The Community Theaters of the Morongo Basin have been recognized by the Desert Theatre League for a combined 59 Desert Star Award nominations for the 2014/2015 theater season. The awards cover the entire Coachella Valley and include both the Hi- and Low-Desert theaters. Twentynine Palmsâ Theatre 29, Joshua Treesâ Hi-Desert Playhouse, Yucca Valleyâs St. Josephâs Players and Morongo Valleyâs Groves Cabin Theatre all garnered multiple nominations. Reporter Rebecca Havely shares the Theatre 29 nominees and Managing Editor Tami Roleff has the breakdown for other local productionsâŚ
Theatre 29 received 31 nominations this season, including a special recognition award for volunteer Kerry Jimenez. âMel Brooksâ Young Frankensteinâ garnered 14 nominations for outstanding musical, outstanding director and musical director; six actors in the cast and the choreographer are up for awards, plus four technical award nominees. âAn Ideal Husbandâ is nominated for outstanding comedy and director; three actors and the costumer are nominated. “Urinetown the Musicalâ is up for best musical direction, lead actress and supporting actress. âWait Until Darkâ was nominated for outstanding drama of the year and a supporting actor award. Finally, âThe 39 Stepsâ received a nod for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy. “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” received four nominations: outstanding director of a musical, choreography, outstanding lead actor in a musical, and outstanding lead actress in a musical.
The Groves Cabin Theatre has 13 nominations including three for outstanding director of a drama for âSuddenly Last Summer,â âFrom Door to Door,â and âThe Weir.â âThe Weirâ garnered three actor nominations, and âFrom Door to Doorâ has three actressâ nominees. âSuddenly Last Summerâ has two lead actress nominations and is up for set design and outstanding drama of the year.
The St. Josephâs Players received 10 total nominations. âBrighton Beach Memoirsâ is nominated for outstanding drama and director, plus four actor nominations and two technical nominees. âBiloxi Bluesâ is up for outstanding director of a comedy and supporting actor award. The Hi-Desert Cultural Center received four nominations for the staged reading of âLove Letters,â including outstanding production and director, plus two lead actor nods.
The award season culminates in October at the annual Desert Star Awards Gala in Palm Desert. All the category winners will be presented with the distinguished Star Award statuette. To all the nominees in the Morongo Basin, congratulations on your well-deserved recognition; and to all the nominees throughout the entire Coachella Valley, as we say in the theater, âBreak a legâ!
The complete list of nominees can be found at http://deserttheatreleague.org/2015-Nomination-List
SPECIAL AWARDS
Bill Kuhlman Award: Kerry Jimenez
DRAMA
Brighton Beach Memoirs – The St. Josephâs Players
Suddenly Last Summer – Groves Cabin Theatre
Wait Until Dark – Theatre 29
The Michael Cruickshank Award for Outstanding Director of a Drama:
Wendy Cohen – From Door to Door – Groves Cabin Theatre
Abe Daniels – Suddenly Last Summer – Groves Cabin Theatre
Rebecca Havely – Brighton Beach Memoirs – The St. Josephâs Players
Karl Weimer – The Weir – Groves Cabin Theatre
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama:
Kurt Schauppner – The Weir – Groves Cabin Theatre
Leonard Webber – Brighton Beach Memoirs – The St. Josephâs Players
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama:
Rebecca Havely – Brighton Beach Memoirs – The St. Josephâs Players
Vicki Montgomery – From Door to Door – Groves Cabin Theatre
Analisa Pilecki – Suddenly Last Summer – Groves Cabin Theatre
Donette Swain- Suddenly Last Summer â Groves Cabin Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama:
Dave Jessup – The Weir – Groves Cabin Theatre
Cyrus Short – Wait Until Dark – Theatre 29
Vincent Thomas – Brighton Beach Memoirs – The St. Josephâs Players
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama:
Joy Groves – From Door to Door – Groves Cabin Theatre
Phylicia Mason – From Door to Door – Groves Cabin Theatre
Elizabeth Schmelling â Brighton Beach Memoirs â The St. Joseph Players
Outstanding Production – Musical or Opera:
Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Outstanding Director of a Musical or Opera:
Gary Daigneault – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Charles Harvey -The Mystery of Edwin Drood – Theatre 29
Outstanding Musical Director of a Musical or Opera:
Bill Barrett – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Ed Will – Urinetown, the Musical – Theatre 29
The Michele Gaines Award for Outstanding Choreographer of a Musical or Opera:
Pamela Crane – The Mystery of Edwin Drood – Theatre 29
Mandi Pushkar – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29 26
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical or Opera:
Graham Cooley – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” -Theatre 29
Leonard Weber – The Mystery of Edwin Drood – Theatre 29
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical or Opera:
Char Childs – The Mystery of Edwin Drood – Theatre 29
Pamela Crane – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Katie VanSumeren – Urinetown, the Musical – Theatre 29
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical or Opera:
Jericho McWilliams – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical or Opera:
Char Childs – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Cindy Daigneault -Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” Theatre 29
Rebecca Havely – Urinetown, the Musical – Theatre 29
The Bill Groves Award for Outstanding Juvenile:
Curtis Mohn – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
COMEDY
Outstanding Production-Comedy
An Ideal Husband – Theatre 29
Outstanding Director of a Comedy
Rebecca Havely – Biloxi Blues – The St. Josephâs Players
Butch Pelfrey/Tom Highfill – An Ideal Husband – Theatre 29
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy
Ben Bees – An Ideal Husband – Theatre 29
Leonard Weber – An Ideal Husband – Theatre 29
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy
Char Childs – An Ideal Husband – Theatre 29
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Ben Bees – The 39 Steps – Theatre 29
Ryan Fleischman – Biloxi Blues – The St. Josephâs Players
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Jasmine Schaffer – An Ideal Husband – Theatre 29
STAGED READING
Love Letters – Hi-Desert Cultural Center
Outstanding Director of a Staged Reading
Howard Shangraw – Love Letters – Hi-Desert Cultural Center
Outstanding Lead Male Performer in a Staged Reading – Professional
Howard Shangraw – Love Letters – Hi-Desert Cultural Center
Outstanding Lead Female Performer in a Staged Reading â Professional
Suzanne Avalon – Love Letters – Hi-Desert Cultural Center
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Outstanding Set Design
Gary Daigneault – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Rebecca Havely/Ron Stimbert – Brighton Beach Memoirs – The St. Joseph’s Players
Steve Pratt – Suddenly Last Summer – Groves Cabin Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design
Kathryn Ferguson – An Ideal Husband – Theatre 29
The Ron Hamm Award for Outstanding Hair and Makeup Design
Charles Harvey – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Outstanding Lighting Design
Ken Palmer – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29
Outstanding Props and Special Effects
Sue Kelly – Brighton Beach Memoirs – The St. Josephâs Players
Keith Roleff – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29