Virtual Program for February 20, 2023 Event
Opening Remarks
Best Student Performance Male
Atticus Haden – Nasty Interesting Man – Eurydice – Commonwealth Theatre Center
Travis O’Daniel – Buddy – Elf: The Musical – YPAS
Haakan Packwood – Squidward / SpongeBob Squarepants – Floyd Central
Zane Miller – Vlad – Anastasia – Floyd Central
Taylor Lockhart – Amos – Chicago – Redline Performing Arts
Bryson Sands – Rooster – Annie, Jr. – Redline Performing Arts
Best Student Performance Female
Elenna Usher – Deb – Elf: The Musical – YPAS
Ruby Miller – Anastasia, – Anastasia – Floyd Central
Charlee Watson – Countess Lilly – Anastasia – Floyd Central
Bekah Buckman – Velma – Chicago – Redline Performing Arts
Heaven Williams – Roxie – Chicago – Redline Performing Arts
Zoe Wolf – Annie – Annie, Jr. – Redline Performing Arts
Brooklyn Bowman – Annie – Annie, Jr. – Redline Performing Arts
Emily North – Miss Hannigan – Annie, Jr. – Redline Performing Arts
Best Student Play
Romeo & Juliet – Commonwealth Theatre Center
Eurydice – Floyd Central High School
Pride and Prejudice – Jeffersonville High School
Best Student Musical
Elf: The Musical – YPAS
The SpongeBob Musical – Floyd Central High School
Anastasia – Floyd Central High School
The Music Man – New Albany High School
Mamma Mia – Charlestown High School
Chicago: Student Edition – Redline Performing Arts
Annie, Jr. – Redline Performing Arts
Live Performance by the Winner
Presentation of the Barbara Cullen Theatre Educator Award To Katie Blackerby-Weible, Theatre Faculty, Youth Performing Arts School
Best Play by a Regional Company (outside a 15-mile radius)
A Christmas Story – Hayswood Theatre
Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple – The Theatre Downstream
Picasso at the Lapin Agile – Shelby County Community Theatre
Best Musical by A Regional Company (outside a 15-mile radius)
The Drowsy Chaperone – Hayswood Theatre
Always…Patsy Cline – The Theatre Downstream
Spamalot – Shelby County Community Theatre
Best Choreographer
Kelley Brady – Guys and Dolls – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Kathy Todd Chaney – An Evening with Broadway’s Greatest Villains – Clarksville Little Theatre
Zachary Boone and Paul McElroy – Head Over Heels – Pandora Productions
Heather Paige Folsom – Saturday Night Fever – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Best Costume Design
Morgan Younge – Look What The Fire Did – Bunbury Theatre
Sharon Murray-Harrah – Saturday Night Fever – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Jaclyn Lyons – Once – Time Slip Theatre
Mandy Kramer – Misery – The Chicken Coop Theatre
Donna Lawrence Downs – Merry Wives of Windsor – Kentucky Shakespeare
Best Lighting Design
Nick Dent – Lizzie, The Musical – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Lindsay Krupski – Shakespeare’s R&J – – Kentucky Shakespeare/Pandora Productions
Alexa Holloway – Saturday Night Fever – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Jesse Alford – Once – Timeslip Theatre
Tyler Warner – Misery – The Chicken Coop Theatre
Best Music Director
Jeane Marie-Rogers – Guys and Dolls – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Nina Espinueva – Lizzie, The Musical – Mind’s Eye Theatre
John Austin Clark – Head Over Heels – Pandora Productions
Allison Cross – Twelfth Night – Kentucky Shakespeare
Charlie Meredith & Natalie Minton – Once – Timeslip Theatre
Scott Bradley – Bright Star -Derby Dinner Playhouse
Best Scenic Design
Eric Allgeier – Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness – The Liminal Playhouse
Zac Campbell-Hoogendyk – Ossietzky: A Peace Play
Gerald Kean – Look What The Fire Did – Bunbury Theatre
Karl Anderson – Twelfth Night – Kentucky Shakespeare
Patrick Jump – Misery – The Chicken Coop Theatre
Best Sound Design
Alex Cooper – Ossietzky: A Peace Play
Devon Rodlund – Bright Star – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Laura Ellis – Twelfth Night – Kentucky Shakespeare
Richard McGrew – Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness – The Liminal Playhouse
Monroe Fields Jr. – Misery – The Chicken Coop Theatre
Juried Playwriting Awards:
Best Original Short Play by a Local Author
Violin Lessons by Flora K. Schildknecht
Three Hours To Dawn by Templeton Moss
The Morning After by Beau Howard
Queer Trek by Brain Walker
Don’t Do Drugs Kids by Tajleed Hardy
Date Night by Zoë Peterson
Buy A New Tent by Rachel Meadors
Best Original Play by a Local Author
The Forest and the Flames by David Clark
The Curse of the Blue Moose by Lex Mitchell & Vidalia Unwin
Ossietzky: A Peace Play by Zac Campbell-Hoogendyk
(In)Fertility by Margaret Miller
These plays were submitted through an open call and were read by a 5-member jury of local theatre professionals and academics. The decisions were based on the text and not necessarily the productions.
