DCPA Theatre Company, Arvada Center lead the pack while Performance Now and Buntport both have strong showings

The Colorado Theatre Guild Sunday announced the nominations for the 18th Annual Henry Awards. As usual the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company the picked up the most nominations, with 27 and 26, respectively. Performance Now had the third most Henry nods with 14, while tiny Buntport Theater netted 11 for its original productions.

Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden got eight nominations, as did OpenStage Theatre & Company in Fort Collins.

In Boulder, BETC, which won nine Henry’s last year on the strength of its production of The Royale, had six nominations, as did Carbondale’s Thunder River Theatre Company and Denver newcomers Two Cent Lion Theatre Company. The metro area’s Benchmark Theatre and Curious Theatre — both of which are losing their current performing spaces this year — each had five nominations.

Some other big theatres didn’t fare as well this year. Town Hall Arts Center got five nominations and the Aurora Fox had but three. The storied Colorado Shakespeare Festival had three nominations and Creede Repertory Theatre had only two. The prolific Vintage Theatre received none this year.

One another twist is that all three of the actors portraying Carole King in Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, received nominations for Lead Actress in a Musical. (Suzanna Champion – Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Julia Knitel – Theatre Aspen and Emily Van Fleet – Arvada Center

Winners will be announced July 29 at a ceremony being held at Lone Tree Arts Center.

The nominations

Outstanding Play

• “Coal Country,” BETC
• “The Minutes,” Curious Theatre Company
• “The Lehman Trilogy,” DCPA Theatre Company
• “Misery,” Miners Alley Playhouse
• “Endgame,” Thunder River Theatre Company

Outstanding Musical

• “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• “A Little Night Music,” DCPA Theatre Company
• “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company

Director of a Play

• Margot Bordelon, “The Lehman Trilogy,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Meredith McDonough, “Emma,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Christy Montour-Larson, “Truth Be Told,” Curious Theatre Company
• Renee Prince, “Endgame,” Thunder River Theatre Company
• Kevin Rich, “Much Ado About Nothing,” Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Director of a Musical

• Chris Coleman, “A Little Night Music,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Lynne Collins, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Lynne Collins, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Kenny Moten, “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Kelly Van Oosbree, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company

Musical Direction

• Trent Hines, “Raisin,” Town Hall Arts Center
• Joe Jung, “Coal Country”
• David Nehls, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Michael Querio, “Pirates of Penzance,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Angela Steiner, “A Little Night Music,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Alec Steinhorn, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Lead Actor in a Play Tier 1

• Tasso Feldman, “The Lehman Trilogy,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Torsten Hillhouse, “Misery,” Miners Alley Playhouse
• Brian Landis Folkins, “Endgame,” Thunder River Theatre Company
• David Ledingham, “Endgame,” Thunder River Theatre Company
• P. Powell, “Much Ado About Nothing,” Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Tier 2

• Erik Edborg, “Naughty Bits,” Buntport Theater Company
• Kent-Jameson Ehrman, “Inventing Van Gogh,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
• Steve Emily, “Annapurna,” Springs Ensemble Theatre
  Joey Folsom, “Inventing Van Gogh,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
• Jacob Offen, “The Book of Will,” OpenStage Theatre & Company

Emma Messenger and Torsten Hillhouse in ‘Misery’ at Miners Alley Performing Arts Center | Matthew Gale Photography

Lead Actress in a Play Tier 1

• Kate Berry, “Mountain Octopus,” Creede Repertory Theatre
• Emma Messenger, “Misery,” Miners Alley Playhouse
• Amelia Pedlow, “Emma,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Jessica Robblee, “What the Constitution Means to Me,” BETC
• Karen Slack, “Truth Be Told,” Curious Theatre Company

Tier 2

• Izzy Chern, “Clink, Clink,” Two Cent Lion Theatre Company
• Gracie Jacobson, “Clink, Clink,” Two Cent Lion Theatre Company
• Magally Luna, “Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Firehouse Theater Company
• Billie McBride, “The Heartbeat of the Sun,” Cherry Creek Theatre
• Anne Oberbroeckling, “The Heartbeat of the Sun,” Cherry Creek Theatre

