Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The UNCW community is well represented among the nominees for the 2016 StarNews Media Wilmington Theater Awards. Seven full- or part-time theatre department faculty members, four current University of North Carolina Wilmington theatre majors, a pre-creative writing major and four theatre alumni received nominations in 13 categories.

The UNCW theatre department’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead was nominated for Best Play. The department’s production of Hamlet garnered three nominations, while Low Hanging Fruit and ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore received two apiece. In addition, three faculty members and a student received two nominations each. The nominations were announced Nov. 23 at TheatreNOW.

“Wilmington has a rich theater history, and UNCW is proud to be a part of that grand tradition,” said Thomas Salzman, theatre department chair. “Our students and faculty are committed to delivering an energetic, high-quality production every time the curtain goes up. We are thrilled that the local theater community honored UNCW’s productions, directors, actors and designers.”

And the nominees are…

Best Play: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, UNCW Department of Theatre

Director, Play: Assistant Professor Christopher Marino, Hamlet, UNCW Department of Theatre

Director, Musical: Part-time faculty member Mirla Criste (Agnir), Singin’ in the Rain, Thalian Association Community Theatre

Actor, Play: Luke Robbins ‘ 15 as Hamlet in Hamlet

Actress, Play: Student Hannah Elizabeth Smith as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Dram Tree Shakespeare

Supporting Actor, Play: Students Jac Trimble as Vasques in 'Tis Pity, and Josh Browner as Nanna in MilkMilkLemonade, UNCW Department of Theatre

Supporting Actress, Play: Morganna Bridgers ’09 as Lady Macduff in Macbeth, Dram Tree Shakespeare, and Maria Katsadouros ’13 as Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Thalian Association

Supporting Actress, Musical: Student Hannah Elizabeth Smith as Lina Lamont in Singin’ in the Rain, Thalian Association

Best Newcomer: Student Julia Ormond for Hamlet and 'Tis Pity

Choreography: Mirla Criste (Agnir), faculty, Singin’ in the Rain

Set Design: Associate Professor Max Lydy, Macbeth; Assistant Professor Randall Enlow, Low Hanging Fruit

Sound Design: Max Lydy, faculty, Low Hanging Fruit

Costume Design: Associate Professor Mark Sorensen, 'Tis Pity and part-time faculty member Jessica Gaffney, Macbeth

Lighting Design: Randall Enlow, faculty, Hamlet; student John McCall, Macbeth; Thomas Salzman, chair of the UNCW Department of Theatre, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, Thalian Association

Original Production: Brick, by Zeb Mims ’15 Up All Night

All alumni except Mims were theatre majors at UNCW; Mims was a music major with a theatre minor.

The awards will be presented Jan. 29, 2016 at Thalian Hall. The public may vote online for their favorites. A full list of nominees is available on the StarNews website.

-- Tricia Vance

#CAS