The 42nd Memphis Ostrander Awards — the annual celebration of excellence in local theater — was held Sunday at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center.
Among the big winners were Sweeney Todd, a collaboration with Playhouse on the Square and Opera Memphis, which won 10 Ostranders. The University of Memphis’ production of The Night Witches took home 7 trophies. Other productions that got multiple awards include Jaja’s African Hair Braiding at Hattiloo Theatre, The Drowning Girls at New Moon Theatre, and Something Rotten! at Theatre Memphis.
Awards were given in a wide range of categories including acting, directing, and backstage contributions from college, community, and professional theatre. Live performances graced the stage at the Scheidt with energetic numbers from six nominees for Outstanding Overall Production.
A highlight of the evening was a tribute to the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Dave Landis, longtime Associate Director at Playhouse on the Square.
Landis name-checked a host of people who were a part of his busy 35 years in Memphis, and there were many. He has acted in or directed about 200 productions and has touched the lives of very nearly everyone who has been part of the Memphis theater scene.
Other special awards included: the Otis Smith Legacy Dance Award to Katy Stenciled, the Larry Riley Rising Star Award to Savannah S. Miller, the Behind the Scenes Award to philanthropist Dr. Thomas Ratliff, and the Karl Robinson Sunshine Award to Charles Hunter.
Originally referred to as the Memphis Theatre Awards, the name was changed in 2001 to the “Ostranders” in honor of beloved local actor Jim Ostrander.
Here are the nominees with the winners in bold:
PROPS DESIGN
Div II
● Jane Pratt Parks, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● Leah Brown, Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Mary Ann Washington, The Fabulous Mrs. Rae, Actor’s Renaissance Theatre
● Mollie West, The Night Witches, University of Memphis
● Cabaret Reimagined, Emerald Theatre Company
Div I Plays
● Jack Netzel-Yates, Always a Bridesmaid, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● Jack Netzel-Yates, Noises Off, Theatre Memphis
● Laurie Boller, The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre
● Melody Douglas, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
Div I Musicals
● Aliza Moran, Godspell, Germantown Community Theatre
● Iza Bateman, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
● Jack Netzel-Yates, Mamma Mia!, Theatre Memphis
● Jack Netzel-Yates, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Rachel Crenshaw, Nunsense, Germantown Community Theatre
SET DESIGN
Div II
● Annie McLean & Kevin Lechner, Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Julia Hinson, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Julia Kowalski,The Night Witches, University of Memphis
● Justin Asher, The Fantasticks, Collierville Arts Council
● Robert Packwood, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
Div I Plays
● Chris Sterling, Job, Circuit Playhouse
● Chris Sterling, The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre
● Ekundayo Bandele, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
● Ekundayo Bandele, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● Jack Netzel-Yates, Noises Off, Theatre Memphis
Div I Musicals
● Jack Netzel-Yates, Mamma Mia!, Theatre Memphis
● Jack Netzel-Yates, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Kiah Kayser, Seussical, Circuit Playhouse
● Rachel Crenshaw, Nunsense, Germantown Community Theatre
● Tim McMath, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
HAIR, WIG, MAKEUP DESIGN
Div II
● Blake Bush-Meek, Tarzan, Collierville Arts Council
● Joseph Grant & Mark Campbell, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● Margaret Andrews, E. Blaha, B’lynn Evans, Casey Gurlen, Caelan Ingram, Olivia Mittag, Jayce Morse, Lyz Rieger, The Night Witches, University of Memphis
● Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
Div I Plays
● Sky Bell, A Tuna Christmas, Circuit Playhouse
● Frankenstein, Germantown Community Theatre
● Deja Patton, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
● Deja Patton, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● The Legend of Quetzalcoatl, Cazateatro
Div I Musicals
● Marsena Sellers & Deja Patton, Dreamgirls, Hattiloo Theatre
● Godspell, Germantown Community Theatre
● Seussical, Circuit Playhouse
● Em Rossi, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
● Rence Phillips & Ellen Ring, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
COSTUME DESIGN
Div II
● Ashley Whitten Kopera, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
● Ashley Whitten Kopera, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Eula Ashbee, The Fantasticks, Collierville Arts Council
● Kathleen Kovarik, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● Lyz Rieger, The Night Witches, University of Memphis
Div I Plays
