We run down the list of all the theatres and theatre artists being recognized this year, plus an interview with ‘Bad Books’ playwright Sharyn Rothstein along with National New Play Network Executive Director Nan Barnett

Chapter Summary

0:00 – Introduction & Holiday Recap Alex and Toni welcome listeners back after the holidays and preview the big announcement of the 2025 OnStage Colorado Awards (OSCA) nominees, plus changes to the award structure.

4:00 – What We’ve Been Seeing Discussion of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors at the Denver Center’s Garner Galleria, including parking tips and production highlights. Toni shares thoughts on the physical comedy, theater magic, and Sean Scroggins’ impressive triple-role performance.

6:30 – Holiday Viewing Brief chat about holiday entertainment, including Alex’s annual Lord of the Rings marathon and both hosts’ thoughts on Marty Supreme featuring Timothy Chalamet.

8:11 – Theater News: John Moore’s True West Awards Announcement of John Moore wrapping up 25 years of True West Awards, naming Buntport Theatre as 2025 Theatre Persons of the Year, plus another shout-out to OnStage Colorado.

11:02 – Theater News: DIRT Opens in Spring Update on Denver Immersive Repertory Theater (DIRT) opening at 15th and Blake in LoDo with Midnight’s Dream, including budget details ($1.5-1.6 million total investment) and production scope (20 performers, 11 environments, 381-page script).

15:05 – Theater News: 1400 Dallas Arts Toni reports on Aurora’s new rehearsal hub for performers in a former police station, offering affordable rental space ($2/hour) for theater groups, dancers, and actors creating self-tapes.

17:31 – OSCA Changes Announced Explanation of new award structure: narrowing to 10-15 nominees per category (down from previous years) and introducing three-tiered winners (Outstanding, Excellence, Notable) to be announced at the January 18th livestream.

18:31 – Best Play Nominees (10)

20:37 – Best Musical Nominees (10)

22:09 – Best Comedy Nominees (10)

24:14 – Best Original Play or Musical Nominees (8)

25:05 – Actor in a Play Nominees (14)

27:24 – Actor in a Musical Nominees (12)

29:02 – Actor in a Comedy Nominees (10)

  • Bekah Lynn Broas – Hope & Gravity – BETC
  • Cameron Davis – Baskerville – Lone Tree
  • Colin Gregory – The Shark is Broken – Springs Ensemble Theatre Co
  • Dionne as Malvolio – Stoned Twelfth Night
  • Heather Ostberg Johnson – 39 Steps – OpenStage
  • Karen Slack – Eureka Day – Curious
  • Katie Rodriguez – The 39 Steps – Creede Rep
  • Marco Alberto Robinson – Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors – Garner Galleria
  • Tim Fishbaugh – National Bohemians – Miner’s Alley
  • Veronica Straight-Lingo – Let Nothing You Dismay – Firehouse

30:52 – Director in a Play Nominees (10)

  • Betty Hart – A Case for Black Girls – Local Theater Company
  • Candace Orrino – Cry It Out – BETC
  • donnie l. betts – Gee’s Bend – Aurora Fox
  • Jessica Robblee – Thin Place – BETC
  • Josh Hartwell – Job – Curious
  • Kelly Van Oosbree – Frankenstein – Platte Valley
  • Kevin Rich – The Tempest – Colorado Shakespeare Festival
  • Missy Moore – Steel Magnolias – Theatre Silco
  • Rebecca Martinez – In Her Bones – Fine Arts Center
  • Rich Cowden – Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Aurora Fox

32:37 – Director in a Musical Nominees (10)

  • Amanda Berg Wilson – Ghost Quartet – The Catamounts
  • Ben Rannan – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Phamaly
  • Chris Coleman – Little Shop of Horrors – Denver Center
  • Kelly Van Oosbree – Mary Poppins – Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
  • Kenny Moten – Frozen – Arvada Center
  • Steve Wilson – Bright Star – Candlelight
  • Tanner Kelly – Something Rotten – StageDoor
  • Talia Liccardello – Lizzie – Aurora Fox
  • Kate Gleason – The Fantasticks – Creede Rep
  • Scott RC Levy – Cabaret – TheatreWorks

33:59 – Director in a Comedy Nominees (10)

  • Adeline Mann – A Town Called Harris – Catamounts
  • Christy Montour-Larson – The 39 Steps – Creede Rep
  • Jessica Jackson – 39 Steps – OpenStage
  • Matt Zambrano – Baskerville – Lone Tree
  • Paige Flores-Medrano – Stoned Twelfth Night
  • Paul Jaquith – Let Nothing You Dismay – Firehouse
  • Steve Keim – Mr. Burns – Bas Bleu
  • Warren Sherrill – National Bohemians – Miner’s Alley
  • Christy Montour-Larson – Eureka Day – Curious
  • Josh Hartwell – Hope & Gravity – BETC

35:57 – Musical Director Nominees (10)

  • Alec Steinhorn – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Lone Tree
  • Christopher Wren – Million Dollar Quartet Christmas – Candlelight
  • Christy Vest – Mary Poppins – Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
  • David Nehls – Assassins – Miner’s Alley
  • Donna K. Debreceni – Lizzie – Aurora Fox
  • Jeejay Maccariella – Ghost Quartet – The Catamounts
  • Johnny Nichols Jr. – A Case for Black Girls – Local Theater Company
  • Mason Siders and Jalyn Courtenay Webb – Bright Star – Candlelight
  • Tanner Kelly – Rock of Ages – Parker Pace
  • Trent Hines – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Phamaly

37:09 – Choreographer Nominees (10)

