ANN ARBOR,Mich.–EncoreMichigan announces the 2019 Wilde Award nominations for outstanding work in Michigan’s professional theatre community for the 2018-19 season.

The “season” began June 1, 2018 and closed May 31, 2019. For a show to be eligible, it had to have at least four performances and performed by a “professional” theater, defined by EncoreMichigan as a company that pays its actors. The eligible theaters include Equity and Non-Equity theaters.

The theater with the most nominations this year is The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan with 21 separate nominations. The Flint Repertory Theatre scored 15 nominations. The Dio Dining and Entertainment received 11 nominations. The Slipstream Theatre Initiative and The Purple Rose Theatre each scored ten nominations. “We included more nominations this year than in past years,” said David Kiley. “It was such a strong year, and so many theaters have upped their games that it was very difficult in some cases to whittle categories down to six or seven in a few categories.”

The EncoreMichigan team of critics featuring David Kiley, Patrice Nolan, Bridgette Redman, Sue Merrell, Julie Linderleaf, Kym Reinstadler, Roy Sexton, Amy Parrent, Angela Columbo, Paula Bradley, Tanya Gazdik, Marin Heinritz, and two guest reviewers reviewed 210 show openings in the previous season.

The Barn Theatre, said Kiley, is always a very strong theater, but last season they upped their game in categories where they often do not get nominations. “We don’t keep track, as we are voting, of which theaters are getting a lot of nominations. It is all on the merits as we see them, and then at the end, when I count them up…yes, I was surprised to see that many for The Barn.”

We expect the number of show openings to go up this year, said Kiley, as we are adding some theaters to our network of coverage.

The Wilde Awards will be held on August 26th at The Hilberry Theatre in Detroit. A networking and social hour will kick off at 6PM, and the award=s show will begin at 7:30. The show will feature songs and work from this past season, and it’s hosted by Roy Sexton. A post with advanced ticket info will be posted later this month.

Editor’s Note: We announced the nominations on the TheatreTalkPlus Podcast on June 15. There were a few errors in our oral announcements, but none that result in a wrong nomination. We have corrected it here. Wendy Katz Hiller’s nomination is for Best Supporting Actress in a Play. It was errantly doubled up in the Best Actress category. A nomination for Wayne State’s Angels in America was errantly placed in the musical category. And we apologize for three omissions: Kickshaw Theatre’s Milvotchkee, Visconsin should have been nominated for Best Play, and now is officially; Josh Brown and Dani Cochrane should have been nominated for Best Teamwork for Venus in Fur at Outvisible Theatre. Kill Move Paradise Should have been nominated for Best Teamwork.

Wilde Award Nominees

Best Musical

The Wild Party: The Dio Dining and Entertainment

The Hunchback of Notre Dame: The Dio Dining and Entertainment

Once: The Mason Street Warehouse

Willow Run: The Purple Rose Theatre Company

West Side Story: The Encore Musical Theatre

The Spitfire Grille: Meadow Brook Theatre

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder: Tibbits Opera House

Bonnie and Clyde: The Barn Theatre

Best Play-Drama

All My Sons: The Purple Rose Theatre Company

The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Nighttime: Farmers Alley

The Beauty Queen of Leenane: The Detroit Public Theatre

Silent Sky: Williamston Theatre

A Doll’s House Part 2: Farmers Alley

The Wolves: Slipstream Theatre Initiative

The Wolves: Flint Repertory Theatre

The Glass Menagerie: Flint Repertory Theatre

The How and The Why: Theatre Nova

Milvotchkee, Visconsin: Kickshaw Theatre

Best Play-Comedy

Popcorn Falls: The Tipping Point Theatre

A Comedy of Tenors: The Tipping Point Theatre

Noises Off: The Barn Theatre

New Releases: Williamston Theatre

Escanaba in Da Moonlight: The Snug Theatre

Run For Your Wife: The Barn Theatre

Best Opera

Hansel and Gretel: Michigan Opera Theatre

The Consul: Opera MODO

The Grapes of Wrath: Michigan Opera Theatre

The Barber of Seville: Michigan Opera Theatre

Best of The Bard

Richard III: Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company

The Tempest: Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Measure for Measure: Michigan Shakespeare Festival

As You Like It: Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance at Wayne State University

