Curtain up: Nominees, host, show date for 11th Wilmington Theater Awards announced

The Wilmington Theater Awards will return to Thalian Hall on Wednesday, March 20, according to a news release from the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County.

Nominations in 21 categories for the awards show and ceremony, which features performances from nominated productions and is presented by the Arts Council in association with Thalian Hall, were also announced Wednesday.

"In keeping with our mission of supporting artists, arts organizations and audiences, we are pleased to produce the Wilmington Theater Awards," Rhonda Bellamy, president & CEO of the Arts Council, said in a news release. "The region’s rich theater scene is on full display at the awards show and allows us to recognize the many people who make the magic happen."

Full list of nominations and public voting link is below, and tickets go on sale today as well.

Voting goes through Jan. 30, with winners to be announced live on March 20 and decided by a mix of public, theater company and theater awards committee votes.

The 11th theater awards will be hosted by Brian Whitted, a Wilmington-based musician, performer and Broadway veteran who played in and conducted the orchestra for hit Broadway show "Chicago" for many years.

Wilmington musician Brian Whitted will be the host for the Wilmington Theater Awards.
Wilmington musician Brian Whitted will be the host for the Wilmington Theater Awards.

The nominees for this year's awards were pulled from a total of 57 eligible shows, including 27 plays, 16 musicals and 15 youth productions.

The show with the most nominations is the musical "Next to Normal," from BS Productions and Opera House Theatre Co., which scored 11, including for Outstanding Musical.

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Crowds at Thalian Hall for the Wilmington Theater Awards, 2020.
Crowds at Thalian Hall for the Wilmington Theater Awards, 2020.

2024 Wilmington Theater Awards nominees

Outstanding Musical

  • “A Chorus Line,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

  • “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • “The Producers,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

Outstanding Play

  • “Blue Stockings,” CFCC Department of Fine & Performing Arts

  • “The Chinese Lady,” Big Dawg Productions

  • “A Murder of Crows,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • “The Philadelphia Story,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • “Waiting for Godot,” Big Dawg Productions

Outstanding Original Production

  • “High Voter Turnout,” CKZ Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • “A Night’s Tale,” Theatre for All

  • “Wilmington Reconstructed,” Mouth of Babes Theatre

Outstanding Youth Production

  • “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • “Spring Awakening,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • “Seussical: The Musical,” Snow Productions

  • “13,” Performance Club Kids

  • “Tuck Everlasting,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

Outstanding Director (Musical)

  • Kevin Lee-Y Green, “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

  • Carson Hobbs, “The Prom,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Fracaswell Hyman, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Ray Kennedy,” The Producers,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Cathy Street, “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

Outstanding Director (Play)

  • Paul Castagno, “A Murder of Crows,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • Kendra Goehring, “The Philadelphia Story,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • Terri Hsu, “The Chinese Lady,” Big Dawg Productions

  • Trey Morehouse, “Wilmington Reconstructed,” Mouths of Babes Theatre

  • Steve Vernon, “Waiting for Godot,” Big Dawg Productions

Outstanding Musical Direction

  • Charles Coakley Jr., “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

  • Amanda Hunter-Clawges, “Spring Awakening,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Chiaki Ito, “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Brian Whitted, “The Prom,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Brian Whitted, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

Outstanding Choreography

  • Sydney Smith Martin, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Kevin Lee-Y Green, “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

  • Kendra Goehring, “A Chorus Line,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • Carson Hobbs, “The Prom,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Richard Beaman, Adrian Jones, Ray Kennedy and Brooklyne Williamson, “The Producers,” Opera Theatre Co.

Outstanding Set Design

  • Michael Allen, “Dracula,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • Terry Collins, “The Chinese Lady,” Big Dawg Productions

  • Terry Collins, “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Terry Collins, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Benedict Fancy, “Elf: The Musical,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design

  • Michael Allen, “Dracula,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • David Castaneda, “Man of La Mancha,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Cole Marquis, “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • John McCall, “A Murder of Crows,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • Joshua Zieseniss,” Beehive,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

  • Chloe Chafetz, “Blue Stockings,” CFCC Department of Fine & Performing Arts

  • Juli Harvey, “The Little Mermaid,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Amber Heck, “The Philadelphia Story,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • Jen Iapalucci, “Beehive,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • Debbie Scheu, “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Terrill Williams, “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