● Amie Eoff, Always a Bridesmaid, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● Ashley Whitten Kopera, The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre
● Melody Douglas, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● Cahleesi Bedell, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
● The Legend of Quetzalcoatl, Cazateatro
Div I Musicals
● Amie Eoff & Lindsay Schmeling, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Em Rossi, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
● Marsena Sellers, Dreamgirls, Hattiloo Theatre
● Melody Douglas & Patricia Smith, Jubilee, Hattiloo Theatre
● Waverly Strickland, Seussical, Circuit Playhouse
SOUND DESIGN
Div II
● Aliza Moran & Julia Hinson, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Hilde Medovich, Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Rowan Sullivan, The Night Witches, University of Memphis
● Ty Phillips, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● Walker Higgins, Tarzan, Collierville Arts Council
Div I Plays
● Cyd Trice, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● Emily Luce, Hamlet, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● Emily Rooker, The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre
● Jeremy Allen Fisher, Frankenstein, Germantown Community Theatre
● Joshua Crawford, Job, Circuit Playhouse
Div I Musicals
● Emily Luce, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Emily Luce, Wes Parker & Dylan Wheeler, Mamma Mia!, Theatre Memphis
● Joshua Crawford, Jagged Little Pill, Playhouse on the Square
● Joshua Crawford, Seussical, Circuit Playhouse
● Joshua Crawford, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
LIGHTING DESIGN
Div II
● Anthony Pellecchia, As It Is in Heaven, University of Memphis
● Anthony Pellecchia, The Night Witches, University of Memphis
● Dylan Allemang, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● Jeremy Allen Fisher, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Melissa Andrews, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
Div I Plays
● Jeremy Allen Fisher, Frankenstein, Germantown Community Theatre
● Melissa Andrews, The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre
● Melissa Andrews, Tragedy Sound, TheatreWorks
● Nadirah T Harper, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● Petr William, Job, Circuit Playhouse
Div I Musicals
● Jeremy Allen Fisher, Falsettos, Germantown Community Theatre
● Jeremy Allen Fisher, Godspell, Germantown Community Theatre
● Megan Christoferson, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
● Nicole Northington, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Rachel Lauren, Come From Away, Playhouse on the Square
MUSIC DIRECTION
Div II
● Nathan Thomas, john & jen, Realization Theatre
● Lynden Lewis, The Fantasticks, Collierville Arts Council
● Nathan McHenry, Cabaret Reimagined, Emerald Theatre Company
● Tammy Holt, Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Tammy Holt, Tarzan, Collierville Arts Council
Div I Musicals
● Claudette H. Lehew, Jubilee, Hattiloo Theatre
● Gary Beard, Falsettos, Germantown Community Theatre
● Jeffery Brewer, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Nathan McHenry, Godspell, Germantown Community Theatre
● Stephen Karr, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
CHOREOGRAPHY
Div II
● Katy Stanfield, Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Neile Martin, The Night Witches, University of Memphis
● Noelia Warnette-Jones & Austin Wall, Tarzan, Collierville Arts Council
● Neile Martin, As It Is in Heaven, University of Memphis
● Rose Blakeman, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
Div I Plays
● Courtney Oliver, Noises Off, Theatre Memphis
● Katy Stanfield, The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre
● Lauren Hester Gunn, Hamlet, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● Lauren Hester Gunn, The Shawshank Redemption, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● Marybeth Gorman Craig, sex/work, TheatreWorks
Div I Musicals
● Christi Hall, Nunsense, Germantown Community Theatre
● Jordan Nichols & Travis Bradley, Falsettos, Germantown Community Theatre
● Jordan Nichols & Travis Bradley, Mamma Mia!, Theatre Memphis
● Whitney Branan, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Whitney Branan, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
FEATURED PERFORMER
Div II Plays
● Emma Olson, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Margaret Mikkelsen, 8th Annual 10 Minute Play Festival: Monday’s Child, Emerald Theatre Company
● Michael Holliday, 8th Annual 10 Minute Play Festival: Monday’s Child, Emerald Theatre Company
● Patricia Carreras, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Sam Weakley, 8th Annual 10 Minute Play Festival: Monday’s Child, Emerald Theatre Company
Div II Musicals
● Logan Bass, Chicago, University of Memphis
● Maddox Bierman, Chicago, University of Memphis
● Patricia Carreras, The Fantasticks, Collierville Arts Council
