Welcome back to the Austin Theater Examiner Awards. It was a fun year for musicals, and we had everything from bold new works to some restaging of old favorites, and each one held their own magic, but only the best of the best could have been included in these awards. A note, compared to the dozens of comedies and dramas I saw last year, I was only able to see a little over a half-dozen musicals, so there are many very good musicals that may not have made the list. Be sure to leave comments on your favorite musicals this year!
Best Production of a Musical
Evil Dead: The Musical
Written by George Reinblatt, Frank Cipolla, Christopher Bond, and Melissa Morris
Salvage vanguard Theatere and Doctuh Mistah Productions
Directed by Michael McKelvey
Starring David Gallagher, Corley Pillsbury, Kelly Bales, Macey Mayfield, Christopher Skillern, Maggie Wilhite, Matt Connely, David Ponton, Jason Vines, Alexa Doggett, and Ryan Borses
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Written by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
Summer Stock Austin
Directed by Michael McKelvey
Starring Jacob Trussell, Kathleen Fletcher, Ben Mayne, Reno Bostick, Emily Smith, Aaron Moten, Mikayla Agrella, Grantham Woods, and Nathan Brockett
Murder Ballad Murder Mystery
Written by Elizabeth Doss
Vortex Repertory Company and Tutto Theatre Company
Directed by Dustin Wills
Starring Elizabeth Doss, Mark Stewart, Robert Pierson, Content Love Knowles, Emily Tindall, Hilah Johnson, Florinda Bryant, Ben Schave, Cami Alys, Alex Cogburn, Andy Tindall, Kelli Bland, and Phillip Emanuel
Oceana
Written by Bonnie Cullum and Content Love Knowles
Vortex Repertory Company
Directed by Bonnie Cullum
Starring Jennifer Coy, Benna Pritchard, Kimberley Pruit, Andy Agne, Jonathan Blackwell, Barton Bryan, Rachel Martsolf, Betsy McCann, Gabriel Maldonado, Kira Parra, Katherine Craft, Yvonne Reed, Mindy Rast, Karina Dominguez, and Kimberley Mead
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Written by Rachael Sheinkin and William Finn
Zach Scott Theatre
Directed by Dave Steakley
Starring Andrew Cannata, Amy Downing, Joseph Banks, Jose Villarreal, Eve Alonzo, Lucy Jennings, Jill Blackwood, Les McGehee, Bernard Davis, Amy Nichols and Dav Wallace
Best Ensemble in a Musical
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Andrew Cannata, Amy Downing, Joseph Banks, Jose Villarreal, Eve Alonzo, Lucy Jennings, Jill Blackwood, Les McGehee, Bernard Davis, Amy Nichols and Dav Wallace
Oceana
Jennifer Coy, Benna Pritchard, Kimberley Pruit, Andy Agne, Jonathan Blackwell, Barton Bryan, Rachel Martsolf, Betsy McCann, Gabriel Maldonado, Kira Parra, Katherine Craft, Yvonne Reed, Mindy Rast, Karina Dominguez, and Kimberley Mead
Little Shop of Horrors
Andrew Cannata, Macey Mayfield, Tyler Wallach, Michael Fariss, Jarrett King, Monique Huff, Ana Sith, Marett Hanes, Carl Romines, Audrey Yeoman, Brandon Edwards, Josh Allred, Alexa Doggett, Audrey Hickey, Angie Holliday, and Madison Piner
Murder Ballad Murder Mystery
Elizabeth Doss, Mark Stewart, Robert Pierson, Content Love Knowles, Emily Tindall, Hilah Johnson, Florinda Bryant, Ben Schave, Cami Alys, Alex Cogburn, Andy Tindall, Kelli Bland, and Phillip Emanuel
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Jacob Trussell, Kathleen Fletcher, Ben Mayne, Reno Bostick, Emily Smith, Aaron Moten, Mikayla Agrella, Grantham Woods, and Nathan Brockett
Best Lead Actor in a Musical
Andrew Canatta
Seymour Krelborn
Little Shop of Horrors
David Gallagher
Ash
Evil Dead: The Musical
Jacob Trussell
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Brock England
Timothy
Lonestar, Texas
Best Lead Actress in a Musical
Macey Mayfield
Audrey
Little Shop of Horrors
Kathleen Fletcher
Mrs. Lovett
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sarah Gay
Tina
The Secret Lives of the InBetweeners
Jill Blackwood
Rona Lisa Peretti
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Corley Pillsbury
Cheryl
Evil Dead: The Musical
Katherine Craft
Aoife the Selkie
Oceana
Lucy Jennings
Olive Ostrovsky
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Hilah Johnson
Agatha
Murder Ballad Murder Mystery
Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Les McGeHee
Vice Principal Douglas Panch
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Aaron Moten
Judge Turpin
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Trey Deason
Waldo
The Secret Lives of the InBetweeners
Robert Pierson
Tom
Murder Ballad Murder Mystery
There you have it, 2009's nominees for the Musical Categories. Who missing? Who shouldn't be included? Feel free to leave a comment to let me know what you think, along with your picks on who should win. Stay tuned very soon for the nominees for the Drama Categories, followed soon after by some very special awards.
Comments
Two you missed - City Theatre's Nunsense; hilarious characters, terrific singing and dancing, and a perfect ensemble. And Penfold Theatre's The Last Five Years. Outstanding show.
I thought Amy Downing was wonderful in Putnam County Spelling Bee!
I agree with Carol Anne. Both of those were great shows, especially David Gallagher in L5Y (although he was brilliant as Ash and did get a nom for that) and Melita McAtee was hilarious as Reverand Mother in Nunsense at City. I also would've liked to see "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" (can't remember who did it) and the Pajama Game at St. Eds.
Thanks for sending SSA's Little Shop some love! We felt like we had a great show too, but Sweeney was such a phenomenon we often got left in the shadows!
Can't wait to see the rest of your nominations! Love the list!
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