A celebration of the best of Memphis theater was held Sunday night at the Orpheum with Theatre Memphis taking home 22 awards, including seven for Beauty and the Beast.

It was the 41st year of what was originally called the Memphis Theatre Awards and honored people and institutions in a wide variety of categories, from acting and directing to backstage work. The event featured live performances of musical numbers from eight nominees for Outstanding Overall Production.

Cecelia Wingate was honored with the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award for her many contributions to the theater scene. Read about her here.

Special awards were also given to recognize individuals who have had a great impact on local theater. Dabney Coors was honored with the Behind the Scenes Award for her long devotion and support of the community. The Larry Riley Rising Star Award was given to Marvin Holt, now appearing in Something Rotten at Theatre Memphis. The Janie McCrary “Putting it Together” Award went to Melissa Andrews, who has worked backstage to keep many productions running smoothly. And the Otis Smith Dance Award went to Crystal Brothers, formerly of Ballet Memphis who has been active in numerous productions.

There are two divisions in the awards, with Division I consisting of fully professional theater organizations. These typically include established companies with dedicated artistic and production staff. Division II is collegiate and community theater groups.

Theatre Memphis’ haul of 22 awards was followed by the University of Memphis in Division II taking 8 plaques. Theatre Memphis’ Jack Netzel-Yates managed to score four wins, two in the props design category and two in set design. Other winners included fixtures in the theater community, including Playhouse on the Square, Hattiloo Theatre, and Quark Theatre.

A number of the smaller community groups won awards as well, marking an expansion of companies that are getting recognition. Those include LoneTree Live, Friends of George’s, Rhodes Theatre Guild, Emerald Theatre Company, and companies in Collierville and Bartlett.

Natalie Jones (left) starred in *Silent Sky*, which won best play in Division I. It was directed by Cecelia Wingate, recipient of the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award.

Natalie Jones (left) starred in *Silent Sky*, which won best play in Division I. It was directed by Cecelia Wingate, recipient of the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award.

A bonus moment came when one of the presenters, Jessica “Jai” Johnson, was surprised by her boyfriend, Scott Garrett, who got on bended knee and proposed. And now he’s her fiancee.

Here are the 2025 winners:

PROPS DESIGN

Div. II: Robin Black & Bentley Black, Little Shop of Horrors, Collierville Arts Council

Div. I plays: Jack Netzel-Yates, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Div. I musicals: Jack Netzel-Yates, Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Memphis

SET DESIGN

Div. II: Brian Ruggaber, 12N, or What You Will, University of Memphis

Div. I plays: Jack Netzel-Yates, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Div. I musicals: Jack Netzel-Yates, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Theatre Memphis

Jack Netzel-Yates won four Ostrander Awards, but couldn’t hold them all.

Jack Netzel-Yates won four Ostrander Awards, but couldn’t hold them all.

LIGHTING DESIGN

Div. II: Chris Hanian, The Most Happy Fella, University of Memphis

Div. I plays: Nicole Northington, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Div. I musicals: Nicole Northington, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Theatre Memphis

SOUND DESIGN

Div. II: Christopher Plummer, The Most Happy Fella, University of Memphis

Div. I plays: Jason Eschhofen, The Mousetrap, Theatre Memphis

Div. I musicals: Emily Luce, Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Memphis

HAIR, WIG, MAKEUP DESIGN

Div. II: Friends of George’s, Dragged thru Time, Friends of George’s

Div. I plays: Amie Eoff & Ashley Selberg, Rumors, Theatre Memphis

Div. I musicals: Buddy Hart, Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Memphis

COSTUME DESIGN

Div. II: Kenann Quander, The Most Happy Fella, University of Memphis

Div. I plays: Allison White, The Mousetrap, Theatre Memphis

Div. I musicals: Amie Eoff, Dawn Bennet, & Ashley Selberg, Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Memphis

MUSIC DIRECTION

Div. II: Nathan Thomas, The Most Happy Fella, University of Memphis

Div. I musicals: Tammy Holt, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Theatre Memphis

CHOREOGRAPHY

Div. II: Angel Ceara Clark, Dance Nation, LoneTree Live

Div. I plays: Max Robinson, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

Div. I musicals: Travis Bradley and Jordan Nichols, Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Memphis

FEATURED/CAMEO

Div. II plays: Amy Rush, Death Drop at Hotel Le’George, Friends of George’s

Div. I plays: Amy Rush, Rumors, Theatre Memphis

Div. II musicals: Aidan Saunders, The Most Happy Fella, University of Memphis

Div. I musicals: Joe Ranager, Waitress, Playhouse on the Square

DIV. II PLAYS

Supporting Actor: Lymonte Thomas, Dance Nation, LoneTree Live

Supporting Actress: Liz Pegg, Clark Gable Slept Here, Emerald Theatre Company

DIV. I PLAYS

Supporting Actor: Carlos Lopez, The River Bride, Cazateatro

Supporting Actress: Kim Justis Eikner, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

DIV. II MUSICALS

Supporting Actor: Jarrad Baker, tick, tick, Boom, Emerald Theatre Company

Supporting Actress: Eileen Peterson, tick, tick, Boom, Emerald Theatre Company

DIV. I MUSICALS

Supporting Actor: Bentley Black, Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Memphis

Supporting Actress: Brooke Papritz, Caroline, or Change, Playhouse on the Square

DIV. II PLAYS

Leading Actor: Barclay Roberts, A Body of Water, Quark Theatre

Leading Actress: Tamara Wright, Chicken, Quark Theatre

DIV. I PLAYS

Leading Actor: Michael Gravois, Six Men Dressed like Joseph Stalin, Theatreworks@TheSquare

Leading Actress: Jenny Odle Madden & Kim Justis Eikner, Parallel Lives, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis

DIV. II MUSICALS

Leading Actor: Nathan McHenry, tick, tick, Boom, Emerald Theatre Company

Leading Actress: Taylor Smit, Bright Star, Bartlett Performing Arts Center

DIV. I MUSICALS

Leading Actor: Justin Asher, Parade, Playhouse on the Square

Leading Actress: Lynden Lewis, Waitress, Playhouse on the Square

ENSEMBLE

Div. II plays: Dance Nation, LoneTree Live

Div. I plays: Thoughts of a Colored Man, Hattiloo Theatre

Div. II musicals: Alice by Heart, Rhodes Theatre Guild

Div. I musicals: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Theatre Memphis

ORIGINAL SCRIPT

The O’Kays, Chad Rhodes, Sr., Produced by Three Diamonds Productions

DIRECTION

Div. II plays: Jamie Boller, Dance Nation, LoneTree Live

Div. I plays: Ekundayo Bandele & Maya Robinson, Black Odyssey, Hattiloo Theatre

Div. II musicals: Ben Smith, The Most Happy Fella, University of Memphis

Div. I musicals: Crystin Gilmore and Claire D. Kolheim, Caroline, or Change, Playhouse on the Square

PRODUCTION

Div. II plays: A Body of Water, Quark Theatre (Director, Tony Isbell; Stage Manager, Nelson Meredith)

Div. I plays: Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis (Director, Cecelia Wingate; Stage manager, Jennifer Townsend)

Div. II musicals: The Most Happy Fella, University of Memphis (Director, Ben Smith; Stage Manager, Amy Salerno Hale)

Div. I musicals: Beauty and the Beast, Theatre Memphis (Directors, Travis Bradley and Jordan Nichols; Stage Manager, Chelsea Robinson)

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