Stage Nine Theatre in Historic Folsom recently received 39 Elly Nominations for Excellence in Theatre. Founded less than three years ago Stage Nine has consistently received numerous nominations and awards. This year another plateau was reached when the number of nominations they received exceeded all of the other 77 theatres that are judged. This is quite an accomplishment for a small 50 seat theatre. Credit goes to owners and directors, Mike Jimena and Connie Mockenhaupt and a talented staff including artistic associate, director and instructor Allen Schmeltz, technical director Colin Hoyt, artistic director and musical director Susan Mason and recent addition, Mark Ferreira as marketing director. In addition are many very talented actors and technical crew involved with the Stage Nine productions.
Some of the nominations included five set design and lighting design nominations for Mike Jimena, three best director nominations for Allen Schmeltz, three best overall performance nominations for "Rumplestilskin," "Pinocchio" and "Visiting Mr. Green", three best costume nominations for Eileen Beaver, and numerous best actor and actress nominations including two acting nominations for Brady Tait. (Complete list can be found at the end of this note.)
Named for the late Eleanor McClatchy, a supporter of the arts and president of The Bee, the Elly Award honors actors, theater companies and productions for outstanding achievement. Created 27 years ago by local actors, the Elly Awards have grown from a strictly Sacramento community theater prize to include theaters within a 10-county area. They are presented by SARTA, the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance. The awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Crest Theatre in downtown Sacramento.
List of Nominations
COMEDY CATEGORY
Ron Randolph - Leading Actor
Stephen Kaufmann - Leading Actor
Kyle Gundlach - Supporting Actor
Mike Jimena - Lighting Design
Mike Jimena - Set Design
Best Overall Production
DRAMA CATEGORY
Michelle Hillen - Leading Actress in a Drama
Martin Noufer - Supporting Actor in a Drama
MUSICAL CATEGORY
Tony Wichouski - Leading Actor in a Musical
YOUNG PEOPLE'S MUSICAL CATEGORY
Daphne Burgess, Eileen Beaver, Debbie Carion - Costume Design
Bri Lynaugh - Leading Actress, Adult
Tristan Bonds - Supporting Actor, Child
Jessy Stein - Supporting Actress, Adult
Carly Abney - Supporting Actress, Child
YOUNG PEOPLE'S PLAY CATEGORY
Daphne Burgess - Costume Design
Eileen Beaver - Costume Degisn (2-nominations)
Allen Schmeltz - Direction (3-nominations)
Jesse Larrossa - Leading Actor, Adult
Ben Helms - Leading Actor, Child
Brady Tait - Leading Actor, Child (2-nominations)
Brian Farmer - Leading Actor, Child
Brieta Davonne - Leading Actor, Child
Ireland Bonds - Leading Actor, Child
Allen Schmeltz - Supporting Actor, Adult
Nathanial Emond - Supporting Actor, Adult
Steve Read - Supporting Actor, Adult
Aaron Goldsmith - Supporting Actor, Child
Samantha Watkins - Supporting Actor, Child
Colin Hoyt - Lighting Design
Mike Jimena & Colin Hoyt - Lighting Design
Mike Jimena - Set Design (2-nominations)
Best Overall Production (2-nominations)
