Final Nominees Announced for 2019 Footlights People’s Choice Awards

After tallying nearly 33,000 votes from artists and theatergoers alike, Footlights announced the final nominees for the 2019 Footlights People’s Choice Awards Thursday, May 2 at the Skylight Bar & Bistro, located in the Broadway Theatre Center.

Awards Host Matt Kemple, best known as founder of Milwaukee Comedy and the Underground Collaborative, named the top three finalists in each of the 15 awards categories. Voting was open to the public throughout the month of April on Footlights.com.

Following the announcement, attendees enjoyed performances from Skylight Music Theatre artists Doug Clemons and David Bonofiglio. The winners will be named at the Footlights People’s Choice Awards Saturday, June 22 at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. The Footlights People’s Choice Awards is sponsored in part by Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. Click here to purchase tickets to the ceremony.

The final nominees in each category are:

Outstanding Sound Design

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Derek Buckles, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, All In Productions
• Heather Pulkowski, Mary Poppins, Sunset Playhouse
• Richard Becker, Guys and Dolls, Hartford Players

For a Professional Production

• Josh Schmidt, Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven, Renaissance Theatreworks
• Matt Pea, Shine the Light, Kids from Wisconsin
• Megan B. Henninger, Urinetown, Skylight Music Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Alan Piotrowicz, Lion King Jr., Falls Patio Players
• Chris Meissner, Billy Elliot, Waukesha Civic Theatre
• James Sevens, Mary Poppins, Sunset Playhouse

For a Professional Production:

• Jason Fassl, Carmina Burana, Skylight Music Theatre in collaboration with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Danceworks and Chant Claire Chamber Choir
• Robert J. Aguilar, In the Heights, Milwaukee Repertory Theater
• Sarah Hamilton, Strange Snow, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Jazmin Aurora Medina, Disenchanted! The Musical, Outskirts Theatre
• Lisa Quinn, Mary Poppins, Sunset Playhouse
• Lyn Kream, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, All In Productions

For a Professional Production:

• Kathy Smith, The Fantasticks, In Tandem Theatre
• Kim Instenes, Doubt, A Parable, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
• Nikki Maritch, Zie Magic Flute, Milwaukee Opera Theatre and Quasimondo Physical Theatre

Outstanding Set Design

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Anne Kenny, Lion King Jr., Falls Patio Players
• Dick Feutz, Peter Pan, Jim and I Productions
• Matt Carr & Andrea Klohn, Mary Poppins, Sunset Playhouse

For a Professional Production:

• Andrea Klohn, NINE the Musical, Theater RED
• Evan Crain, Punk is Dead, Alchemist Theatre
• Michael Cienfuegos Baca, Macbeth, Voices Found Repertory

Outstanding Youth Performer

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Aubree Sapinski (Nala), Lion King Jr., Falls Patio Players
• Ivy Broder (Kris), Molly’s Mostly Accurate Mythology Anthology, The Box Theatre Co.
• Ryan Vanselow (Billy Elliot), Billy Elliot, Waukesha Civic Theatre

For a Professional Production:

• Chantae Miller (Raylynn), Blood at the Root, Next Act Theatre
• Reese Bell (Matilda), Matilda the Musical, First Stage
• Reese Parish (Wendy Darling), Lost Girl, Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Anna Lee Murray (Rosalie Wells), The Children’s Hour, Outskirts Theatre
• Cayla Anderson (Sammy), The Tin Woman, Lake Country Playhouse
• Marilyn Daleiden (Helen Coner), Is Murder Tax Deductible?, Cream City Theater

For a Professional Production:

• Elyse Edelman (Angie), Top Girls, Renaissance Theaterworks
• Ibraheem Farmer (Justin), Blood at the Root, Next Act Theatre
• Liz Mistele (Don), Punk is Dead, Alchemist Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Frankie Breit (Davey Jacobs), Newsies, Spotlight Productions
• Jim Gottfried (Nicely-Nicely Johnson), Guys and Dolls, Hartford Players
• Tim Albrechtson (Kurt Kelley), Heathers the Musical, Sunset Playhouse

For a Professional Production:

• Kevin James Sievert (Little Moe), Five Guys Named Moe, Skylight Music Theatre
• Samantha Sostarich (Velma Von Tussle), Hairspray, Skylight Music Theatre
• SaraLynn Evenson (Lilliane Le Fleur), NINE the Musical, Theater RED

