Nominees for the 40th Memphis Ostrander Awards were announced Sunday setting the stage for the annual gala honoring excellence in local theatrical productions. The event will happen Monday, August 26th, at the Orpheum.
In making the announcement, Ostranders executive director Elizabeth Perkins said, “The goal of the Ostrander Awards is to create an unforgettable evening that both applauds this vibrant cornerstone of our arts community and allows theater lovers and newcomers alike equitable access to the best of the best of local theater at all levels.”
Awards are given in a range of categories including acting, directing, and backstage contributions in the college, community, and professional divisions. The awards ceremony includes live performances of musical numbers from eight nominees for Outstanding Overall Production.
It was previously announced that Michael Detroit, executive producer of Playhouse on the Square, would receive the Eugart Yerian Lifetime Achievement Award. Read the Memphis Flyer story here.
Tickets go on sale August 1st and are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information or ticket info, go here.
2024 OSTRANDER AWARD NOMINEES
Props Design, Div II
- Clare Kelly, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Jane Parks, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
- Mary Thomas Hattier, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Molly O’Connor, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Til Death, Three Diamonds Productions
Props Design, Div I Play
- Iza Bateman, The Hot Wing King, Circuit Playhouse
- Iza Bateman, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse
- Iza Bateman, Fat Ham, Circuit Playhouse
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Blithe Spirit, Theatre Memphis
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Steel Magnolias, Theatre Memphis
Props Design, Div I Musical
- Iza Bateman, Catch Me If You Can, Playhouse on the Square
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Sister Act, Theatre Memphis
- The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
Scenic Design, Div II
- Abbie Seale, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Chris Luter & Richard Logston, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Clare Kelly, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Sandy Kozik, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
- The Wasp, Quark Theatre
Scenic Design, Div I Play
- Andrew Mannion, The Hot Wing King, Circuit Playhouse
- J. David Galloway, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Steel Magnolias, Theatre Memphis
- Jack Netzel-Yates, The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Scenic Design, Div I Musical
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Jack Netzel-Yates, Sister Act, Theatre Memphis
- Melanie Mulder, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- Tim McMath, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
Lighting Design, Div II
- Becky Caspersen, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Chris Hanian, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Joshua Williams, Silent Sky, University of Memphis
- Melissa Andrews, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Olivia Johnson, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
Lighting Design, Div I Play
- Jeremy Fisher, A Monster Calls, New Moon
- Megan Christoferson, The Hot Wing King, Circuit Playhouse
- Nicole Northington, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Nicole Northington, The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Rachel Lauren, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse
Lighting Design, Div I Musical
- Fallon Williams, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- Nicole Northington, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Nicole Northington, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Nicole Northington, Sister Act, Theatre Memphis
- Terry Eikleberry, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
Sound Design, Div II
- Rowan Sullivan, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Ty Phillips, Drag Boat, Friends of George’s
- Ty Phillips, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
- Walker Higgins, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- The Wasp, Quark Theatre
Sound Design, Div I Play
- Jason Eschhofen, The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Jason Eschhofen and Jenny Giering, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Joe Johnson, A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre
- Josh Crawford, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse
- Marques W. Brown, Matthew “MB” Russell & Dylan Wheeler, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Germantown Community Theatre
Sound Design, Div I Musical
- Cydnie Trice, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- Gene Elliott, Reefer Madness, New Moon Theatre
- Jason Eschhofen, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Joshua Crawford, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