Much Ado About Nothing: Shakespeare Royal Oak

Much Ado About Nothing: Interlochen Shakespeare Festival

Best Original Production

Interference: The Matrix Theatre

Lost in 3 Pines: Slipstream Theatre Initiative

New Releases: The Williamston Theatre

Willow Run: The Purple Rose Theatre Company

To Quiet The Quiet: The Williamston Theatre

House on Poe Street: Detroit Repertory Theatre

Never Not Once: The Purple Rose Theatre Company

Songs About Stuff: Flint Repertory Theatre

Best One Person Show

An Iliad: Hope Summer Repertory Theatre–Emily Trask

On the Exhale: Slipstream Theatre Initiative–Tiaja Sabrie

Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top while Riding a Mechanical Bull and 16 Other Things I Learned While I was Drinking Last Thursday: Mason Street Warehouse–Kris Andersson

What Doesn’t Kill You: The Snug Theatre–James Hindman

Best Theater for Young Audiences

Hansel & Gretel: Michigan Opera Theatre

The Elves and The Schumachers: Theatre Nova

Charlotte’s Web: Wild Swan Theatre

The Little Prince: Flint Repertory Theatre

The Riddle of the Trilobites: Flint Repertory Theatre

Dragon Pack Snack Attack: Hope Summer Repertory Theatre

Best Touring Production

Hamilton: Broadway in Detroit/Wharton Center

Something Rotten: Broadway in Detroit

Phantom of The Opera: Broadway in Detroit

The Play That Goes Wrong: Broadway in Detroit

Fiddler on The Roof: Wharton Center

Best Performance – Opera

Lucas Meachem: Barber of Seville–Michigan Opera Theatre

Daniella Mack: Barber of Seville–Michigan Opera Theatre

Matthew DiBattista: Hansel and Gretel–Michigan Opera Theatre

Katharine Goeldner: Grapes of Wrath–Michigan Opera Theatre

Kaswanna Kanyinda: The Consul–Opera Modo

Nicole Joseph: The Consul–Opera Modo

Terry Heck Rising Star Award: Best Performance for an Actor Under 18 and under in a professional production.

Dalton Hartwell: The Little Prince–Flint Repertory Theatre

Grace Jolliffe: The Wolves–Slipstream Theatre Initiative

Alex Eisenberg: The Wolves–Slipstream Theatre Initiative

David Wilson: Lost in 3 Pines–Slipstream Theatre Initiative

Braedon Davis: Disaster!–The Barn Theater

Best Performance–The Bard

Kathleen Bode: Henry VI–Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company

Janet Haley: The Tempest–Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Brendan St. Clair Saunders: The Tempest–Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Robert McLean: Measure for Measure–Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Brendan St. Clair Saunders: Measure for Measure–Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Diana Coates (Isabella); Measure for Measure–Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Katherine Mayberry: Antony and Cleopatra–Pigeon Creek Shakespeare

Lynnette Call: As You Like It–Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance at Wayne State University

Scott Lange: Richard III–Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company

Best Performance – Theater for Young Audiences

Dan Morrison: The Elves and The Schumachers–Theatre Nova

Sandy Ryder: Charlotte’s Web–Wild Swan Theatre

Brandon A. Wright; The Little Prince–Flint Repertory Theatre

Sifiso Mabena, Riddle of the Trilobites, Flint Repertory Theatre

Best Performance, Lead Actor – Musical

Steve DeBruyne: The Wild Party–The Dio

Steve DeBruyne: Hunchback of Notre Dame–The Dio

Miguel Ragel Wilson: Bullets Over Broadway–The Barn Theatre

Chris French: Assassins–Flint Repertory Theatre

Jonnie Carpathios: Bonnie and Clyde–The Barn

Matthew Brennan: Brigadoon–Encore Musical Theatre

Brian Ogilvie: Once–Mason Street Warehouse

Best Performance, Lead Actor – Play

Matthew Wallace: Significant Other–The Ringwald Theatre

Paul Stroili: A Doll’s House Pt. 2–Farmer’s Alley

Dave Davies: Impossibility of Now–Tipping Point Theatre

Joshua Whitson: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time–Open Book Theatre

Troy Hussmann: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time–Farmer’s Alley Theatre

