‘Rent' snags 20 award nominations
By Bob Fischbach
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

“Rent,” a SNAP! Productions musical, is the most nominated show for the 2009-2010 Theatre Arts Guild Awards.

The rock musical by Jonathan Larson notched 20 nominations, including best musical, stage director, choreographer, musical director and 10 acting nods.

Other musicals piling up nominations were the Blue Barn Theatre's “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” with 14, and the Omaha Community Playhouse's “Fiddler on the Roof,” with 13.

Nominations in 30 categories were unveiled Sunday night at the Pizza Shoppe in Benson.

Among theaters, the playhouse led the overall count with 40 nominations, followed by SNAP! and the Blue Barn with 31 each. The playhouse also led in best-show nominations, with six. SNAP! had four and the Blue Barn three. The Shelterbelt Theatre swept the one-act play nominations, taking all five, plus four of five nods for best new script.

Competing for best musical with “Rent,” “Reefer Madness” and “Fiddler on the Roof” are two more playhouse shows, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” with six nominations, and “Quilters,” with three. The Bellevue Little Theatre's production of “Oliver!” earned seven nominations, and the Chanticleer's “Jesus Christ Superstar” five.

Among dramas, the playhouse's “Death of a Salesman” and the Blue Barn's “Rabbit Hole” earned the most nominations, eight each. Close behind was the Blue Barn's “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” with seven. Other shows nominated for best drama were the University of Nebraska at Omaha's “The Miracle Worker,” with two nominations, and SNAP!'s “Execution of Justice,” with one.

SNAP!'s “Speech & Debate” led the best-comedy category with seven nods. The playhouse's “Almost, Maine” and Bellevue Little Theatre's “Noises Off” tied with four each. Other best-comedy nominees were SNAP's “Loose Knit,” with three nominations, and the playhouse's “Mister Roberts,” with two.

The awards cover shows that opened from late June 2009 to mid-June 2010. Nominations were voted on by guild members, and ballots were weighted by how many shows and theaters each voter attended. After a second round of balloting, winners will be announced Aug. 11.
For a complete list of TAG award nominees, SEE BELOW

444-1269, bob.fischbach@owh.com

List of nominees
By Bob Fischbach
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Here is a complete list of nominees for the Theatre Arts Guild awards, saluting the best in community theater for the 2009-10 season. Awards will be announced Aug. 15.
BEST SHOW
Musical
“Fiddler on the Roof,” Omaha Community Playhouse
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Omaha Community Playhouse
“Quilters,” Omaha Community Playhouse
“Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn Theatre
“Rent,” SNAP! Productions

Drama
“Death of a Salesman,” Playhouse
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Blue Barn
“Execution of Justice,” SNAP!
“The Miracle Worker,” University of Nebraska at Omaha
“Rabbit Hole,” Blue Barn

Comedy
“Almost, Maine,” Playhouse
“Loose Knit,” SNAP
“Mister Roberts,” Playhouse
“Noises Off,” Bellevue Little Theatre
“Speech & Debate,” SNAP!

One-act play
“Damn Spot” (“Shelterskelter 14”), Shelterbelt Theatre
“The Man Gift (“From Shelterbelt With Love 9”), Shelterbelt
“Mountain Lion,” Shelterbelt
“Mrs. Jenning’s Sitter,” Shelterbelt
“Never Wear a Dead Man’s Shoes” (“Shelterskelter 14”), Shelterbelt

Special event
“Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Children’s Respite Care Center
“A Comedy Tonight,” River City Mixed Chorus
“Happy Holly Gayz,” River City
“I Sing the Body Electric,” River City
“Some People — A Second Helping,” BroadStreet Theatre Co.

DIRECTION
Stage director, musical
Todd Brooks, “Rent,” SNAP!
Susan Clement-Toberer, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
Susan Baer Collins, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse
D. Laureen Pickle, “Oliver!,” Bellevue Little Theatre
Daena Schweiger, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Chanticleer Theatre

Director of music, musical
John Bennett, “Quilters,” Playhouse
Jim Boggess, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse
Mitch Fuller, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
Keith Hart, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Chanticleer
D. Laureen Pickle, “Rent,” SNAP!

