On Friday, September 5, at 8pm the Midtown International Theater Festival Awards will take place. The MITF Awards will honor the best shows and performances from the recently completed Ninth Annual Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival, which took place from July 14-August 10 of this year.
The MITF Awards will be held at the Bleecker Street Theatre, located at 45 Bleecker Street, at 8pm. Doors open at 7:30pm. The evening will include live entertainment from MITF shows including "Cleopatra: A Life Unparalleled," which received 10 MITF Award nominations, including Outstanding Overall Production of A Musical, Outstanding Music and Lyrics, and several acting nominations. Winners will be announced in 32 separate categories, and are chosen by the MITF Staff. A complete list of categories and nominees can be found at the bottom of this release. In addition to the various nominated categories, there will also be the presentation of the Producer's Award, which honors the shows that have sold the most tickets at the MITF (presented by Festival founder and executive producer John Chatterton), and the Congeniality Award, given to the company who most cooperatively worked within the Festival rules, regulations and guidelines. The Congeniality Award will be presented by MITF managing producer Emileena Pedigo."The MITF Awards are our way of saying 'thank you' to the 60 productions that took part in the Festival this year - most especially the ones that went that extra mile to put on a good-quality show, to help put audiences in the theatres, and who will hopefully want to produce a show in our upcoming Tenth Annual Festival in Summer 2009," Chatterton noted.
The 2nd Annual MITF Awards will be held on Friday, September 5th at the Bleecker Street Theatre, located at 45 Bleecker Street, right near the number 6 train. Tickets are $10.00, cash only, payable at the door. More information on the MITF Awards can be found at www.midtownfesitval.org. A Word attachment of this release and the nominees is available upon request.Love, Incorporated produced by Tzipora Kaplan in association with Katherine Heberling. Book, Music and Lyrics by Mark Castle; Musical Direction, Arrangements and Orchestrations by Philip Kirchman; Directed by Igor Goldin; Scenic/Props Design by Tony Zimbardi; Lighting Design by Rebecca Makus; Costume Design by Hunter Kaczorowski; Sound Design by Quentin Chiappetta; Stage Managed by Nick Tochelli; Performed by Jennifer Blood, Jonathan Rayson, Hollis Scarborough, and Tally Sessions.
OPA! produced by Double Play Connections and Wild Bird Productions; Book by Mari Carras and Laurel Ollstein; Lyrics by Mari Carras and Nicholas Kitsopoulas; Music by Nicholas Carras and Nicholas Kitsopoulos; Directed by Spiro Venloudos; Choreography by Wendy Waring; Musical Direction by Micah Young; Scenic Design by Anne Allen Goelz; Costume design by Holly Cain; Lighting Design by Dan Weingarten; Sound Design by Bridget O'Connor; Asst. Choreography by Margaret Liston; Asst. Musical Direction by Tim Rosser; Stage Managed by Lori Lundquist; Performed by Demetrios Bonaroa, Joseph Callari, Michael Dionissiou, Carolee Goodgold, Abigail Hardin, Jan Leslie Harding, Michael Alan Jacobs, Deborah Litwak, Costa Nicolas, Patrick Riviere, Eric Ruben, Louis Michael Sacco, and Natasha Tabandera.The Claw of the Schwa from Directors Reality produced by Small Pond Entertainment; Written by Zach Udko; Directed by Michael Schwartz; Performed by Lija Fisher, Ari Brand and Maggie Surovell.
