(Press release – updated 6/20)
16th Annual Celebration Honors Outstanding Achievements of Colorado’s Theatre Community
The Colorado Theatre Guild’s 16th Annual Henry Awards will take place the evening of Monday July 25, 2022 at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities beginning at 7:00 PM. There is an in-person and streaming option and there will be catered heavy hors d’oeuvres after the show. Tickets are on sale at www.arvadacenter.org or call 720-898-7200.
Several changes have been instituted this year. Previously, only the technical categories of costume, lighting, scenic and sound design were separated between Tier I (budgets $500K and above) and Tier II (budgets below $500K). This year and moving forward, the acting categories have also been separated into Tier 1 and Tier 2. We are also introducing award categories for Youth Performers, under 18 years of age. And there are five nominees per category unless there was a tie.
Check out John Moore’s take on the Henry nominations in his Denver Gazette story.
We implemented an automated process for tabulating results that simplifies data entry. Oversight was provided by three individuals–one from the Henry’s Committee, one from the CTG Board, and one from the Community. None of these individuals are affiliated with any Colorado theatre company.
Before COVID, we typically had approximately 200 shows in each Henry season. In the 2021-22 season, there were 140 shows.
Established in 2006, the Henry Awards honor outstanding achievements during the past season and serves as one of the Colorado Theatre Guild’s annual fundraising events. The awards are named for longtime local theatre producer Henry Lowenstein. Nominations are determined through a judging process conducted by more than 100 statewide peer professionals, academics/ educators, and theatre afficionados.
“Few people have had as much impact on theater in Denver — or the lives of theater people in Denver — as Henry Lowenstein, who ran Denver Post publisher Helen Bonfils’ crown jewel on East Colfax and Elizabeth Street until the theater closed in 1986. He discovered new talent. He launched careers. He encouraged women and people of color. For hundreds of thousands of Coloradans, the Bonfils served as their first experience in live theater.” – John Moore | Oct 07, 2014
The nominees for the 2021-2022 16th Annual Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards are:
Outstanding Production of a Play (Sorted by company name)
“The Liar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Directed by Geoffrey Kent
“Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, Directed by James Bruenger-Arreguin
“In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company, Directed by Gregg T. Daniel
“Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company, Directed by Jamil Jude
“The Crucible,” Miners Alley Playhouse, Directed by Len Matheo “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” Vintage Theatre, Directed by Bernie Cardell
Outstanding Production of a Musical (Sorted by company name)
“Kinky Boots,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Directed by Rod A. Lansberry, Musical Direction by Christopher D. Littlefield
“Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company, Directed by Chris Coleman, Musical Direction by Angela Steiner
“The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance now Theatre Company, Directed by Kelly Van Oosbree, Musical Direction by Eric Weinstein
“Rock of Ages,” Theatre Aspen, Directed by Hunter Foster,
Musical Direction by Lee Eric Alsford
“Once on This Island,” Town Hall Arts Center, Directed by Betty Hart, Musical Direction by Lee Ann Scherlong
Outstanding Direction of a Play
James Bruenger-Arreguin, “Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Bernie Cardell, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” Vintage Theatre
Gregg T. Daniel, “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company Jamil Jude, “Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company
Len Matheo, “The Crucible,” Miners Alley Playhouse
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Chris Coleman, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Joel Ferrell, “The Other Josh Cohen,” DCPA Cabaret
Betty Hart, “Once on This Island,” Town Hall Arts Center
Rod A. Lansberry, “Kinky Boots,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Bob Wells, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Town Hall Arts Center
Outstanding Musical Direction
Donna Debreceni, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Town Hall Arts Center
Mark G. Meadows, “Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company
Lee Ann Scherlong, “Once on This Island,” Town Hall Arts Center
Angela Steiner, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Eric Weinstein, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Outstanding Actor in a Play Tier 1
Darren Hayes, “Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company
Sammie Joe Kinnett, “Witch,” Theatreworks Colorado Springs
Jihad Milhem, “The Crucible,” Miners Alley Playhouse
Jon Hudson Odom, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” DCPA Theatre Company Colton Pratt, “Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Outstanding Actor in a Play Tier 2
David Austin-Groen, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Shane Delavan, “Ada and the Engine,” Firehouse Theater Company
