Six shows were deemed Outstanding Overall Production: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (DP), “Boeing-Boeing” (TCT), “Godspell” (SCC), “Intimate Apparel” (SCC), “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (CU) and “Legally Blonde: The Musical” (BCT).
Startlingly, the Dayton Theatre Guild was overlooked in the Outstanding Overall field for the first time despite standout shows as “100 Saints You Should Know,” “And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little,” “Ghosts” and “The Pillowman.” Other perplexingly egregious omissions included: “The American Dream/Zoo Story” (UD), “Dracula” (DP), “Legally Blonde: The Musical” (PS), “Little Shop of Horrors” (PS), “Side by Side by Sondheim” (DP) and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (DP) for Outstanding Overall; actors Alex Carmichal (“Dracula”), Cassandra Engber (“And Miss Reardon…”), Jenna Gomes (“The American Dream”), Patrick Hayes (“The Pillowman”), Lisa Howard-Welch (“Ghosts), Charles Larkowski (“Ghosts”), Cari Meixner (“Little Shop of Horrors”), Cheryl Mellen (“And Miss Reardon…”), Jared Mola (showcasing phenomenal range in “Dracula” and “Ghosts”) and Desmond Thomas (“Little Shop of Horrors”); directors Tony Dallas (“The American Dream/Zoo Story”), Ellen Finch (“100 Saints…”), Debra Kent (“And Miss Reardon…”), Dodie Lockwood (“The Retreat From Moscow,” DP), Natasha Randall (“The Pillowman”), David Shough (“Dracula”) and Matthew Smith (“Ghosts”); and designers Kathleen Hotmer and Terry Stump (“The Taming of the Shrew,” SCC) and Josh Hollister (“Ghosts”).
Hall of Fame Inductions
Four members of the local arts community were warmly inducted into the Dayton Theatre Hall of Fame throughout the evening.
“The thrill of theater is working on theater…solving problems,” said lighting/scenic designer and University of Dayton theater department chairperson Darrell Anderson, inducted by his longtime collaborator Tony Dallas. “I’m often asked what my favorite show is, and it’s always what’s next. I also give great credit to my directors including (the late) Marsha Hanna. I miss her.”
Scenic designer/director/actor Chris Harmon, who has received more than 40 DayTonys and was inducted by Hall of Fame member Doug Lloyd, noted his love of theater began in the sixth-grade when he was cast in the ensemble of Beavercreek High School’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof.” “(Theater) is the only place I fit in,” said Harmon, resident director at Town Hall Theatre. “I do theater because it makes me a better person. I do theater because it lets me enjoy my life. I do theater to be with people that listen, understand and accept me.”
Jane Lane and Hall of Fame member Bruce Brown posthumously inducted Kay Frances Wean, longtime director of the Epiphany Players Drama Ministry of Epiphany Lutheran Church, who died from cancer in 2011. “For Kay, everyone belonged in theater,” said Kay’s husband Ron. “There was a place for everyone – first in Kay’s heart, and then, in the show. And so she cast everybody. Kay’s journey with us was way too short. But God was so good to give us this great lover of God, people and theater. I am humbled to accept this wonderful honor from the people she loved and respected, who shared her passion, her joy and her love of theater.”
The gala concluded with Tina McPhearson’s posthumous induction of legendary impresario John Kenley, founder of the Kenley Players who died in 2009 from pneumonia at age 103. McPhearson, Cityfolk programming manager and former Victoria Theatre Association vice president of programming, worked for Kenley from 1972-1976 in various capacities such as usher, ticket taker and program seller. She fondly recalled his steadfast professionalism and the many stars that filled the stage of Memorial Hall during the summer stock troupe’s existence, which began locally in 1957.
“John loved Dayton,” said Marianne Tamplin, Kenley’s niece. “He came to Dayton and fell in love with Memorial Hall – except for the poles. But he was firm in the belief that if you have Broadway shows, Broadway stars and darn good prices the people will come. Thank you, Dayton. You all made his dreams come true.”
