DEARBORN, MI–The 2022-23 season, the second one coming out of Covid-19 was a strong season for a variety of reasons: quality of productions and much greater expressions of diversity and inclusion.

The Michigan theatre community has a lot to be proud of.

The Flint Repertory Theatre tops all theatres this year in the state with production awards with 25, followed by The Encore Musical Theatre with 22 (plus one special award for its consistent level of production quality and leap forward from its original space in Dexter to its new and larger space).

The Wilde Awards have changed in the last few years, and there is still some confusion. Let’s try and straighten it out. Everyone, every production and every theatre named today is a winner. Going back several years, this list of honorees would have been considered “nominations,” and we would have chosen one overall winner in each category. That was deemed by the Encore team as unfair because not all of the reviewers had seen all the shows.

The season as judged was Sept. 1 2022-September 15, 2023.

Our system today seeks to do the following: honor productions, performances and technical achievements that stand out above the rest, according to the reviewers. It’s that simple.

The reviewers responsible for voting: David Kiley, Marin Heinritz (who writes for Revue, which covers the west side of the state), Julie Linderleaf, Bridgette Redman, Paula Bradley and Brian Cox. We also had some guest reviewers this year, and their reviews of plays were considered as well.

During the pandemic, several members of our theatre community led forums and online gatherings to discuss and illuminate the issues of diversity and inclusion–and lack thereof–in Michigan’s professional theatre community. We have long rewarded theatres that championed the work and talent of artists of color. In the last two seasons, since we emerged from the big pause in theatre resulting from Covid-19, though, our theatres, in our opinion, have made great strides in bringing the work of writers of varying backgrounds, races and cultures, as well as transcendent casting of actors. Progress is certainly being made, and we hope that it continues. The more diverse our community of actors and artists are, the stronger and better we are.

We will use this time to address one of the complaints we get sometimes. Some say we should review only the elements of a production, but not the play itself. Not the quality of the script. We disagree. We believe we have the skills and experience to judge whether a play or musical is any good from the standpoint of writing and music composition. The fact is that some plays and musicals–even ones that are popular across the country, and even ones that have been produced often and for decades–are bad plays. When we think so, we will say so. Assessing the writing of a new play, as well as a Michigan or U.S. premiere, certainly merits a review of the writing and whether the story is actually told well.

In past years, and likely this season, there are those who will criticize EncoreMichigan; the way we review plays, the fact that we always miss a few shows we simply could not get to and the way we do these awards. Criticism is good, as long as it is productive, well-meaning and polite. We listen. We make and have made changes over the last few years, including the changes in the Wilde Awards. If we make a typo, or misspell a name, or get a pronoun wrong, we want our readers to let us know. As soon as we know, we fix it as soon as we are able. We do this regularly.

We aren’t perfect. Neither are the theatres and artists we write about. We are all in this together.

We are striving to be better all the time. The last two seasons have been very tough as we had several reviewers retire during the pandemic, and we have been short of funds. The good news is that we just received an infusion of support that will allow us to go back to paying reviewers and a managing editor that will help us restore the show calendar and possibly the weekly newsletter. For theater, EncoreMichigan is the only outlet that does as many previews, show announcements and reviews as we do. Revue does a splendid job of covering arts on the west side of the state, and we will do better this season at sharing those reviews on Encore. Most readers want us to keep going, so we will. For the record, Encore reviewers have been working on a volunteer basis.

This year we are honoring more shows and artists than we ever have before. That’s a great thing. Every award is deserved.

Congratulations to everyone in the community whether your name is in this season’s awards, or not. You are all doing amazing work just by performing and perpetuating live theatre. You are all appreciated. You are all valued. You are all honored.

