Best of the Best - WKTV Journal

By WKTV Staff

A lot of talent has been fêted over the past two decades as the Annual Grand Awards have celebrated and rewarded inspired performances from top productions of a given year, from children’s theater to community and college musicals and plays. This event, comparable to the Tony Awards, is complete with performances, awards, and most importantly the handing out of scholarships to young students pursuing a career in theater.

After reveling 22 theater seasons with the Grand Awards, this will be the last year that it continues under its current format. Stay tuned in the coming years because something new and revamped will take its place highlighting the scholarship recipients.

The night will celebrate the scholarship recipients, enjoy some repeat performances from the 2017-2018 theater season, acknowledge stand-out performances from the year with awards and enjoy the company of some of Grand Rapids’ MOST talented all under one roof.

This year’s Grand Awards ceremony will be held at Fountain Street Church (24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503) in downtown Grand Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 6pm. Following the ceremony, there will be an after party in the fellowship hall of Fountain Street Church complete with a DJ, food, drinks, and fun going until 11pm.

Tickets for the 22nd Annual Grand Awards can be purchased here using credit cards for $40 (general admission and seating). General admission tickets at the door will be cash only. All ticketing for students (with proper ID), nominees, and Grand Awards event performers will be handled at the door the night of the event (cash only):

Grand Awards event performer: $30
Students: $20
Nominees: $10 (must be an individual nominee)

And, the nominees are…

Outstanding Play

The Whale at Actors’ Theatre
A Few Good Men at Circle Theatre
Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
All the Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
Fool for Love at Heritage Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

Jason Stamp as ‘Charlie’ in The Whale at Actors’ Theatre
Todd Lewis as ‘Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep’ in A Few Good Men at Circle Theatre
Spencer Tomlin as ‘Leo’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
Jon March as ‘Lyndon Baines Johnson’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Shane German as ‘Arnold Beckoff’ in Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

Isaac Thornson as ‘David’ in Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
David Houseman as ‘Butch’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
Jason Stamp as ‘Florence’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
GM (Bud) Thompson as ‘Senator Richard Russel’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Eddie Stephens as ‘Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

Chelsea Pummill as ‘Lt. Cmdr. Joanne Galloway in A Few Good Men at Circle Theatre
Liz Brand as ‘Meg’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
Brooke Bruce as ‘May’ in Fool for Love at Heritage Theatre
Lori Jacobs as ‘Olive’ in Olive and The Bitter Herbs at Jewish Theatre
Mary Brown as ‘Toinette’ in The Imaginary Invalid at Master Arts Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

Madeline Jones as ‘Ellie’ in The Whale at Actors’ Theatre
Emily Wetzel as ‘Audrey’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
Margi Hankins as ‘Ladybird Johnson’ in All the Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Shavonne T. Coleman as ‘Wendy’ in Olive and The Bitter Herbs at Jewish Theatre
Bernice Houseward as ‘Mrs. Beckoff’ in Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

Isaac Thornson as ‘David’ as Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
David Houseman as ‘Butch’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
Jason Stamp as ‘Florence’ in Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
GM (Bud) Thompson as ‘Senator Richard Russel’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Eddie Stephens as ‘Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’ in All The Way at Grand Rapids Civc Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Play

Fred Sebulske for The Whale at Actors’ Theatre
Tom Kaechele for Leading Ladies at Circle Theatre
Bruce Tinker for All the Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Rachel Finan for Fool for Love at Heritage Theatre
Michelle Urbane for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Musical

If/Then at Actors’ Theatre
Fun Home at Circle Theatre
Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
On the Town at Circle Theatre

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Nathaniel Beals as ‘Narrator’ in Passing Strange at Actors’ Theatre
Jason Morrison as ‘Bruce’ in Fun Home at Circle Theatre
Matt Tepper as ‘The Baker’ in Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
Scott Mellema as ‘Shrek’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Jason Morrison as ‘Daddy Warbucks’ in Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

