by Chase Harrison, Big Dawg Productions
“Ten-Minute Miscellany,” Port City Playwrights
“Shakers Revised” by Rose-Mary Harrington, Harrington Repertory
“Wherefore Art Thou,” Theatre for All
NEWCOMER
Josh Avery, “Night of the Living Dead,” Big Dawg Productions
Jennifer Frankel, “Annie,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Madisyn Fleming, “Steel Magnolias” (Thalian Association), “Beautiful” (Opera House), “Scotopia” (MOB)
Stephanie Hall, “Mama Won’t Fly” and “The Night Before the Night Before Christmas” (Brunswick Little Theatre)
Ricki Nelson, “Shakin’ the Mess Outta Misery,” Cleod Nine Productions
Calvin Rowell, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
Deven Ruane, “Fireflies” and “Proof,” Brunswick Little Theatre
Marlon Weems, “Death of a Salesman,” Opera House Theatre Co.