A Telephone Call from Those Whistling Lads: The Poetry and Short Stories of Dorothy Parker produced by TimeSpace Productions in association with Paul Cassali; Written by Dorothy Parker; Adapted for the Stage by Maureen Van Trease; Directed by Bricken Sparacino; Scenic and Costume Design by Helen Muller; Lighting Design by Diana Kesselschmidt; Sound Design by Michael Lanning; Stage Managed by Livia Tabor Hill; Performed by Annalyse McCoy, Natalie Wilder, Hannah Wolfe and Maureen Van Trease. The Trip to Bahia Blanca from Striptease into the Trip to Bahia Blanca produced by Oscar Medoza Productions; Directed by Oscar Mendoza; Translated by Adolfo Perez Alvarez; Cinematography and Stage Management by Gabriel Comrie-Pepin; Guitar performance by Xavier Paez; Performed by Sarah Doudna.Outstanding Overall Production of a Solo Show
By the Light of the Silvery Moon produced by Fine Feathered Friends; Written by Sara Jeanne Asselin; Directed by Melissa Firlit; Adapted from the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman; Stage Managed by Sara Forde; Assistant Stage Managed by Annie Ford; Mainly Performed by Sara Jeanne Asselin. Exit Cuckoo produced by Lotus Productions, Written by Lisa Ramirez; Directed by May Adrales; Scenic Design by Ji-Youn Chang and Lauren Rockman; Lighting Design by Ji-Youn Chang; Costume Design by Lauren Rockman; Sound Design by Greg Hennigan; Stage Managed by Jen Caster; Performed by Lisa Ramirez. Mother May I? produced by Joey Productions LLC; written by Joy Gabriel; directed by Bricken Sparacino; Lighting design by Stephen Cannela; Performed by Joy Gabriel. Sacred is the New Profane produced by The Distillery and Cheryl Harnest; Written by Cheryl Harnest; Directed by Jeremy Bloom, Costume design by Tilly Grimes; Lighting and Sound Design by Ellen Rosenbert; Performed by Cheryl Harnest.Quake produced by On the Square Productions in association with Jackie La Vanway and Rachel McPhee; Written by Melanie Marnich; Directed by Miguel Rosales; Lighting Design by Matt Lausi, Costume Design by Anna Marquqredt; Sound Design by Jackie La Vanway; Stage Managed by Jenni Swan; Performed by Eric Fleming, Adam Gutbezahl, Jackie Lavanway, Micheal Lutton, Rachel McPhee, and Kristy Powers.
Outstanding Overall Production of a New Comedy Play (previously unpublished script) 10-Speed Revolution produced by Direct Current and Walking Shadow Productions; Written by John Heimbuch; Directed by Nathan Lemoine; Designed by Gib Patterson with the Ensemble; Performed by Alex Demers; Jordan Kamp; Bonnie Sherman and Nathan Lemoine. Kidnapping Laura Linney produced by MU Productions; written by Philip Mutz; Directed by Nadia Wahhab; Scenic Design by Philip Mutz; Lighting Design by Scott Needham; Sound Design by Ben Horner; Stage Managed by Ashley Kosier; Performed by Chris Critelli, Philip Mutz, Alley Scott and Raisa Ellington. Prince Trevor Amongst The Elephants produced by Cross-Eyed Bear Productions; Written and Directed by Duncan Pflaster; Costume Design by David Withrow; Lighting Design by Kevin B. Ploth; Original Music Composition by Adam Rabin; Fight Choreography by Chris C. Cariker; Performed by Eric C. Bailey, Christopher C. Cariker, Patricia Comstock, Jon Crefeld, Keith Patrick Dunn, Carols Rafael Fernandez, Paula Galloway, Clara Barton Green, Jason Alan Griffen, Kelly Nichols, Luke Strandquist and Jess Cassidy White. The Higher Education of Khalid Amir produced by Good Works Productions; Written by Monica Baur; Directed by Craig J. George; Scenic Design by Andis Gjoni, Costume Design by Irma Escobar; Lighting and Sound Design by Elliot Lanes; Stage Managed by Elliot Lanes; Assistant Directed by Sara Lyons; Assistant Stage Managed by Laverne Bowan; Performed by Joan Barber, Amir Darvish, Amanda Duarte, Alexander Elisa, John Fico, Norm Golden, and Tyler Hollinger. Writer's Block produced by 81st Street Productions; Written by Shaun Gunning; Directed by Michael Kimmel; Scenic and Lighting Design by Erich Bussing; Costume Design by Kate Gunning; Sound Design by Nehemiah Luckett; Assistant Sound Design by Jim Bauer; Performed by Kate Dulcich, Lauren Gleason, Kevin Gunning, Shaun Gunning, Alan Jestice, Josh LaCasse, Jack Marshall, Steve Orlinkowski, and Sara White. Outstanding Overall Production of a New Drama Play (previously unpublished script) Bubby's Shadow produced by White Rabbit Theatre and Mo Pula Productions; Written by Andrew Rothkin; Directed by Ramona Pula; Scenic Design by Yveyi, Costume Design by Isabelle Fields, Lighting Design