BY CARY GINELL
It’s time once again for the annual “Vee-Cee” Awards, in which we honor some of the most memorable performances on Ventura County stages over the course of the past year. As I explain each year, I’m not a fan of awards ceremonies. I’ve never been able 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.” There should be no losers in the theater, only winners. Thus, I list what I consider the most effective and moving performances, but do not rank them, making all performances equal in stature.
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 100 shows that I saw in 2016, both musicals as well as plays. Below, I have listed what I consider the most exceptional performances of the year, divided into three groups: high school/youth group/college theater, community/professional theater (musicals), and community/professional theater (plays). To those, I have added a new category for Best Ensemble Casts, in which entire casts are honored for exemplary ensemble work.
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 2017. Congratulations, Vee-Cee Award Winners!!
MEMORABLE HIGH SCHOOL/YOUTH GROUP/COLLEGE PERFORMANCES (PLAY OR MUSICAL)
(In alphabetical order)
Abel Alderete – Piragua Guy (In the Heights – Musical Theater Intensive – at Rubicon Theatre Company)
Francesca Barletta – Rona Lisa Peretti (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – YA4Ever)
Miranda Berenstein – Belle (Beauty and the Beast Jr. – Allwayz On Stage)
Samy Berman – Little Sally (Urinetown – Calabasas High School)
Kristen Bramson – Christine Daae (Phantom of the Opera – Moorpark High School)
Mindy Carpenter – Trix (The Drowsy Chaperone – Cal Lutheran University)
Leah Dalrymple – The Drowsy Chaperone (The Drowsy Chaperone – Cal Lutheran University)
Dante Damiano – Michael (Elf, Jr. – Youth Musical Theatre)
Jonathan Ely – Lahdalord (James and the Giant Peach Jr. – Conejo Players Theatre)
Kevin Gilmond – William Barfée (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – YA4Ever)
Jesse Graham – Usnavi (In the Heights – Musical Theater Intensive – at Rubicon Theatre Company)
Colin Grumney – Pippin (Pippin – Newbury Park High School)
Griffen Hamilton – Buddy (Elf, Jr. – Youth Musical Theatre)
Natalie Hightower – Kate Monster (Avenue Q – YA4Ever), Marcy Park (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – YA4Ever)
Kurt Kemper – Princeton (Avenue Q – YA4Ever)
Natalie LaVacca – M’Lynn (Steel Magnolias – LaReina High School)
Brandon Lawrence – Edna Turnblad (Hairspray – Moorpark College)
Nick Levy – Charlie Brown (A Charlie Brown Christmas – Camarillo Young Actors Company)
Malissa Marlow – Janet (The Drowsy Chaperone – Cal Lutheran University)
Andrew Metzger – Trekkie Monster (Avenue Q – YA4Ever)
Miranda Mize – Nina (In the Heights – Musical Theatre Intensive – at Rubicon Theatre Company)
Elena Moreno – Miss Adelaide (Guys and Dolls – Curtain Call Youth Theatre)
Gabriel Nunag – Benny (In the Heights – Musical Theatre Intensive – at Rubicon Theatre Company)
Aurora Persichetti – Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz – Young Artists Ensemble)
Alexandra Rae – Penny Pingleton (Hairspray – Moorpark College)
Chris Reilly – Bad Idea Bear (Avenue Q – YA4Ever)
Kevin Repich – Man in Chair (The Drowsy Chaperone – Cal Lutheran University)
Evelyn Rose – Lucy Harris (Jekyll & Hyde – Curtain Call Youth Theatre)
Erin Schafheitle – Princess Winnifred (Once Upon a Mattress – Agoura High School)
Natasha Schlaffer – Morticia Addams (The Addams Family – Santa Susana High School)
Aurora Schnurr – Miss Andrew (Mary Poppins – Oak Park High School)
Melissa Shilkoff – Grandma (The Addams Family – Santa Susana High School)
Sabin Shrestha – Shrek (Shrek Jr. – Young Artists Ensemble)
Landen Starkman – Gomez Addams (The Addams Family – Calabasas High School)
Mariah Tobin – Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – YA4Ever)
Rianny Vasquez – Donkey (Shrek Jr. – Young Artists Ensemble)
Antonia Vivino – Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family – Santa Susana High School)
Madeleine Weiss – Alice (Alice in Wonderland – Newbury Park High School)
Emerson West – James (James and the Giant Peach Jr. – Conejo Players Theatre)
Andrew White – Adolpho (The Drowsy Chaperone – Cal Lutheran University)
