Everything. Theater. Cincinnati.

An initiative of the Acclaim Awards
Supported by Cincinnati.Com

Acclaim Hall of Fame

Acclaimed Productions for 08-09 Theatre Season
	A Little Night Music New Stage Collective Outstanding Alternative Production 2009 Alan Patrick Kenny Outstanding Music Direction & Arrangements

	Amadeus Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Bruce Cromer Outstanding Performance

	Batboy: The Musical UC College-Conservatory of Music Lisa Mindelle Supporting Actress

	Blackbird Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Joy Farmer-Clary Equity Lead Performance

	Death of a Salesman New Edgecliff Theatre Kate Wilford Equity Supporting Performance

	Don't Make Me Pull This Show Over: Dispatches From the Frontlines of Parenting Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati Charlie Clark, a. Beth Harris, Jessica Hendy, Allen Kendall & Kate Wilford Outstanding Musical Ensemble David Kreppel Outstanding Orchestrations

	Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Thomas Hase Outstanding Lighting Design

	Durango Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Thom Sesma Equity Lead Performance Kevin Judge Outstanding Set Design

	Gem of the Ocean Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati Brian Mehring, design; Shannon Rae Lutz, properties Equity Design

	Good News UC College-Conservatory of Music Aubrey Berg Outstanding Direction Steve Goers Outstanding Musical Director/Arranger/Accompanist Patti James Outstanding Choreography Joe Moeller Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

	Guys and Dolls Covedale Center for the Performing Arts Lesley Hitch Non-Equity Musical Supporting Performance

	In Rehearsal Cincinnati Fringe Festival Alison Vodnoy Solo performance & solo script

	Jesus Christ Superstar Commonwealth Theatre Company Jamey Strawn Outstanding Musical Direction

	Jitney Queen City Off-Broadway Lyle Benjamin & Dan Dermody Non-Equity scenic design

	Love Song Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Outstanding Play 2009 Joseph Parks Equity Lead Performance

	On the Verge, or The Geography of Yearning UC College-Conservatory of Music Michael Carr, Kendall Karg, Britany Middleton & Alison Vodnoy Collegiate Ensemble Performance

	Once On This Island Northern Kentucky University Theatre & Dance Jane Green & Ruby Streate Choreography

	Peter Pan Covedale Center for the Performing Arts Brooke Rucidlo Outstanding Non-Equity Performance

	The Foreigner Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Raymond McAnally Outstanding Supporting Performance Paul Shortt Outstanding Set Design

	The Seafarer Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati Adrian Sparks Equity Lead Performance

	The Women Northern Kentucky University Theatre & Dance Hannah Dowdy, Katie Kershaw, Samantha Wright, Julie Wacksman