The plays had to be created within and have their first productions within the Louisville Metro area (defined as within a 15-mile radius of 1st & Main).
Entries were produced at these venues: The Bard’s Town, University of Louisville Theatre Arts Dep., The Mex at The Kentucky Center, and the Louisville Fringe Festival
Best Actor in a Play (professional)
Jon Norman Schneider –Every Brilliant Thing – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Brian Hinds – The Merry Wives of Windsor – Kentucky Shakespeare
Neill Robertson – Richard III – Kentucky Shakespeare
Best Actor in a Play (professional)
Jon Norman Schneider –Every Brilliant Thing – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Brian Hinds – The Merry Wives of Windsor – Kentucky Shakespeare
Neill Robertson – Richard III – Kentucky Shakespeare
Best Actress in a Play (professional)
Abigail Bailey Maupin – Richard III – Kentucky Shakespeare
Jillian Prefach Baker – Steel Magnolias – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Mollie Murk – Twelfth Night – Kentucky Shakespeare
Best Director/Play (professional)
Lee Buckholz – Steel Magnolias – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Amelia Acosta Powell – Every Brilliant Thing – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Matt Wallace – Twelfth Night – Kentucky Shakespeare
Amy Attaway – Richard III – Kentucky Shakespeare
Best Ensemble Cast (professional)
Steel Magnolias – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Shakespeare’s R&J – Kentucky Shakespeare/Pandora Productions
Best Play (professional)
Steel Magnolias – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Shakespeare’s R&J – Kentucky Shakespeare/Pandora Productions
A Christmas Carol – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Richard III – Kentucky Shakespeare
Every Brilliant Thing – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Best Actor in a Musical (professional)
Ken Robinson – Still Ready – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Tyler Bliss – Bright Star – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Dean Cestari – Saturday Night Fever – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Best Actress in a Musical (professional
Christina Acosta Robinson – Still Ready – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Jisel Soleil – Waitress – Broadway in Louisville
Sarah King – Bright Star – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Stephanie Inglese – Saturday Night Fever – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Best Director/Musical (professional)
Matthew Brennan – A Christmas Story, the Musical – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Robert Barry Fleming – Still Ready – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Lee Buckholz – Bright Star – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Best Musical (professional)
Still Ready – Actors Theatre of Louisville
Waitress – Broadway in Louisville
Bright Star – Derby Dinner Playhouse
Live Performance by the WInner
Presentation of The Kathi E.B. Ellis Lifetime Achievement Award
To Nefertiti Burton, Director, African American Theatre Program at the University of Louisville
Best Actor in a Musical (local)
Derrick Palmer – Sister Act – Redline Performing Arts
Landon Scholar – Big Fish – Theatreworks of Southern Indiana
Greg Collier – Guys and Dolls – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Brain Bowles – Cruel Intentions – Time Slip Theatre
Philip Clemons – Head Over Heels – Pandora Productions
Tyler Tate – Rent – Redline Performing Arts
Best Actress in a Musical (local)
Valerie Canon – Guys and Dolls – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Erica Yoletta Goodman – Sister Act – Redline Performing Arts