Choreographer
Katie Hogston, “Rent,” SNAP!
Roxanne Nielsen, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
Roxanne Nielsen, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Playhouse
Kathy Wheeldon, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse
Kathy Wheeldon, “Quilters,” Playhouse

Stage director, comedy or drama
Susan Clement-Toberer, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Blue Barn
Susan Clement-Toberer, “Rabbit Hole,” Blue Barn
Amy Lane, “Almost, Maine,” Playhouse
Kevin Lawler, “Death of a Salesman,” Playhouse
Daena Schweiger, “Speech & Debate,” SNAP!

ACTING, MUSICAL
Lead actor
Tim Abou-Nasr, Joseph, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Playhouse
Dan Chevalier, Judas, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Chanticleer
Dennis Maddux, Fagin, “Oliver!,” Bellevue
Mark Thornburg, Tevye, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse
Tim Vallier, Mark, “Rent,” SNAP!

Lead actress
Leanne Hill-Carlson, Nellie Forbush, “South Pacific,” Papillion-La Vista Community Theatre
Audrey Fisher, Mimi, “Rent,” SNAP!
Melanie Walters, Narrator, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Playhouse
Allison Wissman, Nancy, “Oliver!,” Bellevue
Jenn Witt, Mary Lane, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn

Supporting actor
Tim Abou-Nasr, Motel, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse
Ben Beck, Ralph, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
Sean Buster, Angel, “Rent,” SNAP!
Dan Chevalier, Jeff, “I Love You Because,” Candy Project
Wayne Moore, Collins, “Rent,” SNAP!

Supporting actress
Bailey Carlson, Sally, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
Angie Heim, Maureen, “Rent,” SNAP!
Leanne Hill-Carlson, Hodel, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse
Theresa Sindelar, Mae, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
Allison Wissman, Joanne, “Rent,” SNAP!

Featured actor
Joe Blackstad, King Herod, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Chanticleer
Joey Galda, NYC Man, “I Love You Because,” Candy Project
Kevin Olsen, Mr. Bumble, “Oliver!,” Bellevue
Ryan Pivonka, Pharaoh, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Playhouse
Stephen Michael Shelton, Various Roles, “Rent,” SNAP!

Featured actress
Katie Miller, NYC Woman, “I Love You Because,” Candy Project
Megan O’Connell, Various Roles, “Rent,” SNAP!
Connie Jo Podendorf, Widow Corney, “Oliver!,” Bellevue
Rusheaa Smith, Various Roles, “Rent,” SNAP!
Mallory Vallier, Various Roles, “Rent,” SNAP!

ACTING, DRAMA OR COMEDY
Lead actor
Thomas Becker, Henry Jekyll, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Blue Barn
Carl Brooks, Lenny, “Of Mice and Men,” John Beasley Theater
Bernie Clark, Willy Loman, “Death of a Salesman,” Playhouse
Scott Kurz, Milo Tindle, “Sleuth,” Brigit St. Brigit Theatre
Michael Markey, Clyde, “Hot `’n’ Throbbing,” Blue Barn
Matthew Pyle, Howie, “Rabbit Hole,” Blue Barn

Lead actress
Kim Jubenville, Charlene, “Hot ’n’ Throbbing,” Blue Barn
Amy Lane, Becca, “Rabbit Hole,” Blue Barn
Colleen O’Doherty, Diwata, “Speech & Debate,” SNAP!
Lois Nemec, Linda, “Death of a Salesman,” Playhouse
Therese Rennels, Dotty Otley/Mrs. Clackett, “Noises Off,” Bellevue
Rusheaa Smith, Mia, “Warpaint,” Shelterbelt

Supporting actor
Ben Beck, Various Roles, “Almost, Maine,” Playhouse
Anthony Clark-Kaczmarek, Biff, “Death of a Salesman,” Playhouse
David Mainelli, Miles,“Loose Knit,” SNAP!
Jim Palmer, Frederick Fellows/Philip, “Noises Off,” Bellevue
Randy Vest, Gabriel Utterson/Hyde #1, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Blue Barn