- Reyn Lehman, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
Hair/Wig/Makeup Design, Div II
- Blake Galtelli-Meek, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Eula Ashbee, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Friends of George’s, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
- Friends of George’s, Drag Boat, Friends of George’s
- The Wasp, Quark Theatre
Hair, Wig, & Makeup Design, Div I Play
- Barbara Sanders, Blithe Spirit, Theatre Memphis
- Buddy Hart, Steel Magnolias, Theatre Memphis
- Kaylyn Nichols, Dracula: The Bloody Truth, Germantown Community Theatre
- Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Hair, Wig, & Makeup Design, Div I Musical
- Buddy Hart, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Ellen Ring & Rence Phillips, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Blues in the Night, Hattiloo Theatre
- The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
Costume Design, Div II
- Eula Ashbee, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Friends of George’s, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
- Friends of George’s, Drag Boat, Friends of George’s
- Randall Newman Jones, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- The Wasp, Quark Theatre
Costume Design, Div I Play
- Allison White, Blithe Spirit, Theatre Memphis
- Amie Eoff, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Amie Eoff, The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Ashley Whitten Kopera, The Squirrels, New Moon Theatre
- Marsena Sellers, Father Comes Home From the Wars, Hattiloo Theatre
Costume Design, Div I Musical
- Amie Eoff, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Amie Eoff, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- J. Faye Manselle, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
- Marsena Sellers, Blues in the Night, Hattiloo Theatre
- Marsena Sellers, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
Music Direction, Div II
- Matthew Morrison, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Nathan Thomas, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Tamatha Holt, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
Music Direction, Div I Play
- Ashley K. Davis, Father Comes Home from the Wars, Hattiloo Theatre
- Ashley K. Davis, Take the Soul Train to Christmas, Hattiloo Theatre
- Gary Beard, Master Class, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Music Direction, Div I Musical
- Ashley Davis, Blues in the Night, Hattiloo Theatre
- Jason Eschhofen, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Jeffery Brewer, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Tamatha Holt, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- Tammy Holt, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
Choreography, Div II
- Austin Wall, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Joy Fairfield, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Kathy Thiele, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Kathy Thiele, Elf: The Musical, Harrell Theatre
Choreography, Div I Play
- Hunter Steel and Austin Wall, Dracula: The Bloody Truth, Germantown Community Theatre
- Max Robinson, The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Terran Gary, Take the Soul Train to Christmas, Hattiloo Theatre
- Whitney Branan and Courtney Oliver, A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre
Choreography, Div I Musical
- Christi Gray Hall, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Courtney Oliver, Sister Act, Theatre Memphis
- Emma Crystal and Noelia Warnette-Jones, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
- Patdro Harris, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- Travis Bradley and Jordan Nichols, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
Featured Performer, Div II Play
- Cary Vaughn, The Western Park Album, Emerald Theatre Company
- Dabrell Thompson, Til Death, Three Diamonds Productions
- Hal Harmon, 6th Annual I0 Minute Play Festival, Emerald Theatre Company
- Jeffery Taylor, Things Lost in the Fire, True Believers Productions
- Marisa Schultz, Fools, Rhodes Theatre Guild
Featured Performer, Div I Play
- Fatima L. Gray, A Raisin in the Sun, Theatre Memphis
- Hiawartha Jackson, The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Marianne Orendorff, Blithe Spirit, Theatre Memphis
- Patrick Ashbee, A Raisin in the Sun, Theatre Memphis
- Robrecus Parker, Father Comes Home From the Wars, Hattiloo Theatre
Featured Performer, Div II Musical
- Allen Osoinach, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Hayden Hooper, Elf: The Musical, Harrell Theatre
- Holly Ferguson, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Jasmine Gillenwaters, Erin McKee, and Madilyn Mobbs, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Lesley Tooley, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
Featured Performer, Div I Musical
- DuValle Henry, Jr., Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Haley Wilson, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