If any winner wants a plaque for your recognition, please email us at encorepress@gmail. As was the case last year, a plaque costs $25.00. For theatres we can put multiple awards, as in a 2022-23 Season plaque on a larger plaque for your lobby for $37.00. If you want a plaque in time for the holidays as a gift, we must have the order by December 1. If any name, play or theatre is misspelled here, please email us a correction at encorepress@gmail.com. If you want a plaque you can send the money to encoremediasales@gmail.com at paypal. We wish we could provide plaques to all the winners. It’s just not financially feasible.

2022-2023 Wilde Awards

Best Play (Drama)

• The Inheritance, The Ringwald
• The Light, Tipping Point Theatre
• Gem of The Ocean, Detroit Repertory Theatre
• Swimming While Drowning, The Matrix Theatre
• Death of a Salesman, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Sweat, Michigan State University
• Misery, The Barn Theatre 
• How I Learned To Drive, Open Book Theatre
• Sanctuary City, Theatre Nova
• Mud Row, Detroit Public Theatre

Best Play (Comedy)

• Pride and Prejudice, Detroit Mercy
• The Future is Female, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, The Barn Theatre
• Escanaba in da Moonlight, The Barn Theatre
• Lost In Yonkers, The Dio Dining & Entertainment
• Pickleball, The Purple Rose Theatre
• The Mummy Queen, The Penny Seats

Best Musical

• Passing Strange, The Detroit Public Theatre
• The Magnificent Seven, Flint Repertory Repertory
• Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• The Magnificent Seven, Flint Repertory Theatre
• The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Riverbank Theatre
• Rent, Farmers Alley
• Rock of Ages, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Kinky Boots, Mason Street Warehouse
• Jersey Boys, Mason Street Warehouse
• Little Shop of Horrors, The Encore Musical Theatre
• Desperate Measures, the Dio Dining & Entertainment
• 42nd Street, The Encore Musical Theatre
• A Gentleman’s Guide To Love and Murder, Farmers Alley

Best Opera

• Malcolm X, Detroit Opera Theatre

Best New Script

• Jukebox for The Algonquin, Paul Stroili, Purple Rose Theatre
• Pickleball, Jeff Daniels, Purple Rose Theatre
• Game. Set. Match!, Tracy L. Spada, Tipping Point
• The Magnolia Ballet, Pt. 1 by Terry Guest, Williamston Theatre
• In Common, Quinn D. Eli, The Purple Rose Theatre
• Noura, Heather Raffo, Detroit Public Theatre
• A Very Williamston Christmas, by Robert Hawlmark, Williamston Theatre
• Human Error, Eric Pfeffinger, Purple Rose Theatre
• Mud Row, Dominique Morriseau, Detroit Public Theatre

Best of The Bard

• Pericles, Prince of Tyre, Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• Julius Caesar, Interlochen Shakespeare Festival
• MacBeth, Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Best One Person Play

• The Peculiar Patriot, Detroit Public Theatre
• Wild Horses, Williamston Theatre
• Natural Shocks, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Hope Repertory Theatre

Best Director (Play)

• Gary Anderson, The Magnolia Ballet, Williamston Theatre
• Mary Job, Wild Horses, Williamston Theatre
• Robert Kauzlaric, Pericles, Prince of Tyre, Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• Janice L. Blixt, A Flea in Her Ear, Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• Brendan Ragotzy, Baskerville, The Barn Theatre
• Suzi Regan, Jukebox at The Algonquin, Purple Rose Theatre
• Joe Bailey, The Inheritance, The Ringwald
• Adriane Galea, How I Learned To Drive, Open Book Theatre
• Rhiannon Ragland, Pickleball, The Purple Rose Theatre
• Sarah Rusk, Pride and Prejudice, Detroit Mercy Theatre Co.
• Lamar Perry, Mud Row, Detroit Public Theatre
• Michael Lluberes, Death of A Salesman, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Jade Sibert, Come On Home, Michigan Irish Repertory Theatre

Best Director (Musical)

