The Musical Theatre West cast of Hairspray.
Musical Theatre West (MTW) has received an impressive 16 Ovation Nominations, running second only to Los Angeles’s massive Center Theatre Group.
This year matches the company’s other most recognized year, when in 2008 the group received 16 nominations as well for All Shook Up and The Andrews Brothers, which each took home an award. To date, the company has received 82 nominations with 9 wins.
“We felt we had an outstanding season that gave our patrons great shows that mixed the best of recent and classic Broadway,” Gigi Meese of MTW told the Long Beach Post. “We’re now entering our 60th season and we’re so proud of our long history.”
Established in 1989 by the L.A. Stage Alliance, the awards, the most prestigious and recognized stage awards for the L.A. area, have indicated that the company’s entire season was impressive with a nod in the top spot: Best Season.
The Musical Theatre West cast of Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2.
This season had an array of musical offerings, from the popular Hairspray to the classic Man of La Mancha.
“Is it a seamless transition to go from Hairspray to La Mancha?” Meese asked hypothetically. “There’s room and a market for both. Both have great stories that audiences can relate to, despite the era or style they come from. Good stories with timeless music will keep audiences coming back for more.”
Todrick Hall and Tracy Lore of Hairspray each received a nod in their featured roles while Davis Gaines of Man of La Mancha and David Engel and Larry Raben of Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2 all received recognition for their lead roles. The lead ladies also scored as well, with Lesli Margherita of Man of La Mancha, Susanne Blakeslee and Valerie Fagan of Forbidden Broadway, and Tami Tappan Damiano of Monty Python’s Spamalot all being nominated.
Of course, MTW doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.
“We hope to keep the American art form of musical theatre alive and well into our next 60 years,” Meese proudly stated.
The complete list of nominations are as follows:
Best Season:
- Hairspray, Winter Wonderettes, Man of La Mancha, Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2, and Monty Python’s Spamalot
Production of a Musical (Large Theatre):
- Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2
- Hairspray
Acting Ensemble of a Musical:
- The Cast of Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2
Music Direction:
- Matthew Smedal, Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2
Director of a Musical:
- William Selby, Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2
Lead Actor in a Musical:
- Davis Gaines, Man of La Mancha
- David Engel, Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2
- Larry Raben, Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2
Lead Actress in a Musical:
- Susanne Blakeslee, Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2
- Valerie Fagan, Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2
- Lesli Margherita, Man of La Mancha
- Tami Tappan Damiano, Monty Python’s Spamalot
Featured Actor in a Musical:
- Todrick Hall, Hairspray
Featured Actress in a Musical:
- Tracy Lore, Hairspray
Costume Design:
- Alvin Colt, Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume 2