Lead Actor in a Musical Tier 1

• Brett Ambler, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Brian L. Boyd, “Dreamgirls,” Lone Tree Arts Center
• Seth Dhonau, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Wayne Kennedy, “Fiddler on the Roof,” BDT Stage
• Edward Staudenmayer, “A Little Night Music,” DCPA Theatre Company

Brandon Bill (left) and Blake Nawa’a in ‘Murder for Two’ | Photo: Noah Begley

Tier 2

• Brandon Bill, “Murder for Two,” Give 5 Productions
• Scott Hurst, “Big Fish (Small Cast Edition),” OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Jeffrey Parker, “Man of La Mancha,” Platte Valley Players Theatre
• Jeffrey Parker, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Keith J. Warren, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre

Lead Actress in a Musical Tier 1

• Suzanna Champion, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Julia Knitel, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Theatre Aspen
• Mary Louise Lee, “Raisin,” Town Hall Arts Center
• Soara-Joye Ross, “A Little Night Music,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Emily Van Fleet, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Tier 2

• Lindsey Falduto, “Man of La Mancha,” Platte Valley Players Theatre
• Brikaih Flore, “Big Fish (Small Cast Edition),” OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Carolyn Lohr, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Amy Sheff, “Sweeney Todd,” The Arts HUB
• Monica Joyce Slabach, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre

Supporting Actor in a Play Tier 1

• Mark Collins, “Coal Country,” BETC
• Bob Moore, “Endgame,” Thunder River Theatre Company
• Colton Pratt, “The Little Prince,” Theatreworks
• Matthew Schneck, “Art,” Aurora Fox Arts Center
• Andrew Uhlenhopp, “Art,” Aurora Fox Arts Center

(L-R) Andrew Uhlenhopp and Matthew Schneck in ‘Art’ at the Aurora Fox | Photo: Gail Marie

Tier 2

• David Austin-Gröen, “The Book of Will,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Bobby Bennett, “You Enjoy Myself,” Local Theater Company
• Brian Colonna, “125 “‘NO’s”,” Buntport Theater Company
• David Hastings, “The Seafarer,” Springs Ensemble Theatre
• Felix Mayes, “Inventing Van Gogh,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre

Supporting Actress in a Play Tier 1

• Kaley Corinaldi, “The Little Prince,” Theatreworks
• Anastasia Davidson, “Coal Country,” BETC
• Birgitta De Pree, “Taming of the Shrew,” Theatreworks
• Kate Forbes, “Rubicon,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Katherine George, “Clyde’s,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Lindsey Pierce, “Coal Country,” BETC

Tier 2

• Iliana Lucero Barron, “You Enjoy Myself,” Local Theater Company
• Colette Brown, “The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of Their First One Hundred Years,” Firehouse Theater Company
• Hannah Duggan, “125 ‘NO’s,” Buntport Theater Company
• Hannah Duggan, “Best Town,” Buntport Theater Company
• Erin Rollman, “125 ‘NO’s,” Buntport Theater Company

Supporting Actor in a Musical Tier 1

• EJ Dohring, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Lawrence Flowers, “Dreamgirls,” Lone Tree Arts Center
• Zachary James, “A Little Night of Music,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Michael E. Martin, “Something Rotten!,” Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Brian Watson, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Tier 2

• Chris Boeckx, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Adam Luhrs, “Man of La Mancha,” Platte Valley Players Theatre
• Vern Moody, “Man of La Mancha,” Platte Valley Players Theatre
• David Novinger, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• George Zamarripa, “Man of La Mancha,” Platte Valley Players Theatre

Supporting Actress in a Musical Tier 1

• Alexis Gordon, “A Little Night Music,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Cate Hayman, “A Little Night Music,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Adriane Leigh Robinson, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Aynsley Upton, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Aléna Watters, “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Tier 2

• Jennifer Burnett, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Isabella Maria Falber, “We Will Rock You,” Funky Little Theater Company
• Karen Krause, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Brekken Baker, “Seussical,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Marin Stumpft, “Big Fish (Small Cast Edition),” OpenStage Theatre & Company

(L-R) Chris Kendall, Dwane Carrington, Abbie Apple Boes and Edith Weiss in ‘A Jukebox for the Algonquin’ at Miners Alley | Photo: Sarah Roshan Photos