• Michael Lluberes, Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Kurt Stamm, Kinky Boots, Mason Street Warehouse
• Kurt Stamm, Jersey Boys, Mason Street Warehouse
• Patrick Hunter, Anything Goes, The Barn Theatre
• Trey Ellett, Rent, Farmers Alley Theatre 
• John Sloan III, Passing Strange, Detroit Public Theatre
• Steve DeBruyne, Little Women, Dio Dining & Entertainment
• Steve DeBruyne, Desperate Measures, Dio Dining & Entertainment
• Scott Thompsen, 42nd Street, Encore Musical Theatre
• Dan Cooney, A Christmas Story, Encore Musical Theatre

Best Performance of The Bard

• Warren Jackson, Pericles, Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• Faith Berry, Pericles, Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• Sydney James Harcourt, Julius Caesar, Interlochen Shakespeare Festival
• James Francis Ginty, Julius Caesar, Interlochen Shakespeare Festival
• David Blixt, MacBeth, Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Best Lead Actor (Musical)

• David Aron Damane, Ragtime, Flint Rep
• Ben Cherry, Ragtime, Flint Rep
• Jeremy Koch, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Farmers Alley Theatre
• Henry Crater, Tuck Everlasting, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Daniel Miller, Jersey Boys, Mason Street Warehouse
• John Zamborsky, Rock of Ages, Hope Repertory Theatre
• David Moan, 42nd Street, Encore Musical Theatre

Best Lead Actor (Play)

• John DeMerell, Come On Home, The Michigan Irish Repertory Theatre
• Scott Norman, The Magnolia Ballet, Pt. 1, Williamston Theatre
• Dan Johnson, Life on the Moon, Detroit Repertory Theatre
• Eric Parker, Misery, The Barn Theatre
• Shawn Pfautsch, A Flea in Her Ear, Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• Richard Payton, The Inheritance, The Ringwald
• Brandy Jo Plambeck, The Inheritance, The Ringwald
• Ryan Patrick Welsh, A Very Williamston Christmas, Williamston Theatre
• Lewis J. Stadlen, Death of A Salesman, Flint Repertory Theatre

Best Lead Actress (Play)

• Krista Schafer, How I Learned To Drive, Open Book Theatre
• Janai Lashon, Mrs. Harrison, Williamston Theatre
• Katherine Banks, Alabaster, Williamston Theatre
• Kelly Eubank, Life on the Moon, Detroit Repertory Theatre
• Katherine Clemons, Sweat, Michigan State University
• Nandita Shenoy, The Future is Female, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Ashley M. Lyle, Nollywood Dreams, Open Book Theatre
• Madelyn Porter, Gem of The Ocean, Detroit Repertory Theatre
• Heather Raffo, Noura, Detroit Public Theatre
• Caitlin Cavannaugh, Game. Set. Match!, Tipping Point
• Adrienne Wells, Mud Row, Detroit Public Theatre

Best Lead Actress (Musical)

• Robyne Parrish, Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Elexis Morton, Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Ash Moran, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Riverbank Theatre
• Becca Andrews, Kinky Boots, Mason Street Warehouse
• Melissa Cotton Hunter, Anything Goes, The Barn Theatre
• Allison Bell, 42nd Street,  Encore Musical Theatre
• Leah Wilson, Once On This Island, Encore Musical Theatre

Best Supporting Actor (Musical)

• Nelson Gregory, The Sound of Music, Riverbank Theatre
• Marcus Denard Johnson, Rock of Ages, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Jeff Meyer, Jersey Boys, Mason Street Warehouse
• Corey Barlow, Tuck Everlasting, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Javier Garcia, Kinky Boots, Mason Street Warehouse
• Ben Will, Passing Strange, Detroit Public Theatre
• Dante Murray, Once On This Island,  Encore Musical Theatre
• Dan Morrison, Desperate Measures, Dio Dining & Entertainment

Best Supporting Actress (Musical)