David Houseman as ‘Lucas’ in If/Then at Actors’ Theatre
Darius Tq Colquitt as ‘Mr. Franklin’/’Joop’/’Mr. Venus’ in Passing Strange at Actors’ Theatre
Charles Hutchins as ‘Alfred P Doolittle’ in My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Titus Hankins as ‘Donkey’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Kyle Cain as ‘Lord Farquaad’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Cullen Dyk as ‘Pinocchio’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

Molly Jones as ‘Elizabeth’ in If/Then at Actors’ Theatre
Evangelie Vander Ark as ‘Small Alison’ in Fun Home at Circle Theatre
Kelly Carey as ‘The Witch’ in Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
Carly Uthoff as ‘Princess Fiona’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Alyssa Bauer as ‘Eliza Doolittle’ in My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

Caitlin Cusack as ‘Helen’ in Fun Home at Circle Theatre
Madeline Jones as ‘Medium Alison’ in Fun Home at Circle Theatre
Morgan Anding as ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’/’Gingy’ in Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Kira Alsum as ‘Grace’ in Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Darla Carrier as ‘Madame Dilly’/’Little Old Lady’/’Club Singer’ in On the Town at Circle Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Jolene Frankey for Fun Home at Circle Theatre
Todd Avery for Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
Bruce Tinker for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Allyson Paris for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Penelope Notter for On the Town at Circle Theatre

Outstanding Choreography

Torrey Thomas for Passing Strange at Actors’ Theatre
Torrey Thomas for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Melissa Sefton for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Erin Kacos for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
William Schutte for On the Town at Circle Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction

Scott Patrick Bell for If/Then at Actors’ Theatre
Brendan Hollins for Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
Charles Hutchins for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civc Theatre
Charles Hutchins for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Wright McCargar for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design

Sam Johnson for Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
Sam Johnson for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Sam Johnson for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Steven Nardin for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
Sam Johnson for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design

Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Fun Home at Circle Theatre
Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Into the Woods at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
Catherine Marlett-Dreher for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

Bill Dunckel & Kelly Lucas for On the Town at Circle Theatre
Robert Fowle for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Robert Fowle for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Karen Larabel for The Book of Job at Master Arts Theatre
Robert Fowle for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design

Don Wilson for Into the Woods at Circle Theatre
David Len for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Christian Poquette for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre
David Len for All the Way at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
David Len for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
David Len for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

For Outstanding Properties Design

Michael Wilson for Shrek at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Jennifer Smith for A Few Good Men at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Michael Wilson for Annie at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Michael Wilson for My Fair Lady at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Camille Hickade for Torch Song Trilogy Act III: Widows and Children First at Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Theatre for Young Audiences

Seussical The Musical at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
Akeelah and the Bee at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
School of Rock at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre

Outstanding College Production

Equivocation at Aquinas
Rhinoceros at Aquinas
A Year with Frog & Toad at Aquinas
Detroit ’67 at GRCC
Oklahoma at GVSU

Outstanding Lead Actor in a College Production

Casey Huls as ‘Curly’ in Oklahoma at Grand Valley State University
Brock Gabbert as ‘Berenger’ in Rhinoceros at Aquinas
Kaeleb Cogswell as ‘Toad’ in A Year with Frog & Toad at Aquinas
Michael Francis as ‘Lank’ in Detroit ’67 at GRCC
David Dekens as ‘Warren’ in This is Our Youth at GRCC

Outstanding Lead Actress in a College Production

Bryanna Lee as ‘Minnie’ in The Terrible Girls at Aquinas
Trisha Bond as ‘Penelope Sycamore’ in You Can’t Take it With You at Cornerstone University
Marqea Lee as ‘Chelle’ in Detroit ’67 at GRCC
Lindsey Normington as ‘Sally Bowles’ in Cabaret at GVSU
Alyssa Veldman as ‘Ado Annie Carnes’ in Oklahoma at GVSU

For Outstanding Direction of a College Production