Chris Prince, Rikki Howie and Michelle Harmon in the ESP production of "Ain't Misbehavin.'" The show garnered 11 WATCH Award nominations during the Jan. 16 announcement at The Birchmere. Courtesy photo/ESP
Alexandria — The Elden Street Players garnered 22 nominations as the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors announced the nominees for the 2012 WATCH Awards Jan. 15 at the Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria.
Last year's production of "Ain't Misbehavin'" garnered 11 nominations including Outstanding Musical. Outstanding Play nominee "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream" earned seven nods while "Thrill Me" walked away with three and "Frozen" with one nomination.
Richelle "Rikki" Howie, who did double duty as director and performer in "Ain't Misbehavin,'" was nominated for Outstanding Direction of a Musical as well as Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Charlayne Woodward. Howie's co-stars Michelle Harmon and Jade Jones were also nominated in the Outstanding Featured Actress category.
Adam Downs, one of the finest actors in the region, was nominated as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play for his role as Ralph in "Frozen." He was also recognized in the Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play category for his work in "Noises Off" at The Little Theatre of Alexandria.
Elden Street Players Nominations
Outstanding Direction of a Play - Evan Hoffmann - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play - Jaclyn Young as "Hermia/Snout/Wall" - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Outstanding Play - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play - Evan Hoffmann - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Outstanding Set Painting in a Play - Kate Meier & Karl Meier - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Outstanding Sound Design in a Play - Ben Allen - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography - Katherine Frattini - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Outstanding Direction of a Musical - Richelle "Rikki" Howie - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Patrick Doneghy as "Andre DeShields" - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Christopher Prince as "Ken Page" - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Michelle Harmon as "Armeila McQueen" - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Rikki Howie as "Charlayne Woodard" - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Jade Jones as "Nell Carter" - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Music Direction - J. Michael d'Haviland - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Musical - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical - James Villarrubia et al - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical - James Villarrubia - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical - Cathy Rieder & James Villarrubia - Ain't Misbehavin'
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play - Adam Downs as "Ralph" - Frozen
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - Christopher Smith as "Nathan" - Thrill Me
Outstanding Light Design in a Musical - Tom Epps - Thrill Me
Outstanding Set Design in a Musical - Grant Kevin Lane - Thrill Me
Joining Downs as a multiple WATCH Award-nominee is Jaclyn Young, who earned an Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play nod for her role in the ESP production of "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream," an Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical nomination for "Hairspray" at The Little Theatre of Alexandria and Outstanding Hair Design in a Musical and Outstanding Makeup Design in a Musical in the Reston Community Players production of "The Drowsy Chaperone."
Evan Hoffman garnered dual nominations for "A Mid-summer Night's Dream," getting nods for Outstanding Direction of Play and Outstanding Set Decoration of a Play.
Nominees were selected from 127 productions that were adjudicated at 32 community theatre companies. In each of 38 categories, five nominees (more in case of a tie) were selected based on the average scores of eight judges.
Winners will be announced at the WATCH Awards ceremony March 11 at The Birchmere Music Hall.