Ensemble

• “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• “The Minutes,” Curious Theatre Company
• “The Lehman Trilogy,” DCPA Theatre Company
• “A Jukebox for the Algonquin,” Miners Alley Playhouse “Misery,” Miners Alley Playhouse

Choreography

• Jessica Hindsley, “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Christopher Page-Sanders, “Dreamgirls,” Lone Tree Arts Center
• Christopher Page-Sanders, “Raisin,” Town Hall Arts Center
• Grady Soapes, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Kelly Van Oosbree, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Kelly Van Oosbree, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company

Brian Colonna (with fish) and Erik Edborg in the Buntport production of “125 NO”s

New Play or Musical

• “Stonewall,” Developed by Benchmark Theatre, Benchmark Theatre
• “125 ‘NO’s,” Written by the Buntport Theater Company, Buntport Theater Company
• “Mountain Octopus,” Written by Beth Kander, Creede Repertory Theatre
• “Truth Be Told,” Written by William Cameron, Curious Theatre Company
• Rubicon,” Written by Kristen Potter, DCPA Theatre Company

Costume Design Tier 1

• Janice Benning Lacek, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Kevin Copenhaver, “A Little Night of Music,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Lex Liang, “Emma,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Sarah M. Stark, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Emily Valley, “Dreamgirls,” Lone Tree Arts Center

Tier 2

• Izzy Chern, “Clink, Clink,” Two Cent Lion Theatre Company
• Nealy Drew, “Nevermore,” Evergreen Players
• Rebecca Evans, “The Book of Will,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Nicole Harrison, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Nicole Harrison, “Seussical,” Performance Now Theatre Company

Lighting Design Tier 1

• Jiyoun Chang, “The Lehman Trilogy,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Jon Dunkle, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Jackie Fox and Paul Toben, “Emma,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Charles R. MacLeod, PhD, “Rubicon,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Vance McKenzie, “Misery,” Miners Alley Playhouse
• Shannon McKinney, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Tier 2

• Benchmark Theatre, “Stonewall,” Benchmark Theatre
• Buntport Theater Company, “125 ‘NO’s,” Buntport Theater Company
• Sean Mallary, “Acts of Faith,” Local Theater Company
• Brett Maughan, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Maxwell O’Neill, “Clink, Clink,” Two Cent Lion Theatre Company

The ‘Clyde’s’ set in the Kilstom Theatre | Photo: Jamie Kraus Photography

Scenic Design Tier 1

• Isabel and Moriah Curley-Clay, “Clyde’s,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Lex Liang, “Emma,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Kevin Nelson, “The Mousetrap,” Lone Tree Arts Center
• Christopher L. Sheley, “Misery,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
• Colin Tugwell, “Endgame,” Thunder River Theatre Company

Tier 2

• Tania Barrenechea, “Inventing Van Gogh,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
• Susan Crabtree, “You Enjoy Myself,” Local Theater Company
• Caleb Gilbert, “The Book of Will,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
• Drew Mitchell, “Clink, Clink,” Two Cent Lion Theatre Company
• Kitty Robbins, “Annapurna,” Springs Ensemble Theatre

Sound Design Tier 1

• Alex Billman, “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?,” DCPA Theatre Company
• John Hauser, “Misery,” Miners Alley Playhouse
• Palmer Hefferan, “The Lehman Trilogy,” DCPA Theatre Company
• Wayne Kennedy, “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Max Silverman, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

Tier 2

• Buntport Theater Company, “125 ‘NO’s,” Buntport Theater Company
• Kevin Douglas and Taelor Hanson, “Clink, Clink,” Two Cent Lion Theatre Company
• Jeffrey Levin, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
• Max Silverman, “Acts of Faith,” Local Theater Company
• Marc Stith, “Jeremiah,” Benchmark Theatre
• Victoria Villalobos, “The Book of Will,” OpenStage Theatre & Company

Youth Performer

• Grayson Allensworth, “The Full Monty,” Miners Alley Playhouse
• Hayley Ballard, “Elf the Musical,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
• Bridget Brown, “Into the Woods,” Ovation West
• Ethan Hershman, “The Music Man,” Performance Now Theatre Company
• Ellie Plenk, “Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical,” Town Hall Arts Center
• Nicole Siegler, “All Shook Up,” Town Hall Arts Center

The award for Lifetime Achievement will be announced at a later date.