12th Annual WATCH Awards
By Michael & Laura Clark • Mar 11th, 2012 • Category: News, VirginiaLeta Hall was gorgeous as ever!
WATCH (Washington Area Theatre Community Honors) held their Award Ceremony for the 12th annual WATCH Awards on Sunday evening, March 11, 2012 at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria production of Hairspray received the most awards, with fifteen including Outstanding Musical. The Arlington Players’ The Seagull and Montgomery Playhouse’s Stones in His Pockets both received four awards (including Outstanding Play for Stones), and the Elden Street Players’ Ain’t Misbehavin’ received three awards.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria received a total of 17 awards, The Arlington Players received five, and both the Elden Street Players and Montgomery Playhouse received four awards.
There was one three-way tie, for Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, which was shared by Kevin O’Dowd (Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria), Cathy Rieder & James Villarrubia (Ain’t Misbehavin’, Elden Street Players), and April Dawn Weimer et al, (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Port Tobacco Players). There were three two-way ties: Outstanding featured actor in a musical (Chaz Coffin as “Seaweed Stubbs” in Hairspray at The Alliance Theatre, and Christopher Prince as “Ken Page” in Ain’t Misbehavin’ with the Elden Street Players); Outstanding lead actor in a play (J. McAndrew Breen as “Charlie Conlon etc.” in Stones in His Pockets at the Montgomery Playhouse; and Kevin S. Dykstra as “Jake Quinn etc.” in Stones in His Pockets at the Montgomery Playhouse); and Outstanding Choreography (Iván Dávila for Hairspray at the Little Theatre of Alexandria and John K. Monnett for 42nd Street with The Arlington Players).
127 productions (40 musicals, 87 plays) were adjudicated in 2011. Thirty-two community theater companies participated in WATCH adjudication.
- Aldersgate Church Community Theatre
- The Alliance Theatre
- The Arlington Players
- Capital City Players of DC
- Bowie Community Theatre
- Castaways Repertory Theatre
- Taking Flight Theatre Company
- Chevy Chase Players
- Colonial Players of Annapolis
- Damascus Theatre Company
- Dominion Stage
- Elden Street Players
- Fauquier Community Theatre
- Greenbelt Arts Center
- Hard Bargain Players
- Kensington Arts Theatre
- Laurel Mill Playhouse
- Little Theatre of Alexandria
- McLean Community Players
- Montgomery Playhouse
- Port City Playhouse
- Port Tobacco Players
- Prince George’s Little Theatre
- Prince William Little Theatre
- Providence Players of Fairfax
- Reston Community Players
- Rockville Little Theatre
- Rockville Musical Theatre
- St. Mark’s Players
- Silver Spring Stage
- Tantallon Community Players
- Vienna Theatre Company
In 2012, 132 shows are scheduled for adjudication across the thirty-three participating WATCH member companies, with 2nd Star Productions joining WATCH in 2012.
In each of the thirty-eight categories, five nominees were selected based on the average scores of eight judges. In some categories, due to score ties, more than five nominees are announced. Awards are provided in alphabetical order by nominee. The awards are listed by category and then by theater.
Awards for Outstanding Technical Achievements
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical
- Myke Taister, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Set Design in a Play
- Amanda Acker, The Seagull, The Arlington Players
Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical
- John Merritt, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Set Construction in a Play
- Dan Remmers, Noises Off, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical
- Kevin O’Dowd, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
- Cathy Rieder & James Villarrubia, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Elden Street Players
- April Dawn Weimer et al, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Port Tobacco Players
Outstanding Set Painting in a Play
- Kate Roehr, The Seagull, The Arlington Players
Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Musical
- Maria Littlefield, Little Shop of Horrors, Damascus Theatre Company
Outstanding Set Decoration and Set Dressing in a Play
- Lindsey Hays, The Seagull, The Arlington Players
Outstanding Properties in a Musical
- Judy Kee & Margaret Snow, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Properties in a Play
- Avery Burns, The Seagull, The Arlington Players
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical
- Franklin C. Coleman, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play
- Ken & Patti Crowley , Widdershins, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
- David Correia & David Hale, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
- Ben Allen, A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, Elden Street Players
Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical
- Jean Schlichting & Kit Sibley, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Costume Design in a Play
- Susan Schulman et al, Romeo and Juliet, Silver Spring Stage
Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical
- Robin Parker, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play
- Scott Beadle, Sordid Lives, Bowie Community Theatre
Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical
- Anna Michelle Jackson & Irene Kasotakis, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Hair Design in a Play
- Beth Harrison, Auntie Mame, Providence Players of Fairfax
Outstanding Special Effects
- Denise Gilmore et al, Annie, Rockville Musical Theatre
Awards for Outstanding Performances by an Actor or Actress
Outstanding cameo in a musical
- Gina C. Tomkus as “Matron/Gym Teacher”, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding cameo in a play
- Robin Zerbe as “Crystal Allen”, The Women, Prince William Little Theatre
Outstanding featured actress in a musical
- Jade Jones as “Nell Carter”, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Elden Street Players
Outstanding featured actor in a musical
- Chaz Coffin as “Seaweed Stubbs”, Hairspray, The Alliance Theatre
