Reston's 'Beauty' Up for 23 Awards

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Fairfax County theater groups received 59 nominations in technical and performance categories for the annual Washington Area Theater Community Honors (WATCH) awards. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner Feb. 26 at the Birchmere in Alexandria.

The nominations were announced Sunday evening at the Birchmere.

Twenty-five community theater companies that staged a total of 95 productions last year -- 25 musicals and 70 plays -- were considered.

The Reston Community Players' production of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" has a chance to take home the most honors in the musical category, with 23 nominations, including best musical, best lead actor and actress in a musical and best director.

The Elden Street Players' "The Weir," a poignant drama based on storytelling in a remote Irish pub, was also one of the leaders, with 13 nominations, including best play.

Here are the Fairfax nominations, listed by theater company. To see all the nominations, visit http://www.washingtontheater.org .

Aldersgate Church

Community Theatre

· "Arsenic and Old Lace"

Outstanding lead actress, Bonnie Jourdan; outstanding properties, Judy Kee; outstanding set decoration, Dru Vander-Linden and Janie Bauer.

Elden Street Players

· "Henry V"

Outstanding stage combat, Al Myska.

· "The Mystery of Irma Vep"

Outstanding play; outstanding direction, Bruce Follmer; outstanding hair design, Kat Brais; outstanding lead actor, Casey Jones, Nano Gowland; outstanding properties, Kim Gowland; outstanding sound design, Stan Harris; outstanding special effects, John Strycharske and Kevin Curry.

· "Dinner With Friends"

Outstanding play; outstanding direction, Chuck Dluhy.

· "The Weir"

Outstanding play; outstanding direction, Angie Anderson; outstanding featured actor, Al Fetske, Tom Flatt; outstanding featured actress, Jennifer Robison; outstanding light design, AnnMarie Castrigno; outstanding makeup design, Kendel Taylor; outstanding properties, Nanette Reynolds; outstanding set construction, Tod L. Kerr; outstanding set decoration, Nanette Reynolds; outstanding set design, Tod L. Kerr; outstanding set painting, Jill Kerr; outstanding sound design, Stan Harris.

Providence Players

of Fairfax

· "The Women"

Outstanding costume design, Susan Devine and Donna Naybor.

· "Witness for the Prosecution"

Outstanding featured actress, Beth Whitehead.

Reston Community Players

· "Disney's Beauty

and the Beast"

Outstanding musical; outstanding cameo, Christopher Borton, Kate Dykoff; outstanding choreography, Christy Slosky; outstanding costume design, Maggie Geuting and Anita Miller; outstanding direction, Sue Pinkman; outstanding featured actor, Chuck Dluhy, David Segal; outstanding featured actress, Lisa Freese, Paula Rivera; outstanding hair design, Anna Michelle Jackson, Sue Pinkman, Anita Miller and Maggie Geuting; outstanding lead actor, Arthur Rowan; outstanding lead actress, Iliana Inocencio; outstanding light design, Franklin Coleman; outstanding makeup design, Arthur Rowan, Bette Williams, Anna Michelle Jackson, Sue Pinkman, Rini Segar and Dusty Vandenberg; outstanding music direction, Mark V. Deal; outstanding properties, Mary Jo Ford; outstanding set construction, Tom Gueting and Scott Obenchain; outstanding set decoration, Bea and Jerry Morse; outstanding set design, Scott Obenchain; outstanding sound design, Jim Girardi; outstanding special effects, Scott Obenchain and Jim Girardi; outstanding stage combat, Al Myska.

· "Honk!"

Outstanding musical; outstanding lead actress, Jennifer Lambert.

Vienna Theatre Company

· "Deathtrap"

Outstanding featured actress, Rose Declercq; outstanding set decoration, Mike Smith; outstanding stage combat, Steve Lada.

· "Pippin"

Outstanding choreography, Lorraine Magee; outstanding direction, Lorraine Magee.

· "Steel Magnolias"

Outstanding properties, Mike Smith.

-- MICHAEL J. TOSCANO