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.