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MORONGO BASIN LIVE THEATERS NET 59 DESERT STAR NOMINATIONS

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 Palms’ Theatre 29, Joshua Trees’ Hi-Desert Playhouse, Yucca Valley’s St. Joseph’s Players and Morongo Valley’s 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 productions…

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Theatre 29 received 31 nominations this season, including a special recognition award for volunteer Kerry Jimenez. “Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein” 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. “An Ideal Husband” is nominated for outstanding comedy and director; three actors and the costumer are nominated. “Urinetown the Musical” is up for best musical direction, lead actress and supporting actress. “Wait Until Dark” was nominated for outstanding drama of the year and a supporting actor award. Finally, “The 39 Steps” 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 “Suddenly Last Summer,” “From Door to Door,” and “The Weir.” “The Weir” garnered three actor nominations, and “From Door to Door” has three actress” nominees. “Suddenly Last Summer” has two lead actress nominations and is up for set design and outstanding drama of the year.

St Joseph players

The St. Joseph’s Players received 10 total nominations. “Brighton Beach Memoirs” is nominated for outstanding drama and director, plus four actor nominations and two technical nominees. “Biloxi Blues” 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 “Love Letters,” including outstanding production and director, plus two lead actor nods.

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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, “Break a leg”!

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. Joseph’s 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. Joseph’s 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. Joseph’s Players

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama:
Rebecca Havely – Brighton Beach Memoirs – The St. Joseph’s Players
Vicki Montgomery – From Door to Door – Groves Cabin Theatre
Analisa Pilecki – Suddenly Last Summer – Groves Cabin Theatre
Donette Swain- Suddenly Last Summer – 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. Joseph’s 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 – Brighton Beach Memoirs – 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. Joseph’s 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. Joseph’s 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 – 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. Joseph’s Players
Keith Roleff – Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” – Theatre 29

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