Jacob Dresch, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Sam Gilstrap, “Land of Milk and Honey,” The Catamounts Damon Guerrasio, “Meteor Shower,” Benchmark Theatre Peter Trinh, “You Will Get Sick,” Benchmark Theatre
Outstanding Actress in a Play Tier 1
Anastasia Davidson, “The Crucible,” Miners Alley Playhouse
Lynnette R. Freeman, “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Kelly McAndrew, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” DCPA Theatre Company Elise Santora, “Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Kelly Uhlenhopp, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” Vintage Theatre
Outstanding Actress in a Play Tier 2
Amalia Adiv, “Ada and the Engine,” Firehouse Theater Company
Latifah Johnson, “Flyin’ West,” Firehouse Theater Company & 5280 Co-op
Lee Massaro, “Sisters In Law,” Theatre Or
Martha Harmon Pardee, “Ann,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Edith Weiss, “You Will Get Sick,” Benchmark Theatre
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Tier 1
Brett Ambler, “The Other Josh Cohen,” DCPA Cabaret
JP Coletta, “Million Dollar Quartet,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities David Kaverman, “Kinky Boots,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Nnamdi Nwankwo, “Once on This Island,” Town Hall Arts Center
Carter Edward Smith, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Town Hall Arts Center
Esteban Suero, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Tier 2
Brian Adams, “The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes” Forge Light Theatreworks Bernie Cardell, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Chase Conlin, “The Wizard of Oz,” Sasquatch Productions Ben Hilzer, “The Wizard of Oz,” Sasquatch Productions
Jesse McFarland, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” Steel City Theatre Company
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Tier 1
Giuliana Augello, “Rock of Ages,” Theatre Aspen
Leana Rae Concepcion, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company Andrea Frierson, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Valerie Igoe, “The Other Josh Cohen,” DCPA Cabaret
Alyse Alan Louise, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Tier 2
Abigail Kochevar, “Lizzie,” Forge Light Theatreworks
Carolyn Lohr, “1776,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Emma Maxfield, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Jennasea Pearce, “Lizzie,” Forge Light Theatreworks
Colby Reisinger, “Nunsense,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play Tier 1
Topher Embrey, “The Liar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Matthew Hancock, “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company
Rick Long, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” Vintage Theatre
Miguel Nuñez, “Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Levy Lee Simon, “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company
Peter Van Wagner, “Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company
Kyle Ward, “Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play Tier 2
Brian Colonna, “<3 Richard,” Buntport Theater
Erik Edborg, “<3 Richard,” Buntport Theater
Seth Palmer Harris, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Akolotu Moeloa, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Austin Lazek, “Jest a Second!,” Cherry Creek Theatre Matt Radcliffe, “Life Sucks,” Springs Ensemble Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play Tier 1
Yvette Monique Clark, “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company
Kristina Fountaine, “The Liar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Lilli Hokama, “Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Rebecca Myers, “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Chavez Ravine, “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play Tier 2
Shannon Altner, “Our American Cousin: a nation divided,” Benchmark Theatre Jessica Emerling Crow, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Lauren Dennis, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Melissa Hoffman, “Life Sucks,” Springs Ensemble Theatre
Erin Rollman, “<3 Richard,” Buntport Theater
Rachel Turner, “Jest a Second!,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical Tier 1
Matthew Bryan Feld, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company Isaac Huerta, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Ben Liebert, “Chicago,” Theatre Aspen
Charlie Schmidt, “Little Shop of Horrors,” Town Hall Arts Center
Aaron Vega, “The Other Josh Cohen,” DCPA Cabaret
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical Tier 2
Patrick Brownson, “The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes” Forge Light Theatreworks
Wes Munsil, “1776,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Jeffrey Parker, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company Jeffrey Parker, “Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Andy Sievers, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical Tier 1
Jada Simone Clark, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Jennifer DeDominici, “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Neyla Pekarek, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Reagan Rees, “Rock of Ages,” Theatre Aspen
