2014 BroadwayWorld.com Regional Awards

January 08, 2015 - Announcements, Awards

AMDA Alumni Impress

For the past 11 years, the BroadwayWorld.com Regional Awards have honored productions and the artistic work of performers throughout the United States. Interest in the awards (which are reader-nominated and -voted) has grown steadily each year, and a combination of 50 cities and states now hold their own regional awards. For 2014 consideration, productions must have opened between October 2013 and September 2014. This year’s nominees include shows mounted in such cities as Chicago, Columbus, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Tampa, and Wichita, to name a few.

Nominations were open for the month of October, followed by open voting from mid-November through the end of 2014. This year’s nominees include nine AMDA alumni:

1. De'Sean Dooley: Best Featured Actor of a Musical for his role as Seaweed in Hairspray in Connecticut
2. Allen Dorsey: Best Supporting Actor in a Play for his role in Lord of the Flies with the Denver Center Theatre Company and Best Supporting Actor of a Musical for his role in White Christmas at the Midtown Arts Center in Denver
3. Kayley Hinen: Best Leading Actress of a Musical for her role as Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables at the Weathervane Playhouse in Newark, Ohio.
4. Oliver Mayes: Best Actor of a Musical for his performance of Lounge Singer in Dogfight at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Plainview, New York
5. Lora Nicolas: Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actress in a Play and Best Colorado Debut in a Musical for her role as Kim in Miss Saigon at the Midtown Arts Center in Denver
6. Jay Paranada: Best Actor of a Musical, Best Colorado Debut in a Musical and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his work in Miss Saigon at the Midtown Arts Center in Denver
7. Donald Pettit: Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Candlelight Pavilion in Southern California
8. Katie Rodriguez: Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role as Anne in The Diary of Anne Frank at the Conejo Players Theatre in Los Angeles (The production also received nominations for Best Direction of a Play, Best Lighting Design, Best Scenic Design and Best Play.)
9. Kristin Towers-Rowles: Best Leading Actress of a Musical for her role in Tarzan at The El Portal Theatre, Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in 6 Rms Riv Vu at the Sierra Madre Playhouse and Best Direction of a Musical for 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at The El Portal Theatre. (Kristin also directed Altar Boyz at The Chromolume, which has been nominated for Best Musical.)

Winners will be announced in early January. If you didn’t get a chance to vote this past year, look out for voting to open up again for 2014-15 productions in November, or, better yet, nominate your favorite productions and performers next October. In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed for our AMDA NY and LA alumni. We extend our sincere congratulations to them all!