Wright State Theatre productions saluted by Dayton Daily News as among region’s best in 2023–24

Wright State Theatre’s production of “Cabaret” was named the Best Collegiate Production of a Musical for the 2023–24 theatre season by the Dayton Daily News. (Photo by Erin Pence)

Wright State University Theatre students and faculty members were saluted for their standout performances in a roundup of the best Miami Valley productions in 2023–24 by the Dayton Daily News.

In an article reviewing the theatre season, Russell Florence Jr., the team leader/coordinator of the Dayton Daily News Lifestyles and Dayton.com, included Wright State Theatre’s productions as among the region’s best.

“Wright State University bolstered its reputation as a leading producer of musical theatre in the region due to its Broadway-caliber ‘Cabaret’ starring the astounding Kendra Lodewyk as Sally Bowles. There was also double bliss in WSU’s double cast, utterly charming ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ and the dynamic double bill of ‘A Doll’s House’ and ‘A Doll’s House, Part 2,’” said Florence, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Wright State.

Florence named Wright State Theatre’s productions of “A Doll’s House,” “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” and “Cabaret” as the best area university productions in the 2023–24 season.

“A Doll’s House” and “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” were named the Best Collegiate Productions of a Play. The plays were directed by Marya Spring Cordes, professor in acting and musical theatre and artistic director of Wright State Theatre.

Wright State’s productions of “By the Bog of Cats” and “The Liar” were also nominated for best collegiate play.

“Cabaret” was named the Best Collegiate Production of a Musical. It was directed by Greg Hellems, professor and head of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre program, who was honored for Best Direction of a Musical.

Wright State’s productions of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “Kelly The Destroyer vs. The Springfield Cobras” were also nominated for best collegiate musical.

Kendra Lodewyk, who graduated in 2024 with a B.F.A. in Acting with a concentration in musical theatre, was honored as the Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Bowles in “Cabaret.” (Photo by Erin Pence)

Wright State students, faculty and staff were also honored for their roles or work in several Wright State productions.

Kendra Lodewyk, who graduated in 2024 with a B.F.A. in Acting with a concentration in musical theatre, was honored as the Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance as Sally Bowles in “Cabaret.”

Acting major Alexis Wentworth was honored for the Breakthrough Female Performance in a Play for her portrayal of Nora Helmer in “A Doll’s House, Part 2.”

Musical theatre major James Newton was honored for the Breakthrough Male Performance in a Musical for his portrayal of William Barfee in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Ashley Pabst, instructor of dance, was recognized for Best Choreography and James Dunlap, audio coordinator and resident sound designer, was honored for Best Sound Design of a Musical for “Cabaret.”

Zoe Still, instructor of costume design, was honored for Best Costume Design of a Play for “The Liar.”

Matthew Benjamin, professor of theatre and head of the theatre design and technology program, was honored for Best Lighting Design of a Play for “By the Bog of Cats”

Wright State Theatre’s “A Doll’s House” and “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” were named the Best Collegiate Productions of a Play by the Dayton Daily News.

Wright State contenders recognized:

Numerous Wright State students, faculty and staff received nominations as contenders from the Dayton Daily News:

Best Ensemble: The cast of “A Doll’s House, Part 2” and the Dictionary and Thesaurus casts of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

Best Leading Actress in a Play: Julia Daigh as Nora Helmer, “A Doll’s House,” and Taylor Greny as Cliton, “The Liar”

Best Leading Actor in a Musical: Anderson Rothwell as Emcee, “Cabaret,” and Tommy Thams as Clifford Bradshaw, “Cabaret”

Best Supporting Actor in a Play: John Cuozzo as Krogstad, “A Doll’s House”

Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Taylor Greny as Anne Marie, “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” and Casey Merren as Kristine Linde, “A Doll’s House”

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Kyle Channell as Ernst Ludwig, “Cabaret”

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Sam Evans as Olive Ostrovsky, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and Bella Marcigliano as Fraulein Schneider, “Cabaret”

Breakthrough Male Performance in a Play: Aidan Fracker as Carthage Kilbride, “By the Bog of Cats”

Breakthrough Female Performance in a Play: Emma Massey as Hester Swane, “By the Bog of Cats”

Breakthrough Female Performance in a Musical: Atlas Kessinger as Kelly, “Kelly The Destroyer vs. The Springfield Cobras,” and Claire Northcut as Rona Lisa Peretti, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

Best Direction of a Play: Gina Handy Minyard, “By the Bog of Cats,” and Emily N. Wells, “A Doll’s House, Part 2″

Best Direction of a Musical: Joe Deer, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

Best Scenic Design of a Play: Zoe Still, “By the Bog of Cats”

Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Michael Brewer, “Cabaret,” and Ray Zupp, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

Best Costume Design of a Play: Emma Green, “By the Bog of Cats,” and Zoe Still, “A Doll’s House” and “A Doll’s House Part 2″ Best Costume Design of a Musical: Zoe Still, “On the Town”

Best Costume Design of a Musical: Jeremy Floyd, “Cabaret”

Best Lighting Design of a Play: Zach Wuest, “A Doll’s House” and “A Doll’s House, Part 2”

Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Matthew Benjamin, “Cabaret”

Best Sound Design of a Play: James Dunlap, “By the Bog of Cats”

Best Sound Design of a Musical: James Dunlap, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

Best Orchestra: “Cabaret,” Musical Director: Wade Russo

Best Original Score: James Dunlap, “By the Bog of Cats”