{"id":139662,"date":"2023-07-14T11:20:54","date_gmt":"2023-07-14T15:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=139662"},"modified":"2023-07-14T13:42:52","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T17:42:52","slug":"wright-state-theatre-productions-saluted-by-dayton-daily-news-as-among-areas-best-in-2022-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2023\/07\/14\/wright-state-theatre-productions-saluted-by-dayton-daily-news-as-among-areas-best-in-2022-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Wright State Theatre productions saluted by Dayton Daily News as among area\u2019s best in 2022\u201323"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wright State Theatre\u2019s production of \u201cOn the Town\u201d was named the Best Collegiate Production of a Musical. It was directed by Joe Deer, distinguished professor of musical theatre, who was honored for Best Direction of a Musical. (Photos by Erin Pence)<\/p><\/div>\n

Wright State University Theatre students and faculty members were saluted for their excellent performances in a roundup of the best Miami Valley productions in 2022\u201323 by the Dayton Daily News.<\/p>\n

In an article reviewing the theatre season<\/a>, Russell Florence Jr., the Lifestyles team leader\/coordinator for the Dayton Daily News and Dayton.com, included Wright State Theatre\u2019s productions as among the best in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cWright State University fired on all cylinders with a range of material embracing feel-good fun (\u201cSister Act,\u201d \u201cOn the Town\u201d), sophisticated intellectualism (\u201cArcadia\u201d) and timely drama (\u201cThe Laramie Project\u201d),\u201d said Florence, who received a bachelor\u2019s degree in mass communications from Wright State.<\/p>\n

Florence named Wright State Theatre\u2019s productions of \u201cArcadia\u201d and \u201cOn the Town\u201d as the best area university productions in the 2022\u201323 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cArcadia\u201d was named the Best Collegiate Production of a Play. It was directed by Marya Spring Cordes, professor of acting and musical theatre and artistic director of the Wright State Theatre Program, who was honored for Best Direction of a Play.<\/p>\n

Two students were also recognized for their work in \u201cArcadia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acting major<\/a> Julie Murphy was honored for the Breakthrough Female Performance in a Play for her portrayal of Thomasina Coverly, and design\/technology major<\/a> Sean Hannah was honored for Best Costume Design of the Play.<\/p>\n

Wright State\u2019s productions of \u201cThe Laramie Project\u201d and \u201cThe Mousetrap\u201d were also nominated for best collegiate play.<\/p>\n

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Acting major Julie Murphy was honored for the Breakthrough Female Performance in a Play for her portrayal of Thomasina Coverly in \u201cArcadia.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cOn the Town\u201d was named the Best Collegiate Production of a Musical. It was directed by Joe Deer, distinguished professor of musical theatre, who was honored for Best Direction of a Musical.<\/p>\n

Guest artist Josh Walden, a long-time Broadway performer who directs and choreographs across the United States, was honored for Best Local Choreography for his original choreography in \u201cOn the Town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the Town\u201d featured Wright State Theatre\u2019s largest musical ensemble and a 19-piece onstage orchestra that included students and faculty from the School of Fine and Performing Arts and local professional musicians.<\/p>\n

Wright State\u2019s productions of \u201cBright Star\u201d and \u201cSister Act\u201d were also nominated for best collegiate musical.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn Evening of Sondheim,\u201d a joint production of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright State theatre and music programs, was named a runner-up for Best Special Theatrical Event.<\/p>\n

The concert featured Wright State musical theatre<\/a> majors and a School of Fine and Performing Arts<\/a> Chorale, which was led by Nathan Nagir, D.M.A., director of choral studies at Wright State. Deer; Greg Hellems, head of musical theatre; F. Wade Russo, instructor of musical theatre; and Matt Ebright, staff music director, helped produce the concert.<\/p>\n