Michael Lopetrone: The Glass Menagerie–Flint Repertory Theatre

Steve Wojtas: To Quiet the Quiet–The Williamston Theatre

Mike Olsem, Glengarry Glen Ross–Monster Box Theatre

Best Performance, Lead Actress – Musical

Marlene Inman: Hello Dolly–Encore Musical Theatre

Elizabeth Jaffe: The Wild Party–The Dio

Rachel Grindle: Hairspray–The Barn Theatre

Maya Lagerstam: The Wiz–Hope Summer Repertory Theatre

Emily Hadick: The Spitfire Grill–Meadow Brook Theatre

Julie Benko: Once–Mason Street Warehouse

Melissa Hunter: Bullets Over Broadway–The Barn Theatre

Denene Mulay Koch: Bridges of Madison County–Farmers Alley

Susan Jacokes, Head Over Heels, The Ringwald Theatre

Best Performance, Lead Actress – Play

Michelle Mountain: All My Sons–The Purple Rose Theatre Company

Sarah Clare Corporandy: The Beauty Queen of Leenane–Detroit Public Theatre

Penelope Alex: Noises Off–The Barn Theatre

Diane Hill: The How and the Why–Theatre Nova

Elizabeth Terrel: A Doll’s House Pt. 2–Farmer’s Alley

Janet Haley: The Glass Menagerie–Flint Repertory Theatre

Maggie Gilkes: Three Tall Women–Slipstream Theatre Initiative

Danielle Peck: Interference–The Matrix Theatre

Nancy Elizabeth Kammer: Milvotchkee, Visconsin–Kickshaw Theatre

Best Performance–Supporting Actor–Musical

Chris Blisset: Once–Mason Street Warehouse

Marcus Martin: The Wiz–Hope Summer Repertory

Miguel Ragel Wilson: Bonnie and Clyde–The Barn Theatre

Patrick Hunter: Bonnie and Clyde–The Barn

Keith Kalinowski: The Hunchback of Notre Dame–The Dio

Aaron Dennis Smith: A Christmas Story The Musical–The Riverbank Theatre:

John DeMerell: Young Frankenstein–The Penny Seats Theatre Company

Brian Sage–Guide to Love and Murder–Tibbits Opera House

Best Performance, Supporting Actress–Musical

Shinnerrie Jackson: The Civil War–The Barn Theatre

Kasady Kwiatkowska: Hairspray–The Barn Theatre

Madeline Jones: The Wiz–Hope Summer Rep

Peggy Lee: The Rocky Horror Picture Show–The Ringwald Theatre

K. Edmonds–Willow Run–Purple Rose Theatre Company

Alaina Kerr–The Hunchback of Notre Dame-The Dio

Maya Gangadaran: Murder Ballad–The Penny Seats Theatre Company

Elisabeth Garber: Next To Normal–The Encore Musical Theatre

Corey Goodrich: Once–The Mason Street Warehouse

Best Performance, Supporting Actor – Play

John Lepard: A Hunting Shack Christmas–Williamston Theatre

Joe Zarrow: Comedy of Tenors–The Tipping Point

Jeremy Koch: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time– Farmer’s Alley

John Lepard: To Quiet the Quiet, Williamston Theatre

Patrick Hunter: Run For Your Wife–The Barn Theatre

Michael Brian Ogden: The Beauty Queen of Leenane–Detroit Public Theatre

Best Performance, Supporting Actress – Play

Maggie Meyer: The Miss Firecracker Contest–Tipping Point Theatre

Karen Sheridan: The Beauty Queen of Leenane–Detroit Public Theatre

Wendy Katz Hiller: Steel Magnolias–The Dio

Dani Cochrane: Cry It Out–Detroit Public Theatre

Karen Sheridan: Silent Sky–Williamston Theatre

Annie Dilworth: The Wolves: Slipstream Theatre Initiative

Akia Smith: At the Table–Exit Left

Sandra Birch: New Releases–Williamston Theatre

Kelly Komlen: Death of a Salesman–The Ringwald Theatre

Lani Call: Angels in America–Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance at Wayne State University

Best Teamwork

Patrick Loos and Aral Gribble: Popcorn Falls–Tipping Point

Penelope Alex and Charlie King: Disaster!–The Barn Theater

Sara Frank-Hepfer and Elie Wiese: Chalk–Ixion Theatre

Maggie Gilkes, Jeannine Thompson, and Maggie Alger: Three Tall Women–Slipstream Theatre Initiative.

