West Windsor,
N.J. - It was a good year for community theater at Mercer
County Community College. M. Kitty Getlik, artistic director
at MCCC's Kelsey Theatre, received word this week that shows
performed at Kelsey during the 2009-10 season received a combined
25 Perry Award nominations from the New Jersey Association
of Community Theatres (NJACT), a volunteer organization dedicated
to supporting local theater around the state.
"We're thrilled," Getlik said. "This is a true
testimony to the highly talented, professional, and dedicated
individuals who come together and create amazing performances
on our stage." She notes that in addition to the 14 gifted
actors nominated in performance categories, 11 of the nominations
are for production -- choreography, lighting, props, musical
accompaniment and more. "These are the elements that
put the sheen on a show," Getlik commented. "They
enhance the actors' contribution and elevate the audience's
experience tremendously."
In production categories, the 11 nominees include: Charles
Dorner and Dan Blazejewski for Outstanding Lighting Design
for a Play for "Bus Stop" (Yardley Players); Judi
Parrish for Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical for
"Musical of Musicals" (Pennington Players); Jay
Stevens for Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical for "Ragtime"
(Pennington Players); Marian Wright and Mike Dilorio for Outstanding
Properties for "Bus Stop" (Yardley Players); Jeff
Cantor for Outstanding Stage Management for "Children's
Letters to God" (Maurer Productions OnStage); Diana Gilman-Maurer
for Outstanding Stage Management for "Hollywood Arms"
(Maurer Productions OnStage); Michael Almstedt for Outstanding
Scenic Design of a Play for "Bus Stop" (Yardley
Players); Nicole Farina-Machin for Outstanding Choreography
for "Ragtime" (Pennington Players); Kat Ross for
Outstanding Choreography for "The Producers" (Pierrot
Productions); Lou Woodruff for Outstanding Musical Direction
for "The Producers" (Pierrot Productions); and Pete
Labriola for Outstanding Production of a Musical for "The
Producers" (Pierrot Productions).
In performance
categories, three actors were nominated in the Outstanding
Lead Actor in a Musical: Brian Meltzer and Kyrus Westcott,
both for "Ragtime" (Pennington Players); and Jim
Petro for "The Producers" (Pierrot Productions).
Vicky Czarnik was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in
a Musical for "Ragtime (Pennington Players). Nominees
for Outstanding Supporting Actor include Kevin Palardy and
Mike Schiumo, both for "The Producers" (Pennington
Players).
Three actors were nominated for Outstanding Featured Actor
in a Musical: Michael Krish and Joe Zedeny, both for "Joseph
and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Yardley Players);
and John Grewen for "Annie" (Yardley Players).
Young actors also fared well, with five nominations: Stephen
Szemis and Jason Wilks, both for Outstanding Youth Actor in
a Play for "A Christmas Story" (Pennington Players);
Kirsten Pasewaldt and Kayla Vanderbilt, both for Outstanding
Youth Actress in a Play for "Hollywood Arms" (Maurer
Productions OnStage); and Gabriella Green for Outstanding
Youth Actress in a Musical for "Children's Letters to
God" (Maurer Productions OnStage).
The
winners will be announced at NJACT's Annual Perry Awards Dinner
on Sept. 19 at the Double Tree Hotel in Somerset, NJ. See
the complete list of nominees here.
Read about
the 2010-11 Kelsey Theatre season set to begin Sept. 3 here.
For more on Kelsey, visit the website here.

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Vicky
Czarnik was nominated for her lead role in "Ragtime."
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Kirsten
Pasewaldt, front, was nominated for
her role as Young Helen in "Hollywood Arms."
Also pictured are Leta Gilbert, left, and Laurie Hardy.
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