● Sydney Sutton, As You Like It, The Musical, University of Memphis
● Tim Brown, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the Musical, Collierville Arts Council
Div I Plays
● Dave Landis, Primary Trust, Circuit Playhouse
● Najwa Watson, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
● Nolita Palomar, Always a Bridesmaid, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● Ruth Herrera, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
● Trey Oliver, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
Div I Musicals
● Bentley Black, Mamma Mia!, Theatre Memphis
● Chris McCollum, Jesus Christ Superstar, Playhouse on the Square
● Haley Wilson, Jagged Little Pill, Playhouse on the Square
● Jack Netzel-Yates, Legally Blonde, The Musical, Theatre Memphis
● Philip Himebook, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
DIV II PLAYS
Supporting Actor
● Ben Pierce, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● David Winter-Gutierrez, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● Joe Johnson, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Kawika Friskillo, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Steve Cossitt, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
Supporting Actress
● Amy P. Nabors, Not Alone Unhappy, Quark Theatre
● Amy Rush, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● Evone Dillon, Kinfolk Conversations, Actors Renaissance Theatre
● Kate Peckham, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● KT Cotten, Speed-the-Plow, Realization Theatre
Leading Actor
● Christopher Tracy, The Loves of Lincoln, Emerald Theatre Company
● Kinon Keplinger, Speed-the-Plow, Realization Theatre
● Lymonte Thomas, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Ron Gephart, Dragon Medicine, Emerald Theatre Company
● Sean Moore, Switzerland, Quark Theatre
Leading Actress
● Hiawaratha L. Jackson, The Loves of Lincoln, Emerald Theatre Company
● Lauren Larson, Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Lydia Lord, Radium Girls, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Margaret Mikkelsen, Dragon Medicine, Emerald Theatre Company
● Susan Brindley, Switzerland, Quark Theatre
Div I Plays
Supporting Actor
● Christopher Tracy, The Shawshank Redemption, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
● Gregory Jones, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● JS Tate, Hamlet, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● John Maness, Hamlet, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● Michael Adrian Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
Supporting Actress
● Aa’liyah Green, sex/work, TheatreWorks
● Angela Lovelace, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
● Keia Johnson, Primary Trust, Circuit Playhouse
● Martha Jones, Always a Bridesmaid, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
● Rhonda Woodfork, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
Leading Actor
● Darious Robertson, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● JS Tate, The Shawshank Redemption, Next Stage Theatre Memphis
● Marc Gill, Primary Trust, Circuit Playhouse
● Michael Gravois, Job, Circuit Playhouse
● Sean Moore, Frankenstein, Germantown Community Theatre
Leading Actress
● Brooke Papritz, Job, Circuit Playhouse
● Holly L. Derr, The Revolutionists, New Moon Theatre
● Jaclyn Suffel, Julius Caesar, Germantown Community Theatre
● Littoya Walker, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Hattiloo Theatre
● Naiya Nolan-Dillard, sex/work, TheatreWorks
Div II Musicals
Supporting Actor
● Christopher Tracy, The Fantasticks, Collierville Arts Council
● Jacob Mohler, The Fantasticks, Collierville Arts Council
● John Lucas Daniels, Chicago, University of Memphis
● Marvin Holt, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
● Mitchell Bentley, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
Supporting Actress
● Alex Ogilvie, Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Aubrey Zurhellen, Tarzan, Collierville Arts Council
● Chasity Alliston, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
● Sydnei Sutton, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
● Zoe Vales, Chicago, University of Memphis
Leading Actor
● Jimmy Rustenhaven, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
● Kevin Lechner, Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Landon Graham, Chicago, University of Memphis
● Logan Bass, John and Jen, Realization Theatre
● Stephen Garrett, The Fantasticks, Collierville Arts Council
Leading Actress
● Lilith Dyson, Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
● Liz Pegg, Tarzan, Collierville Arts Council
● Mac White, The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
● Madilyn Mobbs, The Fantasticks, Collierville Arts Council
● Zoe Vales, John and Jen, Realization Theatre
Div I Musicals
Supporting Actor
● Adrian Kennard, Dreamgirls, Hattiloo Theatre
● Andy Boggs, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
