The 2022 Ostrander Awards are back.
The celebration of live theater in Memphis was put off for two years (thanks, pandemic) but returned to the stage Sunday night with awards in dozens of categories and much conviviality at the Halloran Centre.
The 38th Memphis theater awards recognized excellence in collegiate, community, and professional theater.
Winning 11 awards was the musical Urinetown staged at Theatre Memphis. And it was a very good evening overall for Theatre Memphis, which took 28 of the 32 awards in the Community and Professional category.
There were 14 college division awards, all going to the University of Memphis. In past years, Rhodes College was a frequent winner, but in 2021 the school decided to phase out its theater major, effectively taking it out of Ostrander consideration.
The Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Stephen Hancock, a playwright, Ostrander-winning director, and longtime professor at the University of Memphis.
Because last year’s event was postponed, winners from 2021 were also honored.
Last year’s Eugart Yerian Award went to Andy Saunders. Others include the 2021 Janie McCrary Putting it Together Award, Michael Compton; the 2021 Otis Smith Legacy Dance Award, Whitney Branan; the Behind the Scenes Award, Lena Wallace Black; and the Larry Riley Rising Star Award, Donald Sutton and Abby Teel.
Ann Marie Hall, winner of the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, won an Ostrander Sunday evening for direction of a musical (Urinetown). She was as delighted as anyone to be back with a cheery crowd of theater people. “It’s been remarked many times that this is a community,” she said. “It’s wonderful how they share going to different shows in different places.”
Here’s the list:
Community and Professional Division
Excellence in Scenic Design for a Play: Jack Netzel-Yates, The Secret Garden, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Excellence in Scenic Design for a Musical: Jack Netzel-Yates, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Costume Design for a Play: Ashley Selberg, The Secret Garden, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Costume Design for a Musical: Amie Eoff, Ragtime, Theatre Memphis
Hair/Wig/Makeup Design for a Play: Ashley Selberg, The Secret Garden, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Hair/Wig/Makeup Design for a Musical: Amie Eoff, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Props Design for a Play: Jack Netzel-Yates, You Can’t Take It With You, Theatre Memphis
Props Design for a Musical: Jack Netzel-Yates, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Special Award: Aliza Moran & Julia Hinson, Puppetry, Shockheaded Peter, New Moon Theatre
Lighting Design for a Play: Mandy Kay Heath, American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Lighting Design for a Musical: Mandy Kay Heath, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Sound Design for a Play: David Newsome, Cicada, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Sound Design for a Musical: Jason Eschhofen, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Music Direction for a Musical: Jeff Brewer, Ragtime, Theatre Memphis
Choreography for a Musical: Daniel Stuart Nelson, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Playhouse on the Square
Featured Performer in a Play: Susan Brindley, You Can’t Take It With You, Theatre Memphis
Featured Performer in a Musical: Atam Woodruff, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Supporting Actor in a Play: Marcus Cox, American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Supporting Actor in a Musical: JD Willis, Ragtime, Theatre Memphis
Supporting Actress in a Play: Cecelia Wingate, Cicada, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Supporting Actress in a Musical: Cassie Thompson, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Ensemble in a Play: American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Ensemble in a Musical: Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Leading Actor in a Play: Kevar Maffitt, Torch Song, Circuit Playhouse
Leading Actor in a Musical: Bruce Huffman, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Leading Actress in a Play: Jessica “Jai” Johnson, American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Leading Actress in a Musical: Lauren Duckworth, Ragtime, Theatre Memphis
Best Original Script: Tumbling Down, Hattiloo
Direction of a Play: Jared Thomas Johnson, American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Direction of a Musical: Ann Marie Hall, Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
Best Production of a Play: American Son, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Best Production of a Musical: Urinetown, Theatre Memphis
College Division
Excellence in Scenic Design for College: Brian Ruggaber, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis
Costume Design for College: Ali Filipovich, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis
Lighting Design for College: Corinne Fann, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis
Sound Design for College: Micki McCormick, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis
Music Direction for College: Tracy Thomas, Ordinary Days, University of Memphis
Choreography for College: Michael Medcalf, The Wolves, University of Memphis
Featured Performer in a College Production: Zy Palmer, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis
Supporting Actor in a College Production: Jasper Lane Pippin, A Bright Room Called Day, University of Memphis
Supporting Actress in a College Production: Aly Milan, The Wolves, The University of Memphis
Ensemble in a College Production: Ordinary Days, The University of Memphis
Leading Actor in a College Production: Will Draper, R & J & Z, The University of Memphis
Leading Actress in a College Production: Raina Williams, A Bright Room Called Day, The University of Memphis
Direction of a College Production: Holly Derr, The Wolves, University of Memphis
Best College Production: The Wolves, University of Memphis