• Karen Sheridan, Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Anna Marck, The Sound of Music, Riverbank Theatre
• Katherine Guc, The Sound of Music, Riverbank Theatre
• Penelope Alex, The Wizard of Oz, The Barn Theatre
• Abigail Douglas, Tuck Everlasting, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Lulu Fall, Passing Strange, Detroit Public Theatre
• Marlene Inman, Little Women, The Dio Dining & Entertainment
• Bryana Hall, Once On This Island,, Encore Musical Theatre
• Gayle E. Martin, 42nd Street, Encore Musical Theatre
• Dara Pardon, Desperate Measures, Dio Dining & Entertainment
• Jessica Grove, A Christmas Story, Encore Musical Theatre

Best Supporting Actor (Play)

• Dan Morrison, The Inheritance, The Ringwald
• Charlie King, Baskerville, The Barn Theatre
• Lance Barber, Clue, The Barn Theatre
• Stebart Davenport, The Inheritance, The Ringwald
• Phil Hughes, How I Learned To Drive, Open Book Theatre
• Rusty Mewha, In Common, The Purple Rose Theatre
• Luke Adamkiewicz, Pride and Prejudice, Detroit Mercy Theatre Company
• David W. Skillman, Gem of The Ocean, Detroit Repertory Theatre
• John DeMerell, Unnecessary Farce, Wilde Theatre
• Henri Franklin, Mud Row, Detroit Public Theatre
• Michael Lopetrone, Death of A Salesman, Flint Repertory Theatre

Best Supporting Actress (Play)

• Kristina Riegle, Alabaster, Williamston Theatre
• Siho Ellsmore, The Future is Female, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Sarah Burcon, Come On Home, Michigan Irish Repertory Theatre
• Melissa Cotton Hunter, Baskerville, The Barn Theatre
• Marissa Harrington, Chicken & Biscuits, Farmers Alley Theatre
• Luciana Piazza, Lost in Yonkers, The Dio Dining & Entertainment
• Dani Cochrane, The Birthday Club, The Meadow Brook
• Carman Cooper, Mud Row, Detroit Public Theatre
• Caitlin Cavannaugh, Pickleball, Purple Rose Theatre
• Carolyn Gillespie, Death of A Salesman, Flint Repertory Theatre

Best Teamwork

• Cast of The Magnificent Seven, Flint Repertory Theatre
• “The Girls” (Christy Kreidler, Carrie Meusling, Kelly Maynard), The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Riverbank Theatre
• Ural Grant and Marck Kiselevach, Transfers, Detroit Repertory Theatre
• Jonathan West and Carman Cooper, The Light, Tipping Point
• Alexander Hernandez and Cameron Graham, Swimming While Drowning, The Matrix Theatre
• Anna Dreslinski Cooke, Anne Koziara, Maddie Ringvelski, Sarah Brown, Little Women, Dio Dining & Entertainment.
• Marie Muhammad and Jose Martinez-Chavarria, Sanctuary City, Theatre Nova

Best Choreography

• Natalie Kaye Clater, Once On This Island, The Encore Musical Theatre
• Cy Paolantonio, Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Jay Gamboa, Kinky Boots, Mason Street Warehouse
• Melissa Cotton Hunter, Anything Goes, The Barn Theatre
• Dewitt Cooper, Tuck Everlasting, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Natalie Kaye Cater, Once On This Island, Encore Musical Theatre
• Scott Thompsen, 42nd Street, Encore Musical Theatre

Best Lighting

• Becca Bedell, The Magnolia Ballet, Pt. 1, Williamston Theatre
• Shannon T. Schweitzer, Alabaster, Williamston Theatre
• Jake DeGroot, The Magnificent Seven, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Jason Frink, Rent, Farmers Alley
• Jason Atwood, Moby Dick – The Musical, Ann Arbor Musical Theaterworks 
• Nikki Belinski, Once On This Island, Encore Musical Theatre

