To be presented at the November 2023 TANYS Festival


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2022202120202019
2018201720162015

Festival Awards
Roving Adjudicator Merit Awards
2023 Roving Adjudicator Merit Awards
November 1, 2022 - October 21, 2023
Acting Out Playhouse
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Excellence in Direction to Terry Odell and William T. Odell
  • Excellence in Performance to Stephen D’Ambrosio for his portrayal of William Barfee
  • Excellence in Performance to Alyssa Estrada for her portrayal of Olive Ostrovsky

Aspie Works
The Vagina Monologues
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Excellence in Technical Design and Execution to Sue Lamberton, Jaimi McLean, Chris Nimick and Emily Parry

Aurora Players
Rumors
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Outstanding Achievement in Scenic Design, Execution and Set Decoration to David Hall, Shawn Ronan, Michael Wier and Renee’ M. Ronan
  • Excellence in Direction to Renee’ M. Ronan
  • Excellence in Costume Design and Execution to Nancy Sheehan Johnson
  • Excellence in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Excellence in Acting to Megan Mahaney for her portrayal of Claire Ganz
  • Excellence in Acting to Joel Murphy for his portrayal of Lenny Ganz

Black Orchid Theatre Group
The Snow Queen
Adjudicator: Frances Ruoff
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Performance to the Cast

Confetti Stage
The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in Direction to Linda D. Shirey
  • Excellence in Costume and Make-Up Design to Laura Darling
  • Excellence in Ensemble Performance to the Cast and Musical Troupe
  • Meritorious Achievement in Lighting Design to Nicky Lightz
  • Meritorious Achievement in Musical Direction and Sound Design to Brian Starnes
  • Excellence in Acting to Colleen Lovett for her portrayal of Multiple Roles
  • Excellence in Acting to Rachel Jenack for her portrayal of Arturo Ui

Confetti Stage
She Kills Monsters
Adjudicator: Arnie Galin
  • Meritorious Achievement in Direction and Puppet Making to Sean Baldwin
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Ash Visker for her portrayal of Agnes Evans
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Sydney Davis for her portrayal of Tilly Evans

Cuba-Rushford Drama Club
Little Shop of Horrors
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Meritorious Achievement in Musical Performance to Haley Emhoff and the Orchestra
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Acting to the Cast
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to Coleton Stupp for his portrayal of Seymour
  • Meritorious Achievement in Technical Design and Execution to Cindy Bichler, Mark Levine, Monica Kwiatkowski Carly Santangelo, Breckham Hunt, Danner Shaffer and Lucas Keiser

Fabius-Pompey High School
All Shook Up
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to Owen Lee for his portrayal of Chad
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Blake Masters for his portrayal of Jim Haller
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Grace Swanson for her portrayal of Natalie Haller
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Mia Trail for her portrayal of Sylvia
  • Excellence in Costume Design and Management to Cathleen Swanson, Lori Britschge, Amy Trail, Kristin Palazzoli
  • Meritorious Achievement in Choreography to Lauren Puente
  • Excellence in Musical Performance to Dan Williams and the Orchestra
  • Meritorious Achievement in Direction to Susan Schoonmaker and her Production Team

Fabius-Pompey Middle School
Shrek The Musical JR.
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Outstanding Musical Performance to the Pit Orchestra
  • Meritorious Achievement in Direction to Mia Trail
  • Meritorious Achievement in Choreography to Susan Hebert
  • Meritorious Achievement in Costuming to Kristin Palazzoli
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to the Cast and Crew

Finger Lakes Community College
The Ragged Middle: Twisted Tales of Infinity and Powdered Donuts
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in Direction to James Perri
  • Excellence in Ensemble Acting to the Company
  • Excellence in Technical Design and Execution to Kathryn Snyder, Jeff Kidd, Brandon Wyand and Jim Perri

Harlequin Productions of Cayuga Community College
Odd Jobs
Adjudicator: Joan Luther
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Tessa Higgins as Newbie in Every Seven Minutes
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Acting to Rephayah Israel and Adam Birtwell in Taking Sum Lumps
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Acting to Tessa Higgins, Kadrian Rossbach, Kyleigh Walton and Dylan Bianco in Plumber’s Butt
  • Meritorious Achievement in Production Design and Concept to Navroz Dabu, Terri Fox and Bob Frame

