The rankings of community theaters in the Washington area, as determined by their peers, could be changing, based on award nominations announced Sunday for last year's productions.
Several theater companies that usually receive the most nominations, including Herndon's Elden Street Players and the Reston Community Players, got fewer nods than in the past from the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors, also known as WATCH. The nominations were announced at the Birchmere in Alexandria, where the winners will be announced March 6.
Little Theatre of Alexandria, which finished fourth in the 2003 awards, was the most-nominated troupe for 2004, with 28 nominations in technical and performance categories. The ambitious Silver Spring Stage, which specializes in smaller-scale dramas and comedies, moved up to second, with 16.
"This year, Silver Spring Stage jumped to the forefront with a lot more nominations than they've had in the past," noted Todd C. Huse, chairman of WATCH's tabulation committee. "The usual top-nominated companies seem to be shifting, even though Little Theatre of Alexandria always garners a fair share and is at the top this year. Of course, they do seven shows a year and several are musicals, which gives them a few more categories where they're eligible."
Between them, Little Theatre of Alexandria and Silver Spring Stage have four of the five nominations for Outstanding Play. Little Theatre was nominated for "Sleuth" and "Over the River and Through the Woods." Silver Spring has the wild comedy "Bedroom Farce" and the absorbing drama "Proof" in contention. The Elden Street Players round out the category with a comedy, "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)."
Little Theatre's edgy production of "Cabaret" is competing for the top honor in the musical category.
The judging included 24 theater companies in Virginia, Maryland and the District, all members of WATCH that together put on 90 productions last year, including 25 musicals and 65 plays.
Vienna Theatre Company's "Evita" earned the most nominations of any production with 12, including Outstanding Musical. Little Theatre of Alexandria's "Cabaret" had 10. The third slot went to "Bedroom Farce," Silver Spring Stage's comedy written by English playwright Alan Ayckbourn, which had nine nominations.
One of WATCH's newest members, Fairfax County's Providence Players, picked up eight nominations for its staging of the time-honored comedy, "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Little Theatre of Alexandria's heartwarming family drama, "Over the River and Through the Woods," also received eight nominations. In addition to the top play category, "Over the River" has a chance to win other prestigious awards as its nominations include four for acting and one for Outstanding Direction of a Play.
Altogether, six of Little Theatre's shows from 2004 were nominated. Its production of the suspense thriller "Sleuth" is up for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Lead Actor (for veteran Joe Jenckes, who won that category in the 2003 awards) and Outstanding Direction of a Play (Albert Coia).
"Over the River and Through the Woods" has four performers (Bernard Engel, Donald Neal, Elissa Hudson and Marilyn Hausfeld) up for top featured actor or actress, as well as Outstanding Direction of a Play (Suni Chapman) and Outstanding Play.
Engel, Neal, Hudson and Hausfeld portrayed the elder members of an extended Italian American family coming to grips with the changing role of families in contemporary life.
In Montgomery, the Kensington Arts Theatre received eight nominations, including six for "The Rocky Horror Show" and two for "Tick . . . Tick . . . Boom!" Both had performers up for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, with "The Rocky Horror Show" also getting a nomination for Outstanding Musical.
Jen Cravey was nominated for Outstanding Cameo in a Play for her portrayal of "Sketch Nurse" in the Montgomery Playhouse's production of "The Sunshine Boys."
The Rockville Musical Theatre has one designer, Stephen D. Welsh, up for Outstanding Hair Design for the musical "Ragtime."
For a complete list of nominations, visit www.washingtontheater.org.