- Christopher Prince as “Ken Page”, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Elden Street Players
Outstanding featured actress in a play
- Bernadette Arvidson as “Juanita”, Sordid Lives, Bowie Community Theatre
Outstanding featured actor in a play
- Brendan Murray as “Butch Honeywell et al”, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Silver Spring Stage
Outstanding lead actress in a musical
- Shannon Kingett as “Tracy Turnblad”, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding lead actor in a musical
- Christopher Harris as “Edna Turnblad”, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding lead actress in a play
- Sandra Cox True as “Grace”, Grace and Glorie, Bowie Community Theatre
Outstanding lead actor in a play
- J. McAndrew Breen as “Charlie Conlon etc.”, Stones in His Pockets, Montgomery Playhouse
- Kevin S. Dykstra as “Jake Quinn etc.”, Stones in His Pockets, Montgomery Playhouse
Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Overall Production
Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography
- William T. Fleming, Romeo and Juliet, Silver Spring Stage
Outstanding Choreography
- Iván Dávila, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
- John K. Monnett, 42nd Street, The Arlington Players
Outstanding Music Direction
- Christopher A. Tomasino, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Direction of a Musical
- Sue Pinkman, Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Direction of a Play
- Roxanne Fournier Stone, Stones in His Pockets, Montgomery Playhouse
Outstanding Musical
- Hairspray, Little Theatre of Alexandria
Outstanding Play
- Stones in His Pockets, Montgomery Playhouse
Awards Sorted by Theatre and Show
Alliance Theatre
1 production received 1 award
- Hairspray
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Chaz Coffin as “Seaweed Stubbs”
Arlington Players
2 productions received a total of 5 awards
- 42nd Street
1 award- Outstanding Choreography, John K. Monnett
- The Seagull
4 awards- Outstanding Properties in a Play, Avery Burns
- Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play, Lindsey Hays
- Outstanding Set Design in a Play, Amanda Acker
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Play, Kate Roehr
Bowie Community Theatre
2 productions received a total of 3 awards
- Grace and Glorie
1 award- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play, Sandra Cox True as “Grace”
- Sordid Lives
2 awards- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, Bernadette Arvidson as “Juanita”
- Outstanding Makeup Design in a Play, Scott Beadle
Damascus Theatre Company
1 production received 1 award
- Little Shop of Horrors
- Outstanding Set Decoration in a Musical, Maria Littlefield
Elden Street Players
2 productions received a total of 4 awards
- A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream
1 award- Outstanding Sound Design in a Play, Ben Allen
- Ain’t Misbehavin’
3 awards- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Christopher Prince as “Ken Page”
- Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, Jade Jones as “Nell Carter”
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Cathy Rieder & James Villarrubia
Little Theatre of Alexandria
3 productions received a total of 17 awards
- Hairspray
15 awards- Outstanding Cameo in a Musical, Gina C. Tomkus as “Matron/Gym Teacher”
- Outstanding Choreography, Ivan Davila
- Outstanding Costume Design ina Musical, Jean Schlichting & Kit Sibley
- Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Sue Pinkman
- Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical, Anna Michelle Jackson & Irene Kasotakis
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Christopher Harris as “Edna Turnblad”
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Shannon Kingett as “Tracy Turnblad”
- Outstanding Light Design in a Musical, Franklin C. Coleman
- Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical, Robin Parker
- Outstanding Music Direction, Christopher A. Tomasino
- Outstanding Musical
- Outstanding Properties in a Musical, Judy Kee & Margaret Snow
- Outstanding Set Design in a Musical, Myke Taister
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, Kevin O’Dowd
- Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical, David Correia & David Hale
- Noises Off
1 award- Outstanding Set Construction in a Play, Dan Remmers
- Widdershins
1 award- Outstanding Light Design in a Play, Ken & Patti Crowley
Montgomery Playhouse
1 production received 4 awards
- Stones in His Pockets
- Outstanding Direction of a Play, Roxanne Fournier Stone
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, J. McAndrew Breen as “Charlie Conlon etc.”
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Kevin S. Dykstra as “Jake Quinn etc.”
- Outstanding Play
Port Tobacco Players
1 production received a total of 2 awards
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
- Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical, John Merritt
- Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical, April Dawn Weimer et al
Prince William Little Theatre
1 production received 1 award
- The Women
- Outstanding Cameo in a Play, Robin Zerbe as “Crystal Allen”
Providence Players
1 production received 1 award
- Auntie Mame
- Outstanding Hair Design in a Play, Beth Harrison
Rockville Musical Theatre
1 production received 1 award
- Annie
- Outstanding Special Effects, Denise Gilmore et al
Silver Spring Stage
2 productions received a total of 3 awards
- Romeo and Juliet
2 awards- Outstanding Costume Design in a Play, Susan Schulman et al
- Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography, William T. Fleming
- The Last Days of Judas Iscariot
1 award- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Brendan Murray as “Butch Honeywell et al”
This article can be linked to as: http://showbizradio.com/go/8163.

Michael & Laura Clark started ShowBizRadio in August 2005 because they love live theater. They each have both performed in and worked behind the scenes in DC area productions, as well as earned a Career Studies Certificate in Theater from Northern Virginia Community College.