The 2012-13 DayTony recipients
Awards of Excellence
Acting in a Leading Role
Scott Atkinson and Jessica Suba, “Boeing-Boeing”
Ralph Bordner, “Willy Wonka” (ELC)
Alex Carmichal, “100 Saints…”
Alexander Chilton, “Zoo Story”
Elana Elmore and Abby McLean, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
Brad Mattingly, “Forum”
Katie McCarthy, “Legally Blonde” (PS)
James Trzeciak, “Annie” (TCT)
Acting in a Supporting Role
Brad Bishop, “Legally Blonde” (PS) and “Forum”
Saul Caplan and Jeff Sams, “Forum”
Nathan Hanbury, “Joseph”
Barbara Jorgensen, “100 Saints…”
Kip Moore, “Musical Chairs” (BCT)
Joe Risner, “The Pillowman”
Dean Swann, “Legally Blonde” (BCT)
Alyssa Welker and Kate Hunt-Young, “Bare” (UD)
Guest Performance
Marva M.B. Williams, “Intimate Apparel”
Ensemble Performance
The cast of “Forum”
Direction
Richard Croskey, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
Jim Lockwood, “Forum”
Monica L. Williams, “Intimate Apparel”
Design and Production
Robert Clements, Joe Kucharski and Josiah Smith, “Joseph…”
John Falkenbach, “Legally Blonde” (BCT)
Patrick Hayes, “And Miss Reardon…”
Chris Harmon, “Intimate Apparel, “Legally Blonde” (BCT) and “The Sugar Bean Sisters” (BCT)
Donald N.C. Jones, “Over the River and Through the Woods” (CU)
Joe Kelzer and Terry Stump, “Godspell”
Maria Kleuber and Lori Watamaniuk, “Willy Wonka”
Jennifer Kramer, “Intimate Apparel”
Special categories
Bryon Dobbs, “Side by Side by Sondheim”
Wendi Michael, “And Miss Reardon…”
Elizabeth Patterson, “Joseph…”
Awards of Merit
Acting in a Leading Role
Heather Barker, Levi Curby and Ben Lenox, “Over the River…”
F. Alec Brown, “Bare”
Jim Evans and Christian Johnson, “Willy Wonka”
Teresa Connair, “And Miss Reardon…”
Kaleigh-Brooke Dillingham and Bobby Mitchum, “Legally Blonde” (BCT)
Bonnie Dobbs, “Side by Side by Sondheim”
Ryan Fark, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
Tina Hayes, “Boeing-Boeing”
Josiah Hutchings, “Tartuffe” (CU)
Franklin Johnson and K.L. Storer, “Opus” (DTG)
Katrina Kittle, “100 Saints…”
Rebecca Levergood and Kyle Mottinger, “Joseph…”
Natalie Sanders, “Godspell”
Michael Stockstill, “Scrooge” (DP)
Acting in a Supporting Role
Martha Benjamin, “Bare”
Saul Caplan, “Side by Side by Sondheim”
Samantha Creech, “Legally Blonde” (BCT)
Kevin Erman, “Intimate Apparel”
Daryl Copeland and Brian Kester, “Musical Chairs”
Matthew Glenn and Richard Young, “Forum”
Charles Larkowski, “The Retreat from Moscow”
Kelli Locker and Skyler McNeely, “Godspell”
Nicola Masciotra and Josiah Smith, “Joseph…”
Joy Quarmiley, “Stepping Out” (BCT)
Philip Titlebaum, “Zoo Story”
Barrie VanKirk, “Dearly Departed” (TCT)
Peter Wallace, “Leaving Iowa” (DTG)
Guest Performance
Catherine Collins, “Intimate Apparel”
Rachel Wilson, “A Plague of Angels” (SCC)
Ensemble Performance
The casts of “100 Saints…,” “Boeing-Boeing,” “Godspell,” “Intimate Apparel,” “Joseph…,” “Legally Blonde” (BCT), “Opus” and “Side by Side by Sondheim”
Direction
Carrie Anthony and Rebecca Baker, “Joseph…”
Kimberly Borst, “Godspell”
Richard Croskey, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”
Chris Harmon, “Legally Blonde” (BCT)
Sandra Hyde, “Forum” and “Legally Blonde” (BCT)
Sonja Hyer and Rebecca O’Brien, “Boeing-Boeing”
Ron Kindell, “Side by Side by Sondheim”
Doug Lloyd, “A Chorus Line” (BCT)
Rob Willoughby, “Leaving Iowa”
Design and Production
Fred Blumenthal, “The Pillowman”
Daniel Brunk, “Intimate Apparel”
Robert Clements and Donald N.C. Jones, “Joseph…”
John Falkenbach, “Forum,” “Stepping Out” and “The Sugar Bean Sisters”
Carol Finley and Robin Farinet, “Ghosts”
Chris Harmon, “Musical Chairs” (BCT)
Kathleen Hotmer, “Godspell” and “Intimate Apparel”
Sandra Focht and Linda McLarty, “Legally Blonde” (BCT)
Donald N.C. Jones, “Tartuffe”
Gina Neuerer and Michelle Sampson, “A Plague of Angels”
Gerri Nichols and Jackie Chamberlain, “Boeing-Boeing”
Deirdre Root, “A Tuna Christmas” (DTG) and “Forum”
K.L. Storer, “A Tuna Christmas”
Special categories
Olivia Ciupak, “Godspell”
Chris Newman, “Dracula”
Nancy Perrin, “Side by Side by Sondheim”
Craig Roberts and Patrick Hayes, “The Pillowman”
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