- Justin Asher and Stephen Garrett, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Lorraine Cotten, Catch Me If You Can, Playhouse on the Square
- Mac White, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
Featured Dancer, Div I Musical
- CJ Hampton and Cade Forbes, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Karl Robinson, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
- Lydia Jones, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
- Zurick M. Thomas, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
Supporting Actor, Div II Play
- Adrian Kinnard, A Stubborn Holiday, Actors Renaissance Theatre
- Chad Rhodes Sr., JS Tate, and Prince Djae, Til Death, Three Diamonds Productions
- Gerardo Rivillas, Drag Boat, Friends of George’s
- Micah Winter-Cole aka “Goldie Dee Collins,” Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
- Sydney Allure, Drag Boat, Friends of George’s
Supporting Actress, Div II Play
- Katy Cotten, Elektra, University of Memphis
- Nichole Tate-Jackson, Baby Daddy Drama, Actors Renaissance Theatre
- Sheryl Jones, Til Death, Three Diamonds Productions
- Taylor Edwards, Silent Sky, University of Memphis
- Trenia Lawson, Things Lost in the Fire, True Believers Productions
Supporting Actor, Div I Play
- Charles Hunter, The Hot Wing King, Circuit Playhouse
- Claiborne “CJ” Thomas Jr., The Hot Wing King, Circuit Playhouse
- Eric Schultz, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- John Reynolds, A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre
- Marc Gill, The Hot Wing King, Circuit Playhouse
Supporting Actress, Div I Play
- Brooke Papritz, POTUS (Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive), Circuit Playhouse
- Emily F. Chateau, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Haley Wilson, POTUS (Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive), Circuit Playhouse
- Kim Justis, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Sally Stover, Steel Magnolias, Theatre Memphis
Supporting Actor, Div II Musical
- Aidan Saunders, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Aidan Saunders, Twelfth Night: The Musical, Harrell Theatre
- Javier Pena, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Marvin Holt, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Tim Brown, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
Supporting Actress, Div II Musical
- Ashleigh Williams, Elf: The Musical, Harrell Theatre
- Cassie Thompson, Zanna, Don’t, Emerald Theatre Company
- Kathryn Dressel, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Marianne Orendorff, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Tracy Thomas, Twelfth Night: The Musical, Harrell Theatre
Supporting Actor, Div I Musical
- Bentley Black, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Camden Douglas, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Jonathan Christian, The Prom, Playhouse on the Square
- Kent Fleshman, Catch Me If You Can, Playhouse on the Square
- Kinon Keplinger, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
Supporting Actress, Div I Musical
- Emily F. Chateau, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Emily Garrett Cook, Legally Blonde, Germantown Community Theatre
- Jaclyn Suffel, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Jaclyn Suffel, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Whitney Branan, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
Leading Actor, Div II Play
- Clayton McKinney, Things Lost in the Fire, True Believers Productions
- Joshua T. Horton, Til Death, Three Diamonds Productions
- Nathan McHenry, Constellations, Quark Theatre
- Taylor Roberts, The Sound Inside, Quark Theatre
- Tramaine Morgan, Baby Daddy Drama, Actors Renaissance Theatre
Leading Actress, Div II Play
- Ariel Ari Leira, Til Death, Three Diamonds Productions
- Carly Crawford, Constellations, Quark Theatre
- Kim Justis, The Sound Inside, Quark Theatre
- Mary Hollis Inboden, The Wasp, Quark Theatre
- Meghan L. Lewis, The Wasp, Quark Theatre
Leading Actor, Div I Play
- Emmanuel McKinney, A Raisin in the Sun, Hattiloo Theatre
- Jari Latrell Head, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Germantown Community Theatre
- John Maness, Kevar Maffitt, and Michael Gravois, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse
- J.S. Tate, Succession, Hattiloo Theatre
- J.S. Tate, The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Leading Actress, Div I Play
- Flo Roach, A Raisin in the Sun, Hattiloo Theatre
- Jordan-Danyel Payne, Confederates, Hattiloo Theatre
- Lindsey Roberts, Steel Magnolias, Theatre Memphis
- Natalie Jones, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Susan Brindley, Master Class, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
Leading Actor, Div II Musical
- Anthony T. James, Zanna, Don’t, Emerald Theatre Company
- Jacob Mohler, Elf: The Musical, Harrell Theatre
- Kevin Lechner, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Mara Rus, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Steele Bowers, Murder Ballad, University of Memphis