Megan Van De Hey, “Elf – The Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical Tier 2
Nancy Begley, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company Jennifer DeDominici, “Carousel,” Central City Opera
Lindsey Kinney, “The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes” Forge Light Theatreworks
Lindsey Kinney, “The Wizard of Oz,” Sasquatch Productions
Colby Reisinger, “1776,” Performance Now Theatre Company
Outstanding Ensemble Performance (Sorted by company name)
“Kinky Boots,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities “The Liar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
“Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
“Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company
“In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Choreography
Kitty Skillman Hilsabeck, “Elf – The Musical,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Kitty Skillman Hilsabeck, “Kinky Boots,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Dominique Kelley, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Abbey O’Brien, “Rock of Ages,” Theatre Aspen
Christopher Page-Sanders, “Once on This Island,” Town Hall Arts Center
Outstanding New Play or Musical (Sorted by company name)
“You Will Get Sick,” by Noah Diaz, Directed by Christy Montour-Larson, Produced by Benchmark Theatre
“<3 Richard,” by Buntport Theater, Directed by Buntport Theater, Produced by Buntport Theater
“Fourteen Funerals,” by Eric Pfeffinger, Directed by Rebecca Remaly, Produced by Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado
“In the Upper Room,”, by Beaufield Berry, Directed by Gregg T. Daniel, Produced by DCPA Theatre Company
“Rattlesnake Kate,” by Neyla Pekarek and Karen Hartman, Directed by Chris Coleman, Produced by DCPA Theatre Company,
Outstanding Costume Design Tier 1
Trevor Bowen, “Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company
Angela Calin, “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company
Kevin Copenhagen, “The Liar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Meghan Anderson Doyle, “The Other Josh Cohen,” DCPA Cabaret
Azalea Fairley, “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Nicole Watts, “Kinky Boots,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Outstanding Costume Design Tier 2
Rachel Finley, “Ada and the Engine,” Firehouse Theater Company
Rachel Finley, “Sisters In Law,” Theatre Or
Nikki Harrison, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company Jessie Page, “The Wizard of Oz,” Sasquatch Productions
Rebecca Spafford, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Outstanding Lighting Design Tier 1
Elizabeth Harper, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Charles R. MacLeod, “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company Charles R. MacLeod, “The Other Josh Cohen,” DCPA Cabaret
Nita Mendoza, “Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Jeanette Yew, “Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company Company at Colorado College
Outstanding Lighting Design Tier 2
Seth Allison, “The Wizard of Oz,” Sasquatch Productions
Riley Goossen, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Brett Maughan, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company Grant Putney, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Steve Tangedal, “Sisters In Law,” Theatre Or
Outstanding Scenic Design Tier 1
Tony Cisek, “Choir Boy,” DCPA Theatre Company
Efren Delgadillo Jr., “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company
Tanya Orellana, “Guadalupe in the Guest Room,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Lisa Orzolek, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” DCPA Theatre Company Klara Zieglerova, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Scenic Design Tier 2
Andrew Bates, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Performance Now Theatre Company James Brookman, “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express,” OpenStage Theatre & Company
Buntport Theater, “<3 Richard,” Buntport Theater
Kelsey Colwell, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Jay Louden and Jeffrey Jesmer, “Ada and the Engine,” Firehouse Theater Company
Outstanding Sound Design Tier 1
Jason Ducat, “The Liar,” Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Jeff Gardner, “In the Upper Room,” DCPA Theatre Company
Gary Grundei, “The Crucible,” Miners Alley Playhouse
Jonathan Taylor, “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark,” Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Ken Travis, “Rattlesnake Kate,” DCPA Theatre Company
Outstanding Sound Design Tier 2
Jason Ducat, “You Will Get Sick,” Benchmark Theatre
Riley Goossen, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
Tanner Kelly, “The Wizard of Oz,” Sasquatch Productions Rick Reid and Max Silverman, “Sisters In Law,” Theatre Or Max Silverman, “Steel Magnolias,” Cherry Creek Theatre
Outstanding Youth Performer
Rylee Armstrong, “Fun Home,” Steel City Theatre Company
Evan Duncan, “Once on This Island,” Town Hall Arts Center
Hazel Kachline, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Ovation West
Macaelle “Mac” Vasquez, “A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant,” Aurora Fox Arts Center
Nathaniel Waite-Lutz, “A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant,” Aurora Fox Arts Center
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