  • Bethany Eilean Talley – The Fantasticks – Creede Rep
  • Christopher Page-Sanders – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Lone Tree
  • Claire Hayes – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Phamaly
  • Dallas Slankard – Guys and Dolls – Vintage Theater
  • Heather Westenskow – Something Rotten – StageDoor
  • Jeffry Denman – Mary Poppins – Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
  • Kate Vallee-Maclaren – Anastasia – Candlelight
  • Rickey Tripp – Little Shop of Horrors – Denver Center
  • Shawna Walker – Oklahoma – Candlelight
  • Mary Ripper Baker – Cabaret – Theatreworks

38:50 – Scenic Design Nominees (10)

  • Alan E. Muraoka – Little Shop of Horrors – Denver Center
  • Brandon Philip Case – Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Aurora Fox
  • Brian Mallgrave – Frozen – Arvada Center
  • Brian Watson – Lizzie – Aurora Fox
  • Garrett Ammon – Holidays at the Hideaway Hotel – Wonderbound
  • Klara Zieglerova – A Case for Black Girls – Local Theater Company
  • Markas Henry – Eureka Day – Curious
  • Matthew S. Crane – Mary Poppins – Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
  • Reid Thompson – The Suffragette’s Murder – DCPA
  • Xander Claypool – National Bohemians – Miner’s Alley

40:03 – Lighting Design Nominees (10)

  • Brett Maughan – Frankenstein – Platte Valley
  • Emily Maddox – A Case for Black Girls – Local Theater Company
  • Erin Thibodaux – Thin Place – BETC
  • Jen Orf – Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Aurora Fox
  • Jon Dunkle – Frozen – Arvada Center
  • Josh Hemmo – Silent Sky – TheatreWorks
  • Katie Gruenhagen – The Tempest – Colorado Shakespeare Festival
  • Keith A. Truax – Mary Poppins – Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
  • Matthew Schlief – 39 Steps – OpenStage
  • Vance McKenzie – National Bohemians – Miner’s Alley

41:53 – Sound Design Nominees (10)

  • Alex Billman – A Case for Black Girls – Local Theater Company
  • Brendan Aanes – Happiest Man on Earth – DCPA
  • Curt Behm – Rock of Ages – Parker Pace
  • Elizabeth Weidner – Little Shop of Horrors – Denver Center
  • Erin Kubat – Frankenstein – Platte Valley
  • John Hauser – National Bohemians – Miner’s Alley
  • Max Silverman – Job – Curious
  • Max Silverman – The Tempest – Colorado Shakespeare Festival
  • Rich Cowden – Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Aurora Fox
  • Victoria Villalobos – 39 Steps – OpenStage

43:06 – Costume Design Nominees (11)

  • Charlotte Campbell – Million Dollar Quartet Christmas – Candlelight
  • Deb Faber – Bright Star – Candlelight
  • Emily Valley – Frozen – Arvada Center
  • Kevin Copenhaver – Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder – Arvada Center
  • Lex Liang & Sera Bourgeau – Mary Poppins – Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
  • Madison Booth – Nice Work If You Can Get It – Lone Tree
  • Nicole Watts – Flyin’ West – TheatreWorks
  • Nikkie Harrison – Rock of Ages – Parker Pace
  • Sarah Zinn – The Tempest – Colorado Shakespeare Festival
  • Terri Gerrard – Mr. Burns – Bas Bleu
  • Susan Rahmsdorff-Terry – A Case for Black Girls – Local Theater Company

44:19 – Immersive Nominees (5)

  • A Town Called Harris – Catamounts
  • Camp Christmas (Revamped) – Stanley Marketplace & DCPA Off-Center
  • Inheritance Kitchen – Japanese Arts Network
  • Meow Wolf Anomaly
  • Wild Oscillation – Hold Tight Company

45:34 – Intimacy & Fight Direction Nominees (5)

  • Chrys Duran (Fight Choreographer) and Clove Love (Intimacy Director) – The Legend of Anne Bonny
  • Jada Suzanne Dizon (Intimacy Direction) – Eureka Day
  • Samantha Egle (Fight Director/Intimacy Coordinator) – Little Shop of Horrors – Denver Center
  • Marla A. Schulz (Dance/Movement/Intimacy Choreographer) and Sean Scrutchins (Fight Captain) – The Tempest  and Richard II – Colorado Shakespeare Festival
  • Carrie Colton (Intimacy Director) – Anastasia – Candlelight

46:31 – Best Ensemble Nominees (10)

  • A Case for Black Girls – Local Theater Company
  • Assassins – Miner’s Alley
  • Cat on a Hot Tin Roof – DCPA
  • Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Aurora Fox
  • Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors – Garner Galleria
  • Hope & Gravity – BETC
  • Let Nothing You Dismay – Firehouse
  • Mary Poppins – Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
  • Mr. Burns – Bas Bleu
  • Steel Magnolias – Theatre Silco

47:03 – Above & Beyond Nominees (12)

To be announced Jan. 18.

48:09 – Interview: Bad Books at Curious Theatre Alex interviews playwright Sharyn Rothstein and National New Play Network Executive Director Nan Barnett about the rolling world premiere of Bad Books, a comedy about book banning featuring a mother and librarian in conflict. Discussion covers the creative process, the National New Play Network’s mission, and how the play explores censorship through personal stories rather than political rhetoric. Opens January 10th at Curious Theatre (co-produced with Local Theater Company, directed by Nick Chase).

1:14:50 – Wrap-Up Final reminders about the January 18th livestream (7 PM) to announce OSCA winners and encouragement to subscribe to Theater Blast newsletter and the podcast.

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News about live shows in Colorado, press releases 'n' such