Myranda Thomas – Cruel Intentions – Time Slip Theatre
Jessica Adamson – Head Over Heels – Pandora Productions
Kylie McGuffey – Once – Timeslip Theatre
Sarah Tonini – Guys and Dolls – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Gilda Wabbit – Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Drag Daddy Productions
Best Director/Musical (local)
Jennifer Starr – Guys and Dolls – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Michael Drury – Head Over Heels – Pandora Productions
Kathy Todd Chaney – An Evening with Broadway’s Greatest Villains – Clarksville Little Theatre
Remy Sisk – Once – Timeslip Theatre
Alonzo Ramont – Rent – Redline Performing Arts
Jason Roseberry & Max Gorman – Big Fish – Theatreworks of Southern Indiana
Valerie Canon – Lizzie, The Musical – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Rebecca Brewer – Nunsense – Clarksville Little Theater
Best Musical (local)
Aida – Faithworks Studios
Guys and Dolls – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Once – Time Slip Theatre
Rent – Redline Performing Arts
Lizzie, The Musical – Mind’s Eye Theatre
Head Over Heels – Pandora Productions Big Fish – Theatreworks of Southern Indiana
Hedwig and the Angry Inch – Drag Daddy Production
Nunsense – Clarksville Little Theater
Live Performance by the Winner
Best Actor in a Play (local)
Neil Brewer – Waiting for Godot – Keyhole Theatre
Spencer Korcz – Waiting for Godot – Keyhole Theatre
Jacob Cooper – Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness – The Liminal Playhouse
Zac Campbell-Hoogendyk – Ossietzky: A Peace Play
Brian Hinds – Misery – The Chicken Coop Theatre
Joey Eberling – Hell’s Awesome: The Second Coming – The Bard’s Town
Bailey Storey – The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek – Independently Produced
Xavier Mital – Look What The Fire Did – Bunbury Theatre
Ve Reibel – The Forest and the Flame – Louisville Fringe Fest
Best Actress in a Play (local)
Karole Spangler – Goin’ Up Home – Eve Theatre Company
Mehru Hassan – Ossietzky: A Peace Play
Margaret Miller – (In)Fertility – Independently Produced
Tory Parker – The Baby Maker – Independently Produced
Katherine Martin – Misery – The Chicken Coop Theatre
Clarity Hagan – The Forest and the Flame – Louisville Fringe Fest
Georgette Kleier – The Cake – Pandora Productions
Annie Bulliet – The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek – Independently Produced
Takayla Williams Jackson – Look What The Fire Did – Bunbury Theatre
Best Director/Play (local)
Abbey Koenig – (In)Fertility – Independently Produced
Gilmer McCormick – Goin’ Up Home – Eve Theatre Company
Sydney Edwards – Look What The Fire Did – Bunbury Theatre
Tony Prince – Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness
Emily Grimany – The Baby Maker – Independently Produced
Jason Cooper – Misery – The Chicken Coop Theatre
Michael Drury – The Cake – Pandora Productions
Martin French – The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek – Independently Produced
Best Ensemble Cast (Local)
Nunsense – Clarksville Little Theater
Once – Time Slip Theatre
Rent – Redline Performing Arts
Look What The Fire Did – Bunbury Theatre
Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness – The Liminal Playhouse
Best Play (local)
Ossietzky: A Peace Play – Independently Produced
(In)Fidelity – Independently Produced
Goin’ Up Home – Eve Theatre Company
Look What The Fire Did – Bunbury Theatre
The Baby Maker – Independently Produced
Women Playing Hamlet – Little Colonel Playhouse
Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness – The Liminal Playhouse
Waiting for Godot – Keyhole Theatre
The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek – Independently Produced