● Bentley Black, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Jonathan Christian, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Justin Allen Tate, Jesus Christ Superstar, Playhouse on the Square
Supporting Actress
● Axyl Langford, Jagged Little Pill, Playhouse on the Square
● Christina Hernandez, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
● Emily F. Chateau, Falsettos, Germantown Community Theatre
● Jenny Odle Madden, Mamma Mia!, Theatre Memphis
● Keia Johnson, Dreamgirls, Hattiloo Theatre
Leading Actor
● Jordan Nichols, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Marvin Holt, Jesus Christ Superstar, Playhouse on the Square
● Matthew Burns, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
● Nathan McHenry, Godspell, Germantown Community Theatre
● Patrick Jones, Falsettos, Germantown Community Theatre
Leading Actress
● Amaya Hardin, Junie B Jones the Musical, Circuit Playhouse
● Amy P. Nabors, Jagged Little Pill, Playhouse on the Square
● Amy P. Nabors, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
● Ashundra Bernard, Dreamgirls, Hattiloo Theatre
● Mary Helen McCord, Legally Blonde, The Musical, Theatre Memphis
Ensemble
Div II Plays
● As It Is in Heaven, University of Memphis
● Clown Bar, LoneTree Live
● Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● The Loves of Lincoln, Emerald Theatre Company
● The Night Witches, University of Memphis
Div II Musicals
● Cabaret Reimagined, Emerald Theatre Company
● Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the Musical, Collierville Arts Council
● Tarzan, Collierville Arts Council
● The Wedding Singer, Bartlett Performing Arts Center
● Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild
Div I Plays
● Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties, New Moon Theatre
● Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
● sex/work, TheatreWorks
● The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre
● The Revolutionists, New Moon Theatre
Div I Musicals
● Come From Away, Playhouse on the Square
● Godspell, Germantown Community Theatre
● Jubilee, Hattiloo Theatre
● Nunsense, Germantown Community Theatre
● Seussical, Circuit Playhouse
Original Script
Div II
● Mister Act, Micah Winter-Cole, Jane Parks, Burton Bridges, Rick Bartl, Friends of George’s
● sex/work, Kristen Field, TheatreWorks
● The House, Savannah S Miller, Germantown Community Theatre
● The Loves of Lincoln, Scott Sublett, Emerald Theatre Company
● Tragedy Sound, Karen Saari, TheatreWorks
Direction
Div II
● Irene Crist, Mister Act, Friends of George’s
● Kaylea Jo Egnor, The Night Witches, University of Memphis
● Max Robinson and Nathan Thomas, john & jen, Realization Theatre
● Michael Holliday & Den-Nickolas Schaeffer-Smith, The Loves of Lincoln, Emerald Theatre Company
● Tony Isbell, Switzerland, Quark Theatre
Div I Plays
● Aliza Moran, The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre
● Jamie Boller, sex/work, TheatreWorks
● John Maness, Job, Circuit Playhouse
● Maya Robinson, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre
● Tony Horne, Primary Trust, Circuit Playhouse
Div I Musicals
● Courtney Oliver, Seussical, Circuit Playhouse
● Daniel Stuart Nelson, Come From Away, Playhouse on the Square
● Jordan Nichols & Travis Bradley, Falsettos, Germantown Community Theatre
● Whitney Branan, Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis
● Whitney Branan, Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis
Overall Production
Div II
● Clown Bar, LoneTree Live, Julia Hinson, director; J-Lavender, stage manager
● Switzerland, Quark Theatre, Tony Isbell, director; Leslie Lee, stage manager
● The Loves of Lincoln, Emerald Theatre Company, Michael Holliday & Den-Nikolas Schaeffer-Smith, directors; Crystal Lane, stage manager
● The Night Witches, University of Memphis, Kaylea Jo Egnor, director; Jayce Morse, stage manager
● Urinetown, Rhodes Theatre Guild, Claire D. Kolheim, director; Ray Evans, stage manager
Div I Plays
● Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, Hattiloo Theatre; Maya Robinson, director; Cyd Trice, stage manager
● Job, Circuit Playhouse; John Maness, director; Emma White, stage manager
● Noises Off, Theatre Memphis; Ann Marie Hall, director; Marya Paolillo, stage manager
● Primary Trust, Circuit Playhouse; Tony Horne, director; Emma White, stage manager
● The Drowning Girls, New Moon Theatre; Aliza Moran, director; April Vincent, stage manager
Div I Musicals
● Come From Away, Playhouse on the Square; Daniel Stuart Nelson, director; Katie Ogden, stage manager
● Falsettos, Germantown Community Theatre; Jordan Nichols & Travis Bradley, directors; Jamie Gau, stage manager
● Seussical, Circuit Playhouse; Courtney Oliver, director; Emma White, stage manager
● Something Rotten!, Theatre Memphis; Whitney Branan, director; Julia Truelove, stage manager
● Sweeney Todd, Playhouse on the Square & Opera Memphis; Whitney Branan, Director; Chelsea Robinson, stage manager