Indian River Drama Troupe
Punk Rock Girl!
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in Musical Performance to the Orchestra
  • Excellence in Direction to Kristie Farr
  • Excellence in Vocal Direction to Caleb Reid
  • Excellence in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Excellence in Lighting Design to Josh Wilson
  • Excellence in Choreography to Tricia Moore
  • Excellence in Costume Design and Execution to Patricia Young and Kristie Farr

Neighborhood Acting Company
The SpongeBob Musical
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Outstanding Performance to Dylan DeGeorge for his portrayal of SpongeBob Squarepants
  • Excellence in Performance to Dominic Vassallo for his portrayal of Patrick Starr
  • Excellence in Performance to Hayley Briner for her portrayal of Sandy Jennifer Cheeks
  • Excellence in Performance to Ben Reiner for his portrayal of Squidward Q. Tentacles
  • Excellence in Musical Performance to Andy Kittleson and the Orchestra
  • Excellence in Vocal Direction to Charles Palella
  • Excellence in Costume Design and Execution to Laurie Krenzer
  • Excellence in Production Design, Concept and Execution to Jeremy Cummings, Kendra Hacker, Jeff Beach, Sarah Aman, Chris Aman, Lauren Ackerly and Jamie Ackerly
  • Excellence in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to Enoch Martin for his portrayal of Sheldon J. Plankton
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to Nicole Simone for her portrayal of Karen the Computer
  • Meritorious Achievement in Vocal Performance to Kylie Sullivan for her portrayal of Pearl Krabs

Olean Community Theatre
The Addams Family
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in Performance to Jake Riggs for his portrayal of Uncle Fester
  • Excellence in Performance to Janet Nolan for her portrayal of Alice Beineke
  • Excellence in Musical Performance to Ruth Fuller and the Orchestra
  • Excellence in Technical Direction to Kelly Vaccaro
  • Excellence in Costume Design and Execution to William J. Steffen
  • Excellence in Make Up Design to Shelley Greene and her Team
  • Meritorious Achievement in Sound Operation to Landon Wyant
  • Meritorious Achievement in Production Design, Concept and Execution to Tim Hollamby, Dan Donner and Bob Sherburne
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to Christian Hall for his portrayal of Pugsley Addams
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to Caroline Bremner for her portrayal of Morticia Addams
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to Nicholas Gunning for his portrayal of Mal Beineke
  • Meritorious Achievement in Vocal Performance to Mike Staley for his portrayal of Gomez Addams
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Performance to the Cast

Olean Community Theatre
The Sound of Music
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Outstanding Performance to the Orchestra
  • Excellence in Performance to Jake Riggs for the portrayal of Max Detweiller
  • Excellence in Performance to Caroline Bremner for the portrayal of Elsa Schraeder
  • Meritorious Achievement in Vocal Performance to Jessica Chastain
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Nicolas Gunning for the portrayal of Captain Georg von Trapp
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Jim Chastain for the portrayal of Friedrich
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Work to the Cast and Stage Crew

Oswego Players
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Adjudicator: Joan Luther
  • Excellence in Direction to Matthew Fleming
  • Excellence in Acting to Kevin Colvin for the portrayal of Christopher
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Stephanie Johnson for the portrayal of Judy
  • Meritorious Achievement in Choreography and Scenic Shifts to the Cast and Stage Crew

The Palmer Opera House
The Last Five Years
Adjudicator: Joan Luther
  • Outstanding Ensemble Performance to Amanda Kristin Cox and Skyler Daniel Schapp
  • Outstanding Direction to Paul Nelson
  • Outstanding Vocal and Pit Direction to Eric L. Van Duff
  • Excellence in Vocal Performance to Amanda Kristin Cox
  • Excellence in Vocal Performance to Skyler Daniel Schapp
  • Excellence in Lighting Design to Diane Willard
  • Excellence in Sound Design to Eric Morehouse

Rome Community Theater
Amadeus
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Outstanding Acting to Richard Stoodley for his portrayal of Antonio Salieri
  • Excellence in Costume Design and Execution to Kirstin Walker
  • Meritorious Achievement in Direction and Production Concept and Execution to Eric Almleaf, John Frank and Mike Sharp
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Acting to the Cast

