Local Troupes Score on List of Award Nominees
Thursday, January 25, 2007; Page VA10
The Arlington Players have emerged as a top contender for major awards in the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors.
The troupe has the chance to win in the musical and play categories, with one production nominated in each. Overall, the group received 21 nominations that span three of its 2006 productions. Little Theatre of Alexandria received 13 nominations among four of its shows.
  Amy Miharu Hard, left, and Wendy Lamond-Broughton in "Stop Kiss." Hard, who played Callie, is nominated for WATCH's Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play. (By Douglas Olmsted) |
Two other Alexandria and Arlington theater companies -- Port City Playhouse and Tapestry Theatre Company -- received one nomination apiece.
"The Pirates of Penzance," the Gilbert & Sullivan comic operetta, garnered 10 nominations for the Players, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical. "Fiddler on the Roof" was tapped seven times with nominations in secondary categories. The group's production of the raucous British comedy "Noises Off" received four nominations, including Outstanding Play.
Two stars of "The Pirates of Penzance" face each other for the musical lead actor award: Albert Coia played Maj. Gen. Stanley and Christopher Guy Thorn was the Pirate King. Nominated for outstanding lead musical actress was Laura Wehrmeyer, who played Mabel in "Pirates." Amy Miharu Hard, was nominated for lead actress in a play for her work as Callie in the drama "Stop Kiss," staged by Port City Playhouse.
Ninety-six productions -- 25 musicals and 71 plays -- were judged. Twenty-six community theater companies from Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and the District participated.
The winners will be announced at a gala March 4 at the Birchmere. Nominees include:
Arlington Players 21 nominations
"FIDDLER ON THE ROOF"
· Outstanding Cameo in a Musical: Jennifer Diffell as Fruma-Sarah