Best Costumes

• Adam M. Dill, The Magnificent Seven, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Aly Renée Amidei, Pericles, The Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• Matt Snellgrove, Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Anthony Paul-Cavaretta, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Karsen Green, Anything Goes, The Barn Theatre
• Kathy Mulay, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Farmer’s Alley
• Sharon Larkey Urick and Marillee Dechart, 42nd Street, Encore Musical Theatre
• Norma Polk, Desperate Measures, Dio Dining & Entertainment

Best Scenic Design

• Jennifer Maiseloff, The Magnolia Ballet, Pt. 1, Williamston Theatre
• Monika Essen, Alabaster, Williamston Theatre
• Yi-Chien Lee, The Future is Female, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Tom Vertin, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, The Riverbank Theatre
• Sarah Pearline, Rock of Ages, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Monika Essen, Be Here Now, Williamston Theatre
• Kristen Gribbin, Noises Off, The Meadow Brook
• Eric Niece, How I Learned To Drive, The Open Book Theatre
• Shane Kinal, A Christmas Story, Encore Musical Theatre
• Matthew Tomich, Desperate Measures, Dio Dining & Entertainment
• Kirk A. Domer, Mrs. Harrison, Williamston Theatre 
• Sarah Tanner, 42nd Street, Encore Musical Theatre
• Sarah Tanner, Once On This Island, Encore Musical Theatre
• Evan Frank, MacBeth, Michigan Shakespeare Festival
• Sarah Pearline, Pickleball, Purple Rose Theatre

Best Sound Design

• Burr Huntington, Life on the Moon, Detroit Repertory Theatre
• Brenden Friedel, Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Troy Benton, Wizard of Oz, The Barn Theatre
• Cameron Griffiths, Jersey Boys, Mason Street Warehouse
• Neil Jansen, A Gentlemen’s Guide To Love and Murder, Farmers Alley
• Julia Garlotte, The Mummy Queen, The Penny Seats

Best Music Direction

• Cole P. Abod, Ragtime, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Brian E. Buckner, Passing Strange, The Detroit Public
• Colleen Everitt, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Riverbank
• Tom Vendafreddo, Kinky Boots, Mason Street Warehouse
• Dan Rutzen, Rock of Ages, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Josh Keller, Jersey Boys, Mason Street Warehouse
• Matt Shabala, Anything Goes, The Barn Theatre
• R. Mackenzie Lewis 42nd Street, The Encore Musical Theatre
• Daniel Bachelis, Desperate Measures, The Dio Dining & Entertainment

Best Prop Design

• Harry Wetzel, Life on the Moon, Detroit Repertory Theatre
• Miranda Sue Hartmann, The Future is Female, Flint Repertory Theatre
• Adrianna Nelson, Rock of Ages, Hope Repertory Theatre
• Savannah Draper, A Gentlemen’s Guide To Love and Murder, Farmers Alley Theatre

Council Cargle Award for Promoting and Celebrating Diversity

• Farmers Alley: 2022-23 Season, which included shows featuring an all-African-American cast; a Chinese-American story; a celebration of local working class community members; a feminist Holocaust survivor; autistic children; and Rent, which features LGBTQ characters. For pulling out the stops to demonstrate the wonder of diversity in our arts.

Best Young Audience Show

• Once On This Island, The Encore Musical Theatre

Terry Heck Rising Star Award

• Gavin Cooney, A Christmas Story, Encore Musical Theatre

Jim Posante Award for LGBT Community Pride

• The Ringwald’s Production of The Inheritance.

The Critics Award

• The Encore Musical Theatre: For transforming a promising back-box theater in Dexter, MI to one of the strongest regional theaters in the U.S., and setting an example for diversity of productions.

The Publisher’s Award

• Craig Ester,  Founder of Breaking The Chain Theatre Company, for starting a new company promoting new work from diverse artists, bringing his talent, skill, art and commitment to several theaters in the 2022-2023 season.