Danielle Williamson – Morticia Addams (The Addams Family – Santa Susana High School)
Kristen Wisneski – Charity Hope Valentine (Sweet Charity – Thousand Oaks High School), Olive Ostrowski (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – YA4Ever)
MEMORABLE COMMUNITY THEATER/PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES (MUSICALS)
(In alphabetical order)
Siena Avila – Constance (The Sorcerer – Ventura County Gilbert & Sullivan Repertoire Company)
Alison Bagli – Ariel (The Little Mermaid – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Louis Baker – Booker T. Washington (Ragtime – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Brigetta Barrett – Addaperle (The Wiz – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Jeff Berg – El Gallo (The Fantasticks – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Isa Briones – The Mistress (Evita – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Tatiana Cantu – Nina (In the Heights – Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center)
William Carmichael – Lt. Frank Cioffi (Curtains – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Carzie Carter – Jake (Side Show – Conejo Players Theatre)
Misty Cotton – Eve (Children of Eden – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Carson Dean – Steven (Bring It On – Panic! Productions)
Aaron DeJesus – Frankie Valli (Jersey Boys – Theater League)
Ryan Driscoll – Cain/Japheth (Children of Eden – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Mark Fagundes – The Lecturer (Reefer Madness – Conejo Players Theatre)
Joshua Finkel – Leo Frank (Parade – Panic! Productions)
Michael Fischer – Vice Principal Panch (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – YA4Ever)
Sharon Gibson – Sister Mary Regina (Nunsense – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Marc Baron Ginsburg – Ché (Evita – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Noah Godard – The Artful Dodger (Oliver! – High Street Arts Center)
Jason Graae – Ariel (Return to the Forbidden Planet – Rubicon Theatre Company)
Amanda Greig – Mother (Ragtime – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Parker Harris – Matt (The Fantasticks – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Dave Hatfield – Ralph (Reefer Madness – Conejo Players Theatre)
Gannon Hays – Oliver Twist (Oliver! – High Street Arts Center)
Sam Herbert – Frankie (Parade – Panic! Productions)
Clynell Jackson III – Wilfrid (The Yeomen of the Guard – Ventura County Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company)
Laura Jackson – Elsie (The Yeomen of the Guard – Ventura County Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company)
Katy Jarvis – Luisa (The Fantasticks – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Meghan Jones – Emma Goldman (Ragtime – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Chris Kerrigan – John Wilkes Booth (Assassins – Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center)
Norman Large – Father (Children of Eden – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Brandon Lawrence – Uncle Fester (The Addams Family – High Street Arts Center)
Quinn Martin – Dorothy (The Wizard of Oz – Conejo Players Theatre)
Andy Mattick – Bill Sikes (Oliver! – High Street Arts Center)
Andrew Metzger – Marcus Lycus (A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Tina Hartell – Evelyn Nesbit (Ragtime – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Dawn Notagiacomo – Nancy (Oliver! – High Street Arts Center), Sister Mary Amnesia (Nunsense – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Adelle Panico – Campbell (Bring It On! – Panic! Productions)
Ken Patton – Newt Lee (Parade – Panic! Productions)
Alescia Penn – Sarah (Ragtime – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Vincent Perez – Charles Guiteau (Assassins – Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center)
Gabrielle Puyat – Danielle (Bring It On! – Panic! Productions)
Larry Raben – Hysterium (A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Jeff Raum – Fagin (Oliver! High Street Arts Center)
Kurt Raymond – The Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz – Conejo Players Theatre)
Randi Saxer Redman – Violet Hilton (Side Show – Conejo Players Theatre)
Tanner Redman – The Boss (Side Show – Conejo Players Theatre)
