18th Annual GRAND RAPIDS GRAND AWARDS Are Announced

For performers and audiences alike, the name on everyone's tongue this week is "The Grand Awards!"

The Grand Rapids Grand Awards are West Michigan's theatre awards ceremonies, similar to Broadway's Tony Awards, which celebrate local theatre and present special recognition to the outstanding artists in Grand Rapids' community and college theatres. The awards raise money and awareness for The Combined Theatre Scholarship Fund, which provides multiple scholarships for Grand Rapids-area theatre students.

Community theatres presently participating in the Grand Awards are Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Jewish Theatre, Actors' Theatre, Circle Theatre, and Master Arts Theatre. Participating colleges include Grand Rapids Community College, Aquinas College, and Cornerstone University.

Those nominated for awards in the 2013-2014 season include:

PLAYS

Outstanding Director of a Play
Jason Marlett - The Whipping Man, Jewish Theatre
Michelle Urbane - Venus in Fur, Actors' Theatre
Bruce Tinker - Clybourne Park, Civic Theatre
Tom Kaechele - God of Carnage, Actors' Theatre
Tom Kaechele - Don't Dress for Dinner, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Jeffrey Williams - Love! Valour! Compassion!, Actors' Theatre
Dylan Harris - Love! Valour! Compassion!, Actors' Theatre
Jon March - Clybourne Park, Civic Theatre
Patrick Hendren - Driving Miss Daisy, Jewish Theatre
Torrence O'Haire - One Man Two Guvnors, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Kelly Piliouras - The Milliner, Jewish Theatre
Kristen Pearson - Clybourne Park, Circle Theatre
Sherryl Despres - Don't Dress for Dinner, Circle Theatre
Catie Berg - One Man Two Guvnors, Circle Theatre
Marisa Purcey - One Man Two Guvnors, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Darius T.Q. Colquitt - The Whipping Man, Jewish Theatre
Kyle Los - Venus in Fur, Actors' Theatre
Sammy A. Publes - God of Carnage, Actors' Theatre
Don Vanden Heuvel - Don't Dress for Dinner, Circle Theatre
Dylan Harris - One Man Two Guvnors, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Ellie Frances - Venus in Fur, Actors' Theatre
Nancy Wagner - Driving Miss Daisy, Jewish Theatre
Carrie McNulty - God of Carnage, Actors' Theatre
Liene Strautnieks - Don't Dress for Dinner, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Play
Love! Valour! Compassion - Actors' Theatre
The Whipping Man - Jewish Theatre
Venus in Fur - Actors' Theatre
God of Carnage - Actors' Theatre
Don't Dress for Dinner - Circle Theatre

MUSICALS

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Penelope Notter - The Sound of Music, Civic Theatre
Scott Mellema - Les Miserables, Civic Theatre
Penelope Notter - 9 to 5 The Musical, Civic Theatre
Tom Kaechele - Spamalot, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Musical Director
Wright McCargar - The Sound of Music, Civic Theatre
Scott Bell - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Actors' Theatre
Charles Hutchins - Les Miserables, Civic Theatre
Charles Hutchins - 9 to 5 The Musical, Civic Theatre

Outstanding Choreography
Mary Lohman - The Sound of Music, Civic Theatre
Kyle Dutkiewicz - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Actors' Theatre
William Schutte - 9 to 5 The Musical, Civic Theatre
Mary Lohman - Spamalot, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Nathan English - Les Miserables, Civic Theatre
JoNathan Clausen - Jesus Christ Superstar, Circle Theatre
Kyle Cain - Spamalot, Circle Theatre
Matt Ablan - Spamalot, Circle Theatre
Stephen Grey - Spamalot, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Molly Jones - Les Miserables, Civic Theatre
Sarah LaCroix - Les Miserables, Civic Theatre
Molly Jones - Jesus Christ Superstar, Circle Theatre
Emily Deiner - 9 to 5 The Musical, Civic Theatre
RoseAnne Shansky - Grey Gardens, Actors' Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Kyle Jurassic - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Actors' Theatre
Jeremiah Postma - Les Miserables, Civic Theatre
Stephen Grey - Jesus Christ Superstar, Circle Theatre
Jeremiah Postma - Spamalot, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Samantha Gauthier - 9 to 5 The Musical, Civic Theatre
Kathy Gibson - Grey Gardens, Actors' Theatre
Noddea Moore Skidmore - Spamalot, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Musical
The Sound of Music - Civic Theatre
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson - Actors' Theatre
Les Miserables - Civic Theatre
Spamalot - Circle Theatre

YOUNG AUDIENCES

Outstanding Production of Theater for Young Audiences
Junie B. Jones - Civic Theatre
A Sleeping Beauty Somewhere In Time - Magic Circle - Circle Theatre
Camp Rock - Civic Theatre

TECHNICAL AWARDS

Outstanding Scenic Design
David Len - The Sound of Music, Civic Theatre
Christian Poquette - Venus in Fur, Actors' Theatre
Christian Poquette - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Actors' Theatre
David Len - 9 to 5 The Musical, Civic Theatre
Don Wilson - Don't Dress for Dinner, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design
Tom Kaechele - Venus in Fur, Actors' Theatre
Catherine Marlett Dreher - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Actors' Theatre
Catherine Marlett Dreher - Les Miserables, Civic Theatre
Keith Oberfel - 9 to 5 The Musical, Civic Theatre
Tom Lohman - Spamalot, Circle Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design
Robert Fowle - The Sound of Music, Civic Theatre
Kelly Lucas - Venus in Fur, Actors' Theatre
Robert Fowle - Les Miserables, Civic Theatre
Robert Fowle - 9 to 5 The Musical, Civic Theatre
Robert Fowle and Kelly Lucas - Spamalot, Circle Theatre

COLLEGE PRODUCTIONS

Outstanding Director of a College Production
Jeralyn Pinsky - Nickel & Dimed, Aquinas
Tom Kaechele - Little Shop of Horrors, Cornerstone
Nancy Wagner - A Sleeping Country, GRCC
Rob Karel - The Hatpin, GRCC

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a College Production
David Frazee - Little Shop of Horrors, Cornerstone
Forest Davis - Little Women, Cornerstone
Mike Sali - Book of Days, Aquinas
Robbie Ellis - The Hatpin, GRCC
Connor Manion - The Hatpin, GRCC

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a College Production
Giovana Barreto - Nickel & Dimed, Aquinas
Madeline Jones - A Sleeping Country, GRCC
Taylor Nefcy - Austentatious, Aquinas
Madeline Jones - The Hatpin, GRCC
Nubia Gomez - The Hatpin, GRCC

Outstanding Lead Actor in a College Production
Preston Mulligan - Little Shop of Horrors, Cornerstone
Henry Marcusse - Jump/Cut, GRCC
Robert McFletcher - Jump/Cut, GRCC
Brandon Alberda - Black Comedy, Cornerstone

Outstanding Lead Actress in a College Production
Rachel Varley - Nickel & Dimed, Aquinas
Audrey Moore - Little Shop of Horrors, Cornerstone
Taylor Nefcy - Book of Days, Aquinas
Meeka Postman - The Hatpin, GRCC

Outstanding College Production
Little Shop of Horrors - Cornerstone
A Sleeping Country - GRCC
Jump/Cut - GRCC
The Hatpin - GRCC

The 18th Annual Grand Awards will be held Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, 30 North Division Ave, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503. A post-show reception will take place at St. George's Banquet & Conference Center, 334 Lagrave Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and desserts are provided by West Michigan Caterer.