Outstanding Sound Design

  • Nyla Barrow, “A Murder of Crows,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • Christopher Dean, “Ring of Fire,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Rylan Morsbach, “Wilmington Reconstructed,” Mouths of Babes Theatre

  • JJ Street, “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Steve Vernon, “Airness,” Big Dawg Productions

Outstanding Actress (Musical)

  • Denise Jackson as Celie in “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

  • Megan Lewis as Mother in “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Sydney Smith Martin as Emma Nolan in “The Prom,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Heather Setzler as Diana Goodman in “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Stephanie White Tucker as Cassie Ferguson in “A Chorus Line,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

Outstanding Actor (Musical)

  • Alex Gallo as Tateh in “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Fracaswell Hyman as Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Christopher Jones as Robbie in “The Wedding Singer,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • Troy Rudeseal as Max Bialystock in “The Producers,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Brent Schraff as Dan Goodman in “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Curtis Wiley as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

Outstanding Supporting Actress (Musical)

  • Caitlin Becka as Ulla in “The Producers,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Rayana D. Briggs as Nettie in “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

  • Leah Schraff as Natalie Goodman in “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Heather Setzler as Ursula in “The Little Mermaid,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Bianca Shaw as Sarah in “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Erin Sullivan as Angie Dickinson in “The Prom,”Opera House Theatre Co.

Outstanding Supporting Actor (Musical)

  • Brandon Bradley as Harpo in “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

  • JaJuan Colfield as Mister in “The Color Purple,” Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co.

  • Kellen Hanson as Henry in “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Maxwell Korn as Gabe Goodman in “Next to Normal,” BS Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Tanner Smith as Mother’s Younger Brother in “Ragtime,” Opera House Theatre Co.

Outstanding Actress (Play)

  • George Bird as Lucy in “Dracula,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • Mirla Criste as Afong Moy in “The Chinese Lady,” Big Dawg Productions

  • Alissa Fetherolf as Tracy in “The Philadelphia Story,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • Elizabeth Michaels as Patti Stilley in “High Voter Turnout,” CKZ Productions & Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Maria Luisa Winslow as Charlotte in “Moon Over Buffalo,” Brunswick Little Theatre

Outstanding Actor (Play)

  • Randy Davis as Estragon in “Waiting for Godot,” Big Dawg Productions

  • Lee Lowrimore as Bud/Phil in “Two Jews Talking,” Big Dawg Productions

  • Stuart Pike as George in “Moon Over Buffalo,” Brunswick Little Theatre

  • Jamey Stone as Lou/Marty in “Two Jews Talking,” Big Dawg Productions

  • Jon Wallin as Vladimir in “Waiting for Godot,” Big Dawg Productions

Outstanding Supporting Actress (Play)

  • Truü Danns as Raelynn in “John Proctor was a Villain,” CFCC Department of Fine & Performing Arts

  • Sierra Fiskins as Elizabeth Welsh in “Blue Stockings,” CFCC Department of Fine & Performing Arts

  • Kendra Goehring as Annie in “The Two Noble Kinsmen,” Cape Fear Shakespeare

  • Gracyn Hall as Susannah in “A Murder of Crows,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • Arianna Tysinger, various roles, “Women Playing Hamlet,” Big Dawg Productions

Outstanding Supporting Actor (Play)

  • EC Cobb-Curtis as Dracula in “Dracula,” UNCW Department of Theatre

  • Henry Fox as Pirithous/Doctor/Schoolmaster in “The Two Noble Kinsmen,” Cape Fear Shakespeare

  • Chase Harrison as Sandy in “The Philadelphia Story,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • Chad Hsu as Atung in “The Chinese Lady,” Big Dawg Productions

  • Eben French Mastin as Victor Le Pewe in “Drop Dead,” Brunswick Little Theatre

Outstanding Newcomer

  • Dylan Caligiuri, “The Producers,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Solomon Hill, “John Proctor was a Villain” (CFCC Department of Fine & Performing Arts), “Ragtime” (Opera House Theatre Co.)

  • Brett Sicola, “Elf: The Musical,” “A Chorus Line,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

  • Tanner Smith, “Ragtime,” “Spring Awakening,” Opera House Theatre Co.

  • Sara Sommers, “The Wedding Singer,” Thalian Association Community Theatre

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: List of nominees for 2024 Wilmington Theater Awards at Thalian Hall