Yet until now, the MTA has remained a rather low-profile organization. Not an unexpected result when your main activities center around holding meetings, hosting guest speakers, coordinating schedules, collecting dues and serving as the bulletin board for the theater community.
That's about to change -- dramatically -- as MTA presents its first-ever Metrolina Theatre Awards at Spirit Square on September 19. Since last September, MTA has mobilized more than 40 theater notables to fan out across the Metrolina region to judge productions by the organization's 50-plus member companies and schools. Throughout the 2003-04 season, nominators were organized into six panels. These award divisions include Musical, Drama, Comedy, Regional, Special Events, and College productions.
The payoff for all this solidarity and dedication is the chance to showcase Charlotte's wealth of theatrical talent at McGlohon Theatre in an event MTA describes as "a star-studded black tie gala." Festivities start at 7pm, preceded by red-carpet arrivals beginning at 5:30pm with a pre-show cocktail party in Spirit Square. Theatergoers who pay the $25 ticket price can relish the hoopla, the cocktails, and an after-show "cast party" at the Palomino Restaurant.
Nominees for the whopping 61 awards are being announced today, so we had to pull some strings -- and tug some sleeves -- to get the info into this week's Loaf.
You'll find the full list of nominees at our website. Here are the nominees in 16 major categories.
Best Actor, Musical
Mark G. Dalio, West Side Story (Tony)
Dennis Delamar, Bat Boy: The Musical (Dr. Thomas Parker)
Patrick Ratchford, Evita (Che Guevara)
Mark Sutton, Bridge to Terabithia (Jesse Aarons)
Bob Walker, Bat Boy: The Musical (Bat Boy)
Best Actress, Musical
Kelly Chapin Schmidt, West Side Story (Maria)
Kelly Cusimano, Chicago (Velma Kelly)
Leslie Shires, Chicago (Roxie Hart)
Emily Skinner, Pump Boys and Dinettes (Prudie Cupp)
Lynne Wintersteller, Pump Boys and Dinettes (Rhetta Cupp)
Cat Zeggert, Evita (Eva Peron)
Best Director, Musical
Linda Booth, Honk, Jr.
Ron Chisholm, She Loves Me
Billy Ensley, Evita
Billy Ensley, Bat Boy: The Musical
Stan Peal, Mad, Mad Madrigal
Alan Poindexter, Bridge to Terabithia
Best Musical
Bat Boy: The Musical - Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
Bridge to Terabithia - Children's Theatre of Charlotte
Chicago - CPCC Summer Theatre
Mad, Mad Madrigal - Epic Arts Repertory Theatre
Pump Boys and Dinettes - Charlotte Repertory Theatre
West Side Story - CPCC Summer Theatre
Best Actor, Drama
Patrick Hurley, bash (Young Man)
Aaron Moore, Lonely Planet (Jody)
Christopher Salazar, Oedipus Rex (Oedipus)
Peter Smeal, Lonely Planet (Carl)
Hank West, Quills (Marquis de Sade)
Best Actress, Drama
Laura Depta, Cyrano de Bergerac (Cyrano)
Stephanie DiPaolo, Twilight of the Golds (Suzanne Stein)
Iesha Hoffman, Boy Gets Girl (Theresa)
Catherine Smith, Copenhagen (Margerethe Bohr)
Barbi VanSchaick, Oedipus Rex (Jocasta)
Best Director, Drama
Nicia Carla, Lonely Planet
Joanna Gerdy, Wiley & The Hairy Man
Stan Peal & Laura Depta, Cyrano de Bergerac
Alan Poindexter, Oedipus Rex
James Yost, 1963
Best Drama
bash - BareBones Theatre Group
Cyrano de Bergerac - Epic Arts Repertory Theatre
Lobby Hero - Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
Lonely Planet - BareBones Theatre Group
Oedipus Rex - Children's Theatre
Wiley & The Hairy Man - Children's Theatre
Best Actor, Comedy
Marshall Case, Play about the Baby (Man)
Brian Daye, The Colored Museum (Miss Roj)
Carl McIntyre, Blithe Spirit (Charles)
Aaron Moore, The Underpants (Theo Maske)
Mark Scarboro, Santaland Diaries (Crumpet)
Michael Simmons, Laughing Wild (Man)
Best Actress, Comedy
Leslie Beckham, Laughing Wild (Woman)
Gretha Boston, Jar the Floor (Lola)
Paige Johnston, Blithe Spirit (Elvira)
Meghan Lowther, Sylvia (Sylvia)
Cat Zeggert, Wonder of the World (Cass)
Best Director, Comedy
Dee Abdullah, The Colored Museum
Lon Bumgarner, Blithe Spirit
Chad Calvert, The Underpants
Chip Decker, Wonder of the World
Ted Sod, Jar the Floor
James Yost, Play About the Baby
Best Comedy
Betty's Summer Vacation - Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
Jar the Floor - Charlotte Repertory Theatre
Play About the Baby - BareBones Theatre
Sylvia - Off-Tryon Theatre Company
The Underpants - BareBones Theatre
Wonder of the World - Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
Best Regional Production
Bye Bye Birdie - Davidson Community Players
Jekyll and Hyde - Piedmont Players
Jesus Christ Superstar - The Green Room
The Mousetrap - Davidson Community Players
Best College/University Production
Frankenstein - Davidson College
Island - Catawba College
Pippin - Catawba College
Theatre Person of the Year
Billy Ensley, Tom Gabbard, John Hartness, Cindy Rice, Allison West and Rick Suyao
Theatre Company of the Year
Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
Barebones Theatre Group
Epic Arts Repertory Theatre
Go to http://metrolinatheatre.org/awards/nominations20040901.html for a complete list of nominations.