by Duane Pagano; Stage Managed by Krista Sarubbi; Performed by Noura Jost, Yury Lomakin, Batasha Malinsky, Eric Percival, Stewart Schneck, Caroline Samaan and Randi Sobol. Couldn't Say Written by Christopher Wall; Directed by Lisa Rothe; Scenic Design by Eliza Brown; Lighting Design by Melissa Mizell; Costume Design by Christina Bullard; Sound Design by Daniel Kluger; Stage Managed by Sid King; Performed by Brent Langdon and Elizabeth Rich. Childhood Montana Written and Directed by Mira Gibson; Scenic Design by Mira Gibson and Michelle Crouse; Lighting Design by Tanya Engeleit; Costume Design by Michelle Crouse; Sound Design by Eric Gorman; Stage Managed and Assistant Directed by Michelle Crouse; Performed by David Ballog, Amber Bogdewiecz, Jill Leithauser, and Jamie Watson. Penang produced by Dana Monagan; Written by James L. Larocca; Directed by Donya K. Washington; Lighting Design by Alex Moore; Sound Design by David Schulder; Performed by Brett Davidson, Ben Hersey, Gloria Lai, Ingrid Kullberg-Bendz, Leigh Walker Montayne, Dave Powers and Peter Sabri. The Wendy Complex produced by The Vagabond Theater Ensemble; Written and Directed by Jeremy Bloom; Scenic Design by Steph Tucci; Lighting Design by Brian Tovar; Costume Design by Erin Schultz; Original Music by Renee Dunaway/Jetsetter; Stage Managed by Candace Potempa; Assistant Stage Managed by Melissa Schleier; Performed by Meredith Forlenza, Atley Loughridge, Sarah Ann Masse, Dillon Porter, Kevin Reed, and Sarah Billington Stevens.Outstanding Overall Production of a Staged Reading
Raggedy Ann & Andy: Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo; Book and Direction by Jenny Greeman and Elliot Lanes
Alice: Music and Lyrics by William Wade, Book by Frank Blocker, Musical Direction by Bryan Wade, Staging by Jamibeth Margolis
Gentleman's Wish: Written by Lawson Caldwell
Daughters of the Mock: written by Judi Ann Mason, Directed by Passion. Produced by The Negro Ensemble Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Jenn Anaya (Princess Aleysha) Eighty-1
Abigail Hardin (Eleni) OPA!
Jane Leslie Harding (Xenia/Young Xenia) OPA!
Hollis Scarborough (Aura/Jen) Love, Incorporated
Jennifer Van Buskirk (Soothsayer/Ponthinus/Fulvia) Cleopatra: A Life Unparalleled
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play or Full Evening of One-Acts (Cast of 3 or more)Ethan Angelica, Justin Herfel, Annalyse McCoy, Glen B. Stoops, Natalie Wilder, Hannah Wolfe and Maureen Van Trease for Those Whistling Lads: The Poetry and Short Stories of Dorothy Parker
Chris Borland, Ashlee Fife, Dan Guller, John Kinsella, Monica McCarthy, Lisa Riegel and Morgan Sills for A Shot in the Dark
Daryl Brown, Thomas Debacker; Rick Delaney, Rhett Henckel, Letitia Lange, Victoria Levin, and Chance Mullen for Flies in the Snuffbox
Heidi J. Dallin, Jacqueline Kristel, Jeff Pierce and Vanessa Shaw for Hillary and Monica
Chris Critelli, Philip Mutz, Alley Scott and Raisa Ellington for Kidnapping Laura LinneyEric C. Bailey, Christopher C. Cariker, Patricia Comstock, Jon Crefeld, Keith Patrick Dunn, Carols Rafael Fernandez. Paula Galloway, Clara Barton Green, Jason Alan Griffen, Kelly Nichols, Luke Strandquist and Jess Cassidy White for Prince Trevor Amongst the Elephants
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Cidalia Alves, Kyle Brenn, Daniel Hague, Gregory Kisken, Samantha Kulish, Jessica Labbadia, Melissa Labbadia,
Laura Piacenza, Joseph Santaniello, Matthew Surapine, Jennifer Van Buskirk, and David Vogel for Cleopatra: A Life Unparalleled
Jennifer Blood, Jonathan Rayson, Hollis Scarborough, and Tally Sessions for Love, Incorporated
Demetrios Bonaroa, Joseph Callari, Michael Dionissiou, Carolee Goodgold, Abigail Hardin, Jan Leslie Harding, Michael Alan Jacobs, Deborah Litwak, Costa Nicolas, Patrick Riviere, Eric Ruben, Louis Michael Sacco, and Natasha Tabandera for OPA!
Daniel Lincoln, Nicole Weiss, Brayden Hayde, Jen Anaya, David Albiero, and John Anthony Lopez for Eighty-1
Outstanding Choreography (Fight/Dance/Physical Movement)
Jeremy Bloom for the physical movement choreography of The Wendy Complex
Igor Goldin for the musical staging of Love, Incorporated
Kate Loprest for the musical staging of Eighty-1
Merete Muenter for the Dance Choreography of They Walk Among Us
Wendy Waring for the Dance Choreography of OPA!
Outstanding Postcard
By the Light of the Silvery Moon
Cleopatra: A Life Unparalleled
Ghost Dancers
The Wendy Complex
They Walk Among Us
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