Blythe Renay – Daisy Hilton (Side Show – Conejo Players Theatre)
Rehyan Rivera – Usnavi (In the Heights – Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center)
Nick Santa Maria – Pseudolus (A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Gary Saxer – John Wellington Wells (The Sorcerer – Ventura County Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company)
Aileen-Marie Scott – Sister Mary Hubert (Nunsense – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Dana Shaw – Lucille Frank (Parade – Panic! Productions)
Will Shupe – Tateh (Ragtime – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Natalia Vivino – Yonah (Children of Eden – Cabrillo Music Theatre)
Jeremy Whatley – Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Ragtime – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Eric Whelan – Ren (Footloose – High Street Arts Center)
Mary Zastrow – Sister Robert Anne (Nunsense – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
MEMORABLE COMMUNITY THEATER/PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES (PLAYS)
(In alphabetical order)
Dale Alpert – Morrie Schwartz (Tuesdays With Morrie – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Nick Bemrose – Mozart (Amadeus – Conejo Players Theatre)
Helene Benjamin – Ethel (On Golden Pond – High Street Arts Center)
R. Shane Bingham – Venticelli (Amadeus – Conejo Players Theatre), Mitch Albom (Tuesdays With Morrie – Camarillo Skyway Playhouse)
Katherine Bottoms – Molly (Peter and the Starcatcher – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Andy Brasted – Major Metcalf (The Mousetrap – Elite Theatre Company)
Brittany Danyel – Molly Ralston (The Mousetrap – Elite Theatre Company), Penelope Toop (See How They Run, The Three Masketeers)
Sylvie Davidson – Hallie Jackson (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Rubicon Theatre Company)
Matt DeNoto – Figaro (Figaro – Panic! Productions)
Kevin Ellis – Arthur Randolph/George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play – Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center)
John Eslick – Tom Duffy (Farragut North – Conejo Players Theatre)
Parker Harris – Stephen Bellamy (Farragut North – Conejo Players Theatre)
Gregory Harrison – Bert Barricune (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Rubicon Theatre Company)
Cecily O. Hendricks – Carol Melkett (Black Comedy – Ojai ACT)
Lee Ann Ivy – Miss Skillon (See How They Run – The Three Masketeers)
Ryan Lefton – Peter Pan (Peter and the Starcatcher – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Dorian Logan – Jim (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Rubicon Theatre Company)
John Manahan – Slank (Peter and the Starcatcher – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
John Medeiros – Schuppanzigh (Black Comedy – Ojai ACT)
Hanna Mitchell – Miss Casewell (The Mousetrap – Elite Theatre Company), Ida (See How They Run, The Three Masketeers)
James O’Neil – Clarence Darrow (Clarence Darrow – Rubicon Theatre Co.)
Timothy Reese – Venticelli (Amadeus – Conejo Players Theatre)
Ron Rezac – Kit Maxwell (Men of Tortuga – Elite Theatre Company)
Theresa Secor – Kate Keller (All My Sons – Elite Theatre Company)
Jim Seerden – Joe Keller (All My Sons – Elite Theatre Company), Norman (On Golden Pond – High Street Arts Center)
Will Shupe – Black Stache (Peter and the Starcatcher – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Kathleen Silverman – Lady Bracknell (The Importance of Being Earnest – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi), Sara Jane Moore (Assassins – Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center), Virginia Darwell (It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play – Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center)
Evan Smith – Mrs. Brumbake (Peter and the Starcatcher – Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
Paul Sulzman – Brindsley Miller (Black Comedy – Ojai Art Center Theatre)
Alan Waserman – Antonio Salieri (Amadeus – Conejo Players Theatre)
MEMORABLE ENSEMBLE CASTS
Avenue Q (YA4Ever)
It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play (Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center)
Peter and the Starcatcher (Actors Repertory Theatre of Simi)
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