Nashua Shines at Theatre Awards

This year's annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards were held Feb. 3 at Manchester's Palace Theatre. As always, it was a true "red carpet" affair, with all the glitz and glamour of the Tony Awards, without the trip to the Big Apple.

Nashua's Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, who was in attendance, said this was her first time at the gala awards ceremony, and she was most struck by the overall excitement of this annual event, which honors the best in local professional, community and youth theater annually.

And of course, she was proud of Nashua's strong showing in the winner's circle.

Congratulations to all who were nominated and, even more, for all those who participated in making 2011 a spectacular season for theater goers around the state.

PROFESSIONAL THEATER

Best Production – Drama/Comedy:“Measure for Measure,” Peterborough Players.

Best Director – Drama/Comedy: Gus Kaikkonen, “Ancestral Voices,” Peterborough Players.

Best Actor – Drama/Comedy: Christopher Reynolds as Suresh, “Animals Out of Paper,” Hampstead Stage Company.

Best Actor – Musical: Tom Ford as Pseudolus, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” New London Barn Playhouse.

Best Actress – Drama/Comedy: Karen Peakes as Isabella, “Measure for Measure,” Peterborough Players.

Best Actress – Musical: Anne Torsiglieri as The Drowsy Chaperone, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” New London Barn Playhouse.

Best Supporting Actor – Drama/Comedy: Alex Jacobs as Andy, “Animals Out of Paper,” Hampstead Stage Company.

Best Supporting Actress – Drama/Comedy:  Martin as Jane, “Ancestral Voices,” Peterborough Players.

Best Production – Musical: “The Drowsy Chaperone,” New London Barn Playhouse.

Best Director – Musical: B.T. McNicholl, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” New London Barn Playhouse.

Best Supporting Actor – Musical: Mervin Marvey as Angel, “Rent,” Papermill Theatre/NCCA.

Best Supporting Actress – Musical: Jennifer Mallard as Heidi, “Title of Show” Not Your Mom’s Musical Theater.

Best Music Director – Joel Mercier, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” New London Barn Playhouse.

Best Choreographer  – Sarah Case & Keith Coughlin, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” New London Barn Playhouse.

Best Costume Designer – Lara de Bruijn, “Measure for Measure,” Peterborough Players.

Best Scenic Designer – Charles Morgan, “Measure for Measure,” Peterborough Players.

Best Sound Designer – Kevin Frazier, “Measure for Measure,” Peterborough Players.

Best Lighting Designer (Tie) – John Eckert, “Measure for Measure,” Peterborough Players, and Matthew Guminski, “Shipwrecked! An Entertainment – The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as told by himself),” Winnipesaukee Playhouse.

COMMUNITY THEATER

Best Production – Drama/Comedy:“August: Osage County,” Milford Area Players.

Best Production – Musical:“The Drowsy Chaperone,” Community Players of Concord.

Best Director – Drama/Comedy (Tie): Vick Bennison, “August: Osage County” Milford Area Players, and Richard Russo, “Talley’s Folley,” M&D Productions.

*Best Director – Musical: Keith Weirich, “The Dinosaur Musical,” Peacock Players.

Best Original Playwright – Jared Mezzocchi, “The Lost World,” Andy’s Summer Playhouse.

Best Actor – Drama/Comedy: Ken Martin as Matt Friedman, “Talley’s Folly,” M&D Productions.

Best Actor – Musical: Marc Willis as Gordon Schwinn, “A New Brain,” New Thalian Players.

Best Actress – Drama/Comedy: Barbara Webb as Violet Weston, “August: Osage County,” Milford Area Players.

Best Actress – Musical: Ashley Hughes as Marian Paroo, “The Music Man,” Amherst PTA.

Best Supporting Actor – Drama/Comedy: Neil Blaiklock as various, “The Good Doctor,” M&M Productions.

*Best Supporting Actor – Musical: Daniel Schwartzberg as Mike Costa, “A Chorus Line,” StageCoach Productions.

Best Supporting Actress – Drama/Comedy:Deborah Shaw as Ivy Weston, “August: Osage County,” Milford Area Players.

Best Supporting Actress – Musical: Candace Azotea as The Drowsy Chaperone, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Community Players of Concord.

*Best Music Director: Judy Hayward, “The Dinosaur Musical,” Peacock Players.

Best Choreographer: Kristen Leach, “Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.,” MoCo Arts.

*Best Costume Designer: Allison Szklarz, “The Dinosaur Musical,” Peacock Players.

Best Scenic Designer: Deborah Jasien, “Talley’s Folly,” M&D Productions.

*Best Sound Designer – Rich Loomer, “The Dinosaur Musical,” Peacock Players.

*Best Lighting Designer Norm St. Germain, Jeremy Robarge and Keith Weirich, “The Dinosaur Musical,” Peacock Players.

YOUTH THEATER

*Best Production – Youth: “The Dinosaur Musical,” Peacock Players.

*Best Actor – Youth: Taylor Morrow as Quincy, “The Dinosaur Musical,” Peacock Players.

Best Actress – Youth: Emily Trubey as Elephant Child, “Just So,” Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts.

*Best Supporting Actor – Youth: Nathan Schwartzberg as Mayor of Whoville, “Seussical,” Peacock Players.

*Best Supporting Actress – Youth: Megan Dwinell as Gertrude McFuzz, “Seussical,” Peacock Players.

*Based in Nashua