Rome Community Theater
Drinking Habits
Adjudicator: Joan Luther
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Meritorious Achievement in Scenic Design to Deborah Martin
  • Meritorious Achievement in Set Construction to John Frank, John Doiron and Christopher Stepanick
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Daryn Boulerice for his portrayal of Paul

Seneca Community Players
Rumors
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Outstanding Performance to Pat Fegley for the portrayal of Lenny Ganz
  • Excellence in Direction to Eric Jansen
  • Excellence in Ensemble Acting to the Cast
  • Excellence in Performance to Kevin Collins for the portrayal of Officer Welch
  • Excellence in Scenic Design and Execution to Seth Kennedy

The South Seneca Falcons Players
Letters to Daddy
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Meritorious Achievement in Direction to Tina Bauder
  • Meritorious Achievement in Choreography to Chad Eastman
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Acting to the Cast

Spartan Stage at East Syracuse-Minoa Central High School
The Addams Family
Adjudicator: Arnie Galin
  • Excellence in Acting to Aiden O’Brien for his portrayal of Gomez Addams
  • Excellence in Acting to Hyacinth Labatos for her portrayal of Morticia Addams
  • Excellence in Acting to Ryan Sullivan for his portrayal of Uncle Fester
  • Excellence in Acting to Emma deBerjeois for her portrayal of Wednesday Addams
  • Excellence in Direction to Aimee deBerjeois
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to the Cast and Crew

Spartan Stage at East Syracuse-Minoa Central High School
High School Musical
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Meritorious Achievement in Performance to Aiden O’Brien for his portrayal of Ryan Evans
  • Meritorious Achievement in Costume Design and Management to Teirrah Bauer, Amelia Costello and Emily Murnane
  • Meritorious Achievement in Choreography to Elizabeth Collins
  • Excellence in Lighting Design to Todd Durantini
  • Excellence in Lighting Execution to Julian Randall
  • Excellence in Musical Performance to Charles Penfield and the Orchestra
  • Excellence in Direction to Aimee deBerjeois

Spoonie Theater
All Out of Spoons
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in Direction to Destiny Whitaker
  • Excellence in Playwriting to Dana Hall
  • Excellence in Ensemble Performance to the Cast

Spoonie Theater
Evening of One Acts
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Outstanding Work for the Production of Virtual Theatre that is both inclusive and amplifies marginalized voices

Spoonie Theater
Freedom II
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Performance to the Cast

Spoonie Theater
G' Oy Vey!
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Meritorious Achievement in Direction to Anna Eskenazi Bush
  • Excellence in Playwriting to David Lipschutz
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Performance to the Cast

Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop
Simply Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Fool
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in the Development of Youth Theatre in Partnership with Local Schools
  • Outstanding Production Development and Performance to Ellie J. for Fool

Syosset High School Theatre Department
Puffs, Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
Adjudicator: Frances Ruoff
  • Excellence in Acting to Raia Honig for her portrayal of the Narrator
  • Excellence in Acting to Sarah Ghafar for her portrayal of Leanne
  • Meritorious Achievement in Direction to Gene Connor
  • Meritorious Achievement in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Meritorious Achievement in Set Design to Craig Mooers, Tiffany Holtje and the Crew
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Jess Bond for her portrayal of Megan
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Jason Wu for his portrayal of Wayne

The Tw​o of Us Productions/RARE
The Lady and the Clarinet
Adjudicator: Paul Nelson
  • Excellence in Ensemble Performance to the Cast
  • Excellence in Performance to Constance Lopez for her portrayal of Luba

Wellsville Secondary School Theatre
Cinderella
Adjudicator: Bob Frame
  • Meritorious Achievement in Projection Design and Execution to Diane Willard
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Ashden Hyslip for her portrayal of the Fairy Godmother
  • Meritorious Achievement in Acting to Katelynn M. Roulo for her portrayal of the Queen
  • Meritorious Achievement in Musical Direction to Eric VanDruff
  • Meritorious Achievement in Scenic Design and Execution to Miranda Carman

These awards are based on three separate designations:
Meritorious Achievement, Excellence and Outstanding Achievement

Meritorious Achievement = Some advanced theatrical skill noted
Excellence = Theatrical skill base not routinely noted in non-professional theatre
Outstanding Achievement = Theatrical skill base rarely seen in non-professional theatre
Listed Alphabetically by Company