Leading Actress, Div II Musical
- Abby Rooks, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Ashleigh Williams, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Axyl Langford, Murder Ballad, University of Memphis
- Campbell Williams, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Eliza Fleming, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
Leading Actor, Div I Musical
- Aden Pettet, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Bentley Black, Catch Me If You Can, Playhouse on the Square
- Jared Thomas Johnson, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- John Maness, Catch Me If You Can, Playhouse on the Square
- Nathan McHenry, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
Leading Actress, Div I Musical
- Cameron Crawford, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Jasmine Gillenwaters, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- Mary Helen McCord, Legally Blonde, Germantown Community Theatre
- Xea Goolsby, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- Zan Edwards, Blues in the Night, Hattiloo Theatre
Ensemble, Div II Play
- Baby Daddy Drama, Actors Renaissance Theatre
- Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
- The Wasp, Quark Theatre
- The Western Park Album, Emerald Theatre Company
- Til Death, Three Diamonds Productions
Ensemble, Div I Play
- A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre
- Dracula: The Bloody Truth, Germantown Community Theatre
- Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Steel Magnolias, Theatre Memphis
- The Hot Wing King, Circuit Playhouse
Ensemble, Div II Musical
- 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Elf: The Musical, Harrell Theatre
- Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Murder Ballad, University of Memphis
Ensemble, Div I Musical
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Blues in the Night, Hattiloo Theatre
- Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
- The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
Original Script
- Baby Daddy Drama, Mary Ann Washington, Actors Renaissance Theatre
- Everyone and Their Mother, Emily Draffen, Germantown Community Theatre
- Out in the Woods, Friends of George’s, Friends of George’s
- Things Lost in the Fire, Bishop Tony Lawson, True Believers Productions
- Western Park Album, Howell Pearre, Emerald Theatre Company
Direction, Div II
- Aliza Moran, Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild
- Chris Luter, 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre
- Irene Crist, Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s
- Patrick Polsin, Into the Woods, University of Memphis
- Tony Isbell, The Wasp, Quark Theatre
Direction, Div I Play
- Aliza Moran, A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre
- Cecelia Wingate, Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- John Maness, The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Kell Christie, Master Class, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis
- Warner Crocker, The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse
Direction, Div I Musical
- Angel Clark, Blues in the Night, Hattiloo Theatre
- Cecelia Wingate, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis
- Claire D. Kolheim, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square
- Patdro Harris, The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre
- Travis Bradley and Jordan Nichols, Cinderella, Theatre Memphis
Production, Div II
- 9 to 5, Harrell Theatre; Director: Chris Luter; Stage Manager: Elizabeth Perkins
- Amelie, Rhodes Theatre Guild; Director: Aliza Moran; Stage Manager: Teresa Lowry
- Into the Woods, University of Memphis; Director: Patrick Polsin; Stage Manager: Olivia Mittag
- Out in the Woods: FOG Fairy Tales, Friends of George’s; Director: Irene Crist; Stage Manager: J-Lavender
- The Wasp, Quark Theatre; Director: Tony Isbell; Stage Manager: Leslie Lee
Production, Div I Play
- A Monster Calls, New Moon Theatre; Director: Aliza Moran; Stage Manager: Marya Paolillo
- Master Class, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis; Director: Kell Christie; Stage Manager: Julia Truelove
- Silent Sky, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis; Director: Cecelia Wingate; Stage Manager: Jennifer Townsend
- The Crucible, Next Stage, Theatre Memphis; Director: John Maness; Stage Manager: Marya Paolillo
- The Lehman Trilogy, Circuit Playhouse; Director: Warner Crocker; Stage Manager: Emma White
Production, Div I Musical
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Theatre Memphis; Director: Cecelia Wingate; Stage Manager: Chelsea Robinson
- Blues in the Night, Hattiloo Theatre; Director: Angel Clark; Stage Manager: Bronzjuan Worthy
- Cinderella, Theatre Memphis; Director: Travis Bradley and Jordan Nichols; Stage Manager: Julia Truelove
- The Color Purple, Hattiloo Theatre; Director: Patdro Harris; Stage Manager; Sherronda Johnson
- Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, Playhouse on the Square; Director: Claire D. Kolheim; Stage Manager: Maria Scott