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Andre Lee Ellis (Hoke Colburn), Driving Miss Daisy, The Village Playhouse
• Jovon Serrano (Violet Weston), August: Osage County, Rogue Stage Theater
• Nicholas Callan Haubner (Tartuffe), Tartuffe, SummerStage of Delafield

For a Professional Production:

• Angela Iannone (Alexandra), The Velocity of Autumn, In Tandem Theatre
• Marcee Doherty-Elst (Sue Mengers), I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers, Theater RED
• Natasha Mortazavi (Stoli), Punk is Dead, Alchemist Theatre

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Joe Gallo (Jack Kelly), Newsies, Spotlight Productions
• Katie Behrend Berg (Francesca), The Bridges of Madison County, Lake Country Playhouse
• Romesh Alex Jaya (Leading Player), Pippin, UWM at Waukesha and Lake Country Playhouse

For a Professional Production:

• Andrew Varela (El Gallo), The Fantasticks, In Tandem Theatre
• Briana Rose Lipor (Doc Danger), Doc Danger and the Danger Squad, Milwaukee Opera Theatre
• Kelly Doherty (Miss Trunchbull), Matilda the Musical, First Stage

Outstanding Choreography

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Jessica Fastabend, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Waukesha Civic Theatre
• Stephanie Staszak, Chicago, Greendale Community Theatre
• Tricia Dobrient, Godspell, Hartford Players

For a Professional Production:

• Lanette Costas, Five Guys Named Moe, Skylight Music Theatre
• Michael Pink, Beauty and the Beast, Milwaukee Ballet
• Ryan Cappleman, Hairspray, Skylight Music Theatre

Outstanding Music Direction

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Julie Johnson, Anything Goes, Falls Patio Players
• Paula Foley Tillen, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, All In Productions
• Yeng Parman-Thao, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Waukesha Civic Theatre

For a Professional Production:

• Adam Qutaishat, Svadba-Wedding, Milwaukee Opera Theatre and Wild Space Dance Company
• Christie Chiles Twillie, Five Guys Named Moe, Skylight Music Theatre
• Kevin Stalheim, Thanksgiving Concert, Present Music

Outstanding Direction

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Graham Killeen, August: Osage County, Rogue Stage Theater
• Jerry Becker, Guys and Dolls, Hartford Players
• Maddi Conway, You Got Older, Outskirts Theatre

For a Professional Production:

• Eric Welch, NINE the Musical, Theater RED
• Jill Anna Ponasik, Doc Danger and the Danger Squad, Milwaukee Opera Theatre
• Mark Bucher, Mothers and Sons, Boulevard Theatre

Outstanding Special Performance

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Comicality 2019, Hartford Players
• And on Earth Be Peace, Chant Claire Chamber Choir
• My Funny Valentine, Waukesha Civic Theatre

For a Professional Production:

• Cabaret Series: Ben Tajnai & Shawn Holmes, Skylight Music Theatre
• I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers, Theater RED
• A Tribute to the American Black Composer, Milwaukee Children’s Choir

Outstanding Play

For a Non-Professional Production:

• August: Osage County, Rogue Stage Theater
• Molly’s Mostly Accurate Mythology Anthology, The Box Theatre Co.
• The Tin Woman, Lake Country Playhouse

For a Professional Production:

• Photograph 51, Renaissance Theaterworks
• The Pillowman, The Constructivists
• Things I Know To Be True, Milwaukee Repertory Theater

Outstanding Musical

For a Non-Professional Production:

• Mary Poppins, Sunset Playhouse
• Newsies, Spotlight Productions
• School of Rock, Sudbrink Performance Academy

For a Professional Production:

• Doc Danger and the Danger Squad, Milwaukee Opera Theatre
• Hairspray, Skylight Music Theatre
• NINE the Musical, Theater RED

About Footlights
Footlights is the playbill-of-choice for countless performing arts organizations in the region, serving companies of all sizes, including The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, In Tandem Theatre, as well as countless music groups and local college and universities’ dance, music, and theatre programs. Footlights extends playbill services to Chicago, Madison, and many locations in between.

Footlights playbills and Footlights.com are products of Marcus Promotions, Inc.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.