Supporting actress
MaryBeth Adams, Nat, “Rabbit Hole,” Blue Barn
Cathy Hirsch, Brooke Adams/Vicki, “Noises Off,” Bellevue
Chelsea Long, Lizzie, “Loose Knit,” SNAP!
Erika Zadina, Various Roles, “Almost, Maine,” Playhouse
Erika Zadina, Izzie, “Rabbit Hole,” Blue Barn

Featured actor
Tim Daugherty, Manolo Costazuela, “The New Odd Couple,” Chanticleer
Scott Fowler, Telephone Repairman, “Barefoot in the Park,” Chanticleer
Jerry Onik, Manolo Costazuela, “The New Odd Couple,” Bellevue
Randy Vest, Jesus Costazuela, “The New Odd Couple,” Bellevue
Jonathan Wilhoft, Charley, “Death of a Salesman,” Playhouse

Featured actress
Aisha Lomax, Various Roles, “Speech & Debate,” SNAP!
Laura Marr, Ranger Tammy T. Treado, “Escanaba in da Moonlight,” Circle Theater
Beth Paprocki, Lt. Ann Girard, “Mister Roberts,” Playhouse
Tammy Ra, Viney, “The Miracle Worker,” University of Nebraska at Omaha
Ashley Spessard, Lady Anne, “Richard III,” Brigit St. Brigit
Carole Waterman, Duchess of York, “Richard III,” Brigit St. Brigit

OTHER ACTING
Youth actor
Noah Diaz, Louis Fensterspock, “Awesome `’80s Prom,” Playhouse
Noah Diaz, Howie, “Speech & Debate,” SNAP!
Max Hauze, Oliver Twist, “Oliver!,” Bellevue
Brock McCullough, Artful Dodger, “Oliver!,” Bellevue
Jordan Rudningen, Jason, “Rabbit Hole,” Blue Barn

Youth actress
Morgan Herbner, Annie, “Annie Warbucks,” Chanticleer
Brittany Locke, Ernestine, “Cheaper by the Dozen,” Playhouse
Bailey Newman, Martha, “Cheaper by the Dozen,” Playhouse
Ashton Taylor, Annie, “Annie,” Rose Theatre
Ashton Taylor, Shprintze, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse

Ensemble scene or musical number
“Footloose,” “Footloose,” Chanticleer
“Freedom Dance,” “Speech & Debate,” SNAP!
“La Vie Boheme,” “Rent,” SNAP!
“Listen to Jesus Jimmy,” “Reefer Madness – The Musical,” Blue Barn
Wedding/Bottle Dance, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse

THEATRE ARTS
New script
“Mountain Lion,” Ellen Struve
“Mrs. Jenning’s Sitter,” Ellen Struve
“Sex — the Musical,” Blue Barn’s The Witching Hour
“Warpaint,” Michael Oatman & Benjamin Graber
“The Wind Cries Verona,” Jay Huse

Scenic design
Martin Scott Marchitto, “Rabbit Hole,” Blue Barn
Martin Scott Marchitto, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
James Othuse, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse
Shane Staiger, “Rent,”SNAP!
Bill Van Deest, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses,” Creighton University

Lighting design
Todd Brooks & Mike Runice, “Rent,” SNAP!
Darren Golden,“Jesus Christ Superstar,” Chanticleer
Sara Houston, “Death of a Salesman,” Playhouse
CarolWisner, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Blue Barn
CarolWisner, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn

Costume design
Donita Brooks, “Rent,” SNAP!
Jennifer Pool, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Blue Barn
Jennifer Pool, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
Georgiann Regan, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Playhouse
Lynne Ridge & Georgiann Regan, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse

Sound design
Tim Burkhart, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse
Mark Cramer, “Rent,” SNAP!
Mark Cramer, “Speech & Debate,” SNAP!
Martin Magnuson, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Blue Barn
Martin Magnuson, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn

Props design
Connie Fowler, “Rent,” SNAP!
Liz Kendall, “Reefer Madness — The Musical,” Blue Barn
Amy Reiner, “All Shook Up,” Playhouse
Amy Reiner, “Death of a Salesman,” Playhouse
Amy Reiner, “Fiddler on the Roof,” Playhouse