Matthew P. Benjamin, professor of theatre and head of the Theatre Design and Technology Program at Wright State, was also honored for Best Lighting Design of a Musical for The Human Race Theatre Company\u2019s production of \u201cIndigo.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Wright State Theatre\u2019s production of \u201cArcadia\u201d was named the Best Collegiate Production of a Play. It was directed by Marya Spring Cordes, professor of acting and musical theatre and artistic director of the Wright State Theatre Program, who was honored for Best Direction of a Play.<\/p><\/div>\n

Wright State contenders recognized<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Numerous Wright State students and faculty members also received nominations as contenders from the Dayton Daily News, including:<\/p>\n

Best Leading Actor in a Play: Kyle Channell as Septimus Hodge, \u201cArcadia\u201d; Theo Karras as Detective Sergeant Trotter, \u201cThe Mousetrap\u201d; and Richard Yannotti as Bernard Nightingale, \u201cArcadia\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Leading Actress in a Play: Kathryn Carter as Mollie Ralston, \u201cThe Mousetrap\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Leading Actor in a Musical: Tanner Gleeson as Gabey, \u201cOn the Town\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Leading Actress in a Musical: Alexis Ariana as Deloris Van Cartier, \u201cSister Act\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Supporting Actor in a Play: Desmond Kingston as Valentine Coverly, \u201cArcadia\u201d and Matthew Shanahan in multiple roles, \u201cThe Laramie Project\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Supporting Actress in a Play: Zavi Odetta in multiple roles, \u201cThe Laramie Project\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical: Ben Ohnemus as Chip, \u201cOn the Town\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical: Melissa Matarrese as Claire de Loone and Amy Van Dyke as Ivy Smith, \u201cOn the Town\u201d<\/p>\n

Breakthrough Male Performance in a Play: Ni-Ni Denker in multiple roles and Danny Dobbins in multiple roles, \u201cThe Laramie Project\u201d<\/p>\n

Breakthrough Female Performance in a Play: Julia Hoff in multiple roles, \u201cThe Laramie Project,\u201d Elaine Mueller in multiple roles, \u201cThe Laramie Project,\u201d and Alex Muhlenkamp as Lady Croom, \u201cArcadia\u201d<\/p>\n

Breakthrough Male Performance in a Musical: John Cuozzo as Ozzie, \u201cOn the Town\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Direction of a Play: Josh Aaron McCabe, \u201cThe Laramie Project,\u201d and Jason Podplesky, \u201cThe Mousetrap\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Direction of a Musical: Greg Hellems, \u201cSister Act\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Local Choreography: Greg Hellems and Victoria Henwood, \u201cSister Act\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Scenic Design of a Play: Dick Block, \u201cThe Mousetrap,\u201d and Michael S. Brewer, \u201cArcadia\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Pam Knauert Lavarnway, \u201cSister Act\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Costume Design of a Play: Caroline Wieland, \u201cThe Mousetrap\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Costume Design of a Musical: Zoe Still, \u201cOn the Town\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Lighting Design of a Play: Matthew P. Benjamin, \u201cArcadia\u201d and \u201cThe Mousetrap,\u201d and Alexander Markley, \u201cThe Laramie Project\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Sound Design of a Play: James Dunlap, \u201cArcadia\u201d and \u201cThe Mousetrap\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Sound Design of a Musical: James Dunlap, \u201cOn the Town\u201d<\/p>\n

Best Orchestra: \u201cBright Star,\u201d Music Direction: Matt Ebright; and \u201cOn the Town,\u201d Music Direction: F. Wade Russo<\/p>\n

Best Properties: John Lavarnway, \u201cArcadia\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wright State Theatre\u2019s productions of \u201cArcadia\u201d and \u201cOn the Town\u201d were honored as the best local collegiate productions for the 2022\u201323 season. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":139687,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722,2037,711,4859,725,747,715],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-arts-scene","category-faculty-staff","category-fine-and-performing-arts","category-home-news-sidebar","category-liberal-arts","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139662"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":139736,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139662\/revisions\/139736"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}