The 2nd Annual “Vee Cee” Awards for Top Performances in Ventura County Theater

BY CARY GINELL

As we close 2014, many theater critics not unexpectedly take stock of performances seen during the past twelve months. I am no different, and although many critics rank individual performances against one another, I can do no such thing. I’ve never been able to understand awards ceremonies as competition and find it unfair to compare and rank performances of completely different characters in completely different shows. How can one judge whether one performance is better than another? In addition to it being impossible to compare apples and oranges, I think this devalues outstanding performances that do not “win.” Thus, I list what I consider the most effective and moving performances, but do not rank them. 

Emotion is what drives me when I visit the theater. Does the performer make me cry or laugh? Does the performer disappear into his or her character? Can I see this performance as being one that is worthy of Broadway itself? There were many outstanding performances in the more than 140 shows that I saw in 2014, both musicals as well as plays. Thus, I have listed below what I consider the most exceptional performances of the year, divided into two groups: Community/professional theater (divided into musicals and plays) and high school/youth group/college theater. If you did not make any of these lists, I still applaud you for all your hard work this year and look forward to seeing you on the stage in 2015. Congratulations, Vee-Cee Award Winners!!

MEMORABLE HIGH SCHOOL/YOUTH GROUP/COLLEGE PERFORMANCES (PLAY OR MUSICAL)
(In alphabetical order)

Jessamyn Arnstein – Jessamyn (Godspell – YA4Ever)

Meagan Chew – Judas (Jesus Christ: Superstar – Young Artists Ensemble)

Veronica Dunne – Cathy (The Last Five Years – YA4Ever)

Sara Gilbert – Elle (Legally Blonde) and Sara (And The World Goes Round) – Santa Susana High School)

Kurt Kemper – Cervantes (Man of La Mancha – Newbury Park High School)

Hunter Larsen – Maureen (Rent – YA4Ever)

Shannon McGraw – Maria (The Sound of Music – Young Artists Ensemble)

Harrison Meloeny – Jesus (Godspell – YA4Ever)

Austin Miller – Jamie (The Last Five Years – YA4Ever)

Shane Munson – Frau Blucher (Young Frankenstein – Calabasas High School)

Brent Ramirez – Roger (Rent – YA4Ever)

Kristi Ramirez – Mimi (Rent – YA4Ever)

Antonia Vivino – Antonia (And the World Goes Round – Santa Susana High School)

Nichole Whitter – Amy (Company – Moorpark College)

Kristen Wisneski – Dotty (Noises Off – Thousand Oaks High School)

Matt Yulish – Juror No. 7 (Twelve Angry Men – Oak Park High School)

 

MEMORABLE COMMUNITY THEATER/PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES (MUSICALS)

(In alphabetical order)

Alene Aroustamian – Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd – Arts’ Theatre Company of Simi)

Silas Benjamin – Shrek (Shrek  – Conejo Players)

Julie Bermel – Ruth (The Pirates of Penzance – VCGSRC)

Jim J. Bullock – Harry (Bye, Bye Birdie –  Cabrillo Music Theatre)

Sara-Marie Calvey – Sarah Brown (Guys and Dolls – High Street Arts Center)

George Chavez – Shrek (Shrek – Actors’ Repertory Theatre of Simi)

Justin Cowden – Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls – High Street Arts Center)

Randy Crenshaw – Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof – High Street Arts Center)

Ryan Driscoll – Nicely-Nicely (Guys and Dolls – High Street Arts Center)

Tabitha Ellis – Natalie (Next to Normal – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)

John Gaston – El Gallo (The Fantasticks – Panic! Productions)

Marc Goldstein – Poo Bah (The Mikado – VCGSRC)

Damian Gravino – Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd – Actors’ Repertory Theatre of Simi)

Kelly Green – Max Bialystock (The Producers) and Nathan Detroit (Guys and Dolls) –both High Street Arts Center)

MaryJoanna Grisso – Anita (West Side Story – Theater League)

Katie Hume – Luisa (The Fantasticks  – Panic! Productions)

Christopher Mahr – Frumah-Sarah (Fiddler on the Roof – High Street Arts Center)

Joe Mancuso – Pirate King (The Pirates of Penzance – VCGSRC)

Noelle Marion – Kim McAfee (Bye, Bye Birdie – Cabrillo Music Theatre)

Michelle Marmolejo – Rose (Bye, Bye Birdie – Cabrillo Music Theatre)

Lano Medina – Usnavi (In the Heights – Cabrillo Music Theatre)

Masaya Palmer – Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls – High Street Arts Center)

Tanner Redman – Donkey (Shrek – Conejo Players)

Blythe Renay – Millie (Thoroughly Modern Millie – Conejo Players)

Gary Saxer – Ko-Ko (The Mikado – VCGSRC)

Aileen-Marie Scott– Diana (Next to Normal – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)

Mary Zastrow – Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd  – Actors’ Repertory Theatre of Simi)

 

MEMORABLE COMMUNITY THEATER/PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES (PLAYS)

(In alphabetical order)

Meghan Andrews – Lisa (Collected Stories – Rubicon Theatre Company)

Thomas Frey – Ted (2 Pianos, 4 Hands – Rubicon Theatre Company)

Daniel Jared Hersh – Peter (The Diary of Anne Frank – Conejo Players)

Shawn W. Lanz – Norman (The Boys Next Door – Elite Theatre Company)

Austin Miller – Barry (The Boys Next Door – Elite Theatre Company)

Elyse Mirto – Leigh (Conviction – Rubicon Theatre Company)

Ron Rezac – Charles Smith (November – Elite Theatre Company)

Katie Rodriguez – Anne Frank (The Diary of Anne Frank – Conejo Players)

Celeste Russi – Maria Callas (Master Class – Conejo Players)

Jenna Scanlon – Rose (The Woolgatherer – Rubicon Theatre Company)

Eric J. Stein – Cliff (The Woolgatherer – Rubicon Theatre Company)

James Castle Stevens – Fred (Miracle on 34th Street – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)

Christopher Tocco – Richard (2 Pianos, 4 Hands – Rubicon Theatre Company)

Rebekah Tripp – Josie (A Moon for the Misbegotten – Rubicon Theatre Company)

Dan Tullis Jr. – Lucien (The Boys Next Door – Elite Theatre Company)