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.
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
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)