Cheyenne Bolt, Mallorie Green and Cynthia Burton: Little Shop of Horrors–The Riverbank

Robert Newman and Charlie King: Hairspray–The Barn Theatre

Cast Hunchback of Notre Dame–Dio Dining and Entertainment

Joshua Brown and Dani Cochrane: Venus in Fur–Outvisible Theatre

Cast of Kill Move Paradise: Theatre Nova

Best Choreography

Matthew Brennan: West Side Story–The Encore Musical Theatre

Kasady Kwiatkowska: Hairspray–The Barn Theatre

Chaz Sanders: The Wiz–Hope Summer Rep

J. M. Rebudal: Godspell–Hope Summer Rep

Chelsea Nicole Lapp, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time–Farmer’s Alley

Best Design – Costumes

Cal Schwartz: Head Over Heels–The Ringwald Theatre.  

Andrew Vincent: The Wiz–Hope Summer Repertory Theatre

Lauren Alexander: Bullets Over Broadway–The Barn Theatre

Loren Shaw and Sean Devare: Assassins–Flint Repertory Theatre

Suzanne Young: Comedy of Tenors–Tipping Point Theatre

Haley Cavanaugh: As You Like It–Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance at Wayne State University

Katherine Nelson (costumes) and Amanda Villalobos (puppets): Riddle of the Trilobites: Flint Repertory Theatre

Katy Kettles and SaDonna Croff: Fight Girl Battle World–Ixion

Norma Polk: Hunchback of Notre Dame–The Dio Dining and Entertainment

Sharon Larkey Urick: Brigadoon: The Encore Musical Theatre

Best Design – Lights

Brandy Joe Plambeck: The Cake–The Ringwald Theatre

Lanny Potts; Bridges of Madison County–Farmers Alley

Alan Piotrowicz: The Wiz; Hope Summer Repertory Theatre

Eric Van Tassell: An Iliad–Hope Summer Repertory Theatre

Charles MacLeod: Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top While Riding a Mechanical Bull and 16 Other Things I Learned While I Was Drinking Last Thursday–Mason Street Warehouse

Jason Frink:The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time; Farmer’s Alley

Best Design – Props

Haley Borodine: An Iliad–Hope Summer Repertory Theatre

Sam Rudy and Michael Wilson Morgan: Disaster!–The Barn Theater

Michelle Raymond, Silent Sky–Williamston Theatre

Hansel and Gretel–Michigan Opera Theatre

Pegi Marshall: The Beauty Queen of Leenane–Detroit Public Theatre

Best Design–Sets

Sarah Pearline: Willow Run–The Purple Rose Theatre Company

Matthew Tomich: The Hunchback of Notre Dame–The Dio Dining and Entertainment

Kristin Gribbin: Arsenic and Old Lace–Meadow Brook Theatre

Shane Cinal: The Boatman–Flint Repertory Theatre

Moníka Essen – Impossibility of Now–Tipping Point Theatre

Michael Wilson Morgan and Samantha Snow: Bonnie and Clyde–The Barn Theatre

Eric Niece: Ada and the Engine–Open Book Theatre

Best Design – Sound or Video

Kate Hopgood: The Tempest–Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Josh Schmidt: An Iliad–Hope Summer Repertory Theatre

Bradley Branam: Silent Sky–The Williamston Theatre

Moníka Essen: Impossibility of Now–Tipping Point Theatre

Dan Morency: Angels in America–Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance at Wayne State University

Jason Painter Price: To Quiet the Quiet–Williamston Theatre

Sarah Pearline: A Christmas Carol–Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance at Wayne State University

Best Music Direction

Scott Lange: Henry VII–Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company

Alex Thompson: Godspell–Hope Summer Repertory Theatre

Chris Blisset: Once–Mason Street Warehouse

Brent J. Decker: Bullets Over Broadway–The Barn Theatre

Brad Phillips: Willow Run–The Purple Rose Theatre Company

Brian Buckner: Songs About Stuff–Flint Repertory Theatre

Tyler Driskell: Brigadoon–The Encore Musical Theatre

Best New Script

David Wells: Mazel Tov John Lennon–Theatre Nova

Cary Crim: Never Not Once–Purple Rose Theatre Company

Maxim Vinogradov: Lost in 3 Pines–Slipstream Theatre Initiative

Joseph Zettelmaier: New Releases–The Williamston Theatre

Dan Kitrosser–Third Person–Great Escape Theatre

Christy Hall: To Quiet the Quiet–The Williamston Theatre

Jeffrey Duncan: Willow Run–The Purple Rose Theatre Company

James Hindman: What Doesn’t Kill You–The Snug Theatre