Bill's Best of 2014: NOMINATIONS

The 2014 nominations for "Bill's Best" are listed below.  But first, here are a few tips for looking at this list:

1.  "Best of" lists are, by their nature, subjective.  These are the work of a single person.  Me.  You don't have to agree with anything on the list.

2.  This is not a definitive list; I only saw 60 shows this year.  I estimate that there may be 200 or more shows produced in Colorado each year.  So this is a small sample, and there is ample room for disagreements.  However, please don't tell me that a show you saw but I didn't was the best.  I can't judge shows I didn't see.

3.  I saw some very good productions this year that are NOT on this list.  That's a shame, but that's a predictable outcome of such a list.  Although I have no doubt that every actor, actress, and crew put on the "best" show they could, not every show can be the best show of the year for everybody.

4.  Of the 60 shows I saw, more than 30 are in the category "DRAMA."  That's a lot.  To better sort through 30 or so plays, I originally wanted to split the companies into "large" and "small" categories.  I found that inadequate.  I added "Micro Companies" to the mix.  There are some very small companies that run on a shoestring.  

For example, Denver's Dangerous Theatre seats, I would estimate, less than 30 ticket holders.  The theater is located in a sleepy industrial park near I-25 and 6th Avenue in Denver.  Seriously...you would never find it without a GPS.  There is no way they can compete with bigger, shinier venues.  

I also included Spark Theatre in the micro company group because their seating is also very limited.  Selling every seat would hardly pay the monthly utility bill at Spark.  In addition, they have to deal with a bar across the street that blasts music constantly, and occasional police/fire vehicles rumbling by (about 30 feet from the seats), sirens blaring.

Finally, I added Triptych Theatre Company to the micro company group because they have a tiny footprint in Colorado.  Based in Los Angeles, Triptych put on Rajiv Joseph's Gruesome Playground Injuries in Boulder this summer.  This was their fourth Colorado production, but their first since 2009.

What these three companies have in common is that they run not on ticket sales, donors, or matching funds.  They run on passion.  Pure and simple.  They cannot, and should not, compete with shows at the Denver Center level.  They do theater on a personal, passionate basis.  For that, they should be recognized, and I have done so on this list.

I will be announcing the winners in each category in the new few days.

DRAMA

DRAMA, LARGE COMPANIES, BEST PLAY

1.  Shadowlands, Denver Center Theatre Company 

2.  Venus in Fur, Theatreworks

3.  The Whipping Man, Curious Theatre Company

4.  The Last Romance, Arvada Center (Creede Repertory Theatre)

DRAMA, LARGE COMPANIES:  BEST ACTOR

1.  Graeme Malcolm, as C.S. Lewis, Shadowlands, Denver Center Theater Company.

2.  Sean Scrutchins, as Caleb, The Whipping Man, Curious Theatre.

3.  Cajardo Lindsey, as Simon, The Whipping Man, Curious Theatre. 

4.  John S. Green, as Ralph, The Last Romance, Arvada Center  (Creede Repertory Theatre)

DRAMA, LARGE COMPANIES:  BEST ACTRESS

1.  Carley Cornelius, as Vanda, Venus in Fur, Theatreworks.

2.  Kathleen McCall as Joy Davidson, Shadowlands, Denver Center Theater Company.

3.  Christy Brandt as Carol, The Last Romance, Arvada Center (Creede Repertory Theatre)

DRAMA, LARGE COMPANIES:  BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1.   John Hutton as Warnie, Shadowlands, Denver Center Theater Company.

2.  Sean Thompson, as the Young Man, The Last Romance, Arvada Center (Creede Repertory Theatre).

3.  Sam Gregory, as Christopher, Shadowlands, Denver Center Theatre Company.

DRAMA, SMALL COMPANIES, BEST PLAY:

1.  The Outgoing Tide, Firehouse Theatre Company

2.  Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company

3.  The Well of Happiness, Lafayette Theatre Company

4.  The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, Springs Ensemble Theatre Company

5.  The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Edge Theatre Company

6.  The Women of Lockerbie, Coal Creek Theatre Company

7.  The Lion in Winter, Thunder River Theatre Company

DRAMA, SMALL COMPANIES:  BEST ACTOR

1.  Daniel Traynor, as Tom, The Glass Menagerie, PHAMALY.

2.  Jim Landis as Gunner, The Outgoing Tide, Firehouse Theatre Company.

3.  Lon Winston as King Henry II, The Lion in Winter, Thunder River Theatre Company.

4.  Steve Emily as Martin, The Goat or Who is Sylvia, Springs Ensemble Theatre.

DRAMA, SMALL COMPANIES:  BEST ACTRESS

1.  Laura Norman as The Pilot, Grounded, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company.

2.  Leah Jenkins as Desdemona, Desdemona:  A Play About a Handkerchief, Springs Ensemble Theatre.

3.  Anne Sandoe as Olive, The Women of Lockerbie, Coal Creek Theatre of Louisville.

4.  Emily Patton Davies as Maureen, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Edge Theatre Company.

DRAMA, SMALL COMPANIES:  BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1.  Andrew Uhlenhopp as Colonel Nathan Jessup, A Few Good Men, Spotlight Theatre Company

