SARTA Announces the 2016-17 Elly Award Nominees

Four hundred twenty (420) Elly nominees for the 2016-17 season were announced at an informal nomination reception on Sunday, August 13, 2017 beginning at 7pm at Pioneer Church located across from Sutter's Fort in midtown Sacramento. More than 100 actors, directors, technicians, and producers were on hand to listen excitedly for their names to be called. This year's theme for the 35th annual Elly Awards is A Black and White Ball and formal attire is recommended.

During the 2016-17 season 244 shows were submitted by 77 theatres! Fifty-seven (57) theatres and 114 productions received nominations. The six (6) community theatres receiving the most nominations included:

Roseville Theatre Arts Academy - Roseville (47) (3 Adult and 6 Youth Productions)

Sutter Street Theatre - Folsom (35) (All Youth productions)

El Dorado High School - El Dorado Hills (24) (All Youth Productions)

Green VAlley Theatre Company - Sacramento (23) (All Adult Productions)

The Acting Company - Yuba City (21) (All Youth Productions)

Big Idea Theatre - Sacramento (21) (All Adult Productions)

Christian Brothers High School - Sacramento (18) (All Youth Productions)

For the fourth consecutive year, Big Idea Theatre, Roseville Theatre Arts Academy, and Sutter Street Theatre have appeared in the top six listing of theatres receiving the most Elly nominations!

The Adult Production receiving the most nominations was Peter and the Starcatcher from Green VAlley Theatre Company with 13 nominations. Newcomers, The Actors' Playpen, received an amazing 9 nominations for Lizzie: The Musical, their first show submission. The Youth Production receiving the most nominations was Godspell from Roseville Theatre Arts Academy with 15 nominations. Both of El Dorado High Schools' musicals received more than 10 nominations each. Please refer to the 2017 Elly Award Nomination List and 2017 Elly Nomination Statistics attachments for additional information.

Elly Award nominations include Lead and Supporting Actor and Actress, Director, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Set Design, Sound Design, Overall Production plus Musical Direction and Choreography, if applicable. The nominations are announced for productions in the following categories: Comedy, Drama, Musical, Original Scripts, and Young People's Scripts; Education- Musicals, Education- Plays, Young People's-Musicals, Young People's- Plays and Children's Theatre.

Named for the late Eleanor McClatchy, a devoted patron of the arts and former publisher of the Sacramento Bee, the Elly Awards celebrate excellence and the outstanding achievements of community theaters and artists in the greater Sacramento area. Created 35 years ago by local community actors, the Elly Awards have grown from a local Sacramento tradition to now include theatres within a 70-mile radius!

In honor of the 35th annual Elly Awards, SARTA will be hosting two ceremonies this September! The Youth Elly Award ceremony will be on Sunday, September 10 at 7pm at Cosumnes Oaks High School Performing Arts Center in Elk Grove. Tickets for the Youth Ellys will go on sale on Monday, August 14 at 8am at www.brownpapertickets.com. The Adult Elly Award ceremony will be on Sunday, September 24 at 7pm at The Center at 2300, 2300 Sierra Blvd in Sacramento. Adult Elly tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, September 5 at 8am at www.brownpapertickets.com. These award ceremonies have sold out in the past, so purchase tickets early.

For more information and the full list of nominees, please visit www.sarta.com or call 916-443-8229. SARTA is a 501©3 non-profit theatre arts service organization.

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