2.  Robert Kramer as Tilden, Buried Child, The Edge Theatre Company.

3.  Dan Mundell as Dodge, Buried Child, The Edge Theatre Company.

4.  Donny Petro as Colin, The Well of Happiness, Lafayette Theatre Company.

DRAMA, SMALL COMPANIES:  BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1.  Emma Messenger, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Edge Theatre Company.

2.  Missy Moore as Shelley, Buried Child, The Edge Theatre Company.

3.  Jenna Bainbridge as Laura, The Glass Menagerie, PHAMALY.

4.  Trary Maddelone as Eleanor of Aquitaine, The Lion in Winter, Thunder River Theatre Company.

DRAMA, MICRO COMPANIES, BEST PLAY

1.  Miracle on 34th Street, Spark Theatre

2.  Awaiting the Apocalypse, Denver’s Dangerous Theatre

3.  Gruesome Playground Injuries, Triptych Theatre Company

DRAMA, MICRO COMPANIES, BEST ACTOR:

1.  Wade Livingston as Kris Kringle, Miracle on 34th Street, Spark Theatre

2.  Jamie Wollrab as Doug, Gruesome Playground Injuries, Triptych Theatre Company.

DRAMA, MICRO COMPANIES, BEST ACTRESS:

1.  Laila Ayad as Kayleen, Gruesome Playground Injuries, Triptych Theatre Company.

2.  Kaity Gray as Doris, Miracle on 34th Street, Spark Theatre Company.

DRAMA, MICRO COMPANIES, BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

1.  Matthew Davis as Fred Gailey, Miracle on 34th Street, Spark Theatre Company.

2.  Marq Del Monte as Mort, Awaiting the Apocalypse, Denver’s Dangerous Theatre.

3.  Patrick Call as Cameron, Awaiting the Apocalypse, Denver’s Dangerous Theatre.

COMEDY

COMEDY (LARGE COMPANIES), BEST PLAY:

1.  The Lying Kind, Theatreworks

2.  The Servant of Two Masters, Theatreworks

3.  Church Basement Ladies:  A Second Helping, BDT Stage

4.  Psycho Beach Party, Theatreworks

COMEDY (LARGE COMPANIES):  BEST ACTOR

1.  Sammie Joe Kinnett as Truffadino, Servant of Two Masters, Theatreworks.

2.  Sammie Joe Kinnett as Gobbel, The Lying Kind, Theatreworks.

3.  Stephen Cole Hughes as Blunt, The Lying Kind, Theatreworks.

4.  Doug Atkins as Chiklet, Psycho Beach Party, Theatreworks.

COMEDY (LARGE COMPANIES):  BEST ACTRESS

1.  Tracy Warren as Karin, Church Basement Ladies, A Second Helping, BDT Stage.

2.  Barb Reeves as Vivian, Church Basement Ladies, A Second Helping, BDT Stage.

3.  Eryn Carman as Smeraldina, The Servant of Two Masters, Theatreworks.

COMEDY  (LARGE COMPANIES):  BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1.  Julian Bucknall as Reverend Shandy, The Lying Kind, Theatreworks.

2.  John Windsor-Cunningham as Balthasar, The Lying Kind, Theatreworks.

3.  Wayne Kennedy as The Pastor, Church Basement Ladies, A Second Helping, BDT Stage.

COMEDY (LARGE COMPANIES):  BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1.  Kate Berry as Mrs. Forrest, Psycho Beach Party, Theatreworks.

2.  Bethany Ann Talley as Berdine, Psycho Beach Party, Theatrworks.

3.  Billie McBride as Garson, The Lying Kind, Theatreworks.

4.  Emma Messenger as Gronya, The Lying Kind, Theatreworks.

COMEDY (SMALL COMPANIES), BEST PLAY

1.  Art, Springs Ensemble Theatre

2.  Sylvia, Ashton & Abster Productions

3.  William Shakespeare in the Land of the Dead, Lafayette Theatre Company

4.  5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, Square Product Theatre Company and Goddess Here Productions

COMEDY (SMALL COMPANIES):  BEST ACTOR

1.  Emory John Collinson as Serge, Art, Springs Ensemble Theatre

2.  Aaron Jennejahn as Marc, Art, Springs Ensemble Theatre

3.  Kurt Keilbach as William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare in the Land of the Dead, Lafayette Theatre Company.

4.  John Ashton as Greg, Sylvia, Ashton & Abster Productions.

COMEDY (SMALL COMPANIES):  BEST ACTRESS

1.  Emily K. Harrison as Dale Prist, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, Square Product Theatre Company.

2.  Amie MacKenzie as Sylvia, Sylvia, Ashton & Abster Productions.

COMEDY  (SMALL COMPANIES):  BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1.  Artemis Martin as Will Kemp, William Shakespeare in the Land of the Dead, Lafayette Theatre Company.

2.  Tupper Callum as Tom, Phyllis, and Leslie, Sylvia, Ashton & Abster Productions.

3.  Matt Radcliffe as Yvan, Art, Springs Ensemble Theatre Company.

COMEDY (SMALL COMPANIES):  BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

1.  Jessica Robblee as Ginny, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, Square Product Theatre Company.

2.  Laurie Lynch as Vern, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, Square Product Theatre Company.

3.  Abby Apple Boes as Kate, Sylvia, Ashton & Abster Productions.

MUSICALS

MUSICAL, LARGE COMPANIES, BEST PLAY:

1.  Mary Poppins, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

2.  She Loves Me, Arvada Center

3.  Sisters of Swing, BDT Stage

4.  Memphis, Arvada Center

5.  Tarzan the Musical, Arvada Center

MUSICAL, LARGE COMPANIES:  BEST ACTOR

1.  Andrew Russell as Georg, She Loves Me, Arvada Center.

2.  Kevin Pierce as Bert, Mary Poppins, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

3.  Brian Ogilvie, Tarzan, Tarzan the Musical, Arvada Center.

4.  Jim Hogan as Huey Calhoun, Memphis, Arvada enter.

MUSICAL, LARGE COMPANIES:  BEST ACTRESS

1.  Shannon Steele as Kala, Tarzan the Musical, Arvada Center.

2.  Julia Jackson as Amalia Balash, She Loves Me, Arvada Center.

3.  Aisha Jackson as Felicia, Memphis, Arvada Center.

4.  Norell Moore, Sisters of Swing, BDT Stage.

MUSICAL LARGE COMPANIES:  BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1.  Keith L. Hatten as Delray, Memphis, Arvada Center.

2.  Mathenee Treco as Bobby, Memphis, Arvada Center.

3.  Tom Auclair as George Banks, Mary Poppins, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

MUSICAL LARGE COMPANIES:  BEST SUPORTING ACTRESS

1.  Sally Hybl as Winifred Banks, Mary Poppins, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

2.  Joanie Brousseau as Laverne, Sisters of Swing, BDT Stage.

3.  Tracy Warren as Maxene, Sisters of Swing, BDT Stage.

4.  Jennifer Lorae as Ilona Ritter, She Loves Me, Arvada Center.

MUSICAL (SMALL COMPANIES): BEST PLAY

1.  1940s Radio Hour, Lake Dillon Theatre Company

2.  Thoroughly Modern Millie, First Company

3.  Company, Equinox Theatre Company

4.  Love, Marriage, & Other Natural Disasters:  A New Stephen Sondheim Review, Gastineau & Friedland

5.  The Full Monty, Aspen Theatre Company

MUSICAL, SMALL COMPANIES:  BEST ACTOR

1.  Adam Shelton as Bobby, Company, Equinox Theatre Company.

2.  Tally Sessions as Jerry Lukowski, The Full Monty, Aspen Theatre Company.

3.  Frank Sansone as B.J. Gibson, 1940s Radio Hour, Lake Dillon Theatre Company.

4.  Nichola Madson as Jimmy Smith, Thoroughly Modern Millie, First Company.

MUSICAL, SMALL COMPANIES:  BEST ACTRESS

1.  Mallory Jo as Millie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, First Company.

2.  Diane Huber as Ann Collier, 1940s Radio Hour, Lake Dillon Theatre Company.

3.  Mica Dominguez-Robinson as Marta, Company, Equinox Theatre Company.

MUSICAL SMALL COMPANIES:  BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

1.  Richard Jarrett as “Keno” Walsh, The Full Monty, Aspen Theatre Company.

2.  Grant Haralson as Wally Ferguson, 1940s Radio Hour, Lake Dillon Theatre Company. 

3.  Randy Donaldson as “Horse,” The Full Monty, Aspen Theatre Company.

4.  Christopher Alleman as Johnny Cantone, 1940s Radio Hour, Lake Dillon Theatre Company.

MUSICAL SMALL COMPANIES:  BEST SUPORTING ACTRESS

1.  Brittany Jeffery as Ginger Brooks, 1940s Radio Hour, Lake Dillon Theatre Company.

2.  Ensemble nomination:  Janine Gastineau/Paula Jayne Friedland, Love, Marriage, and Other Natural Disasters, A New Steven Sondheim Review, Gastineau/Friedland Production.

3.  Erica Aubrey as Pam Lukowski, The Full Monty, Aspen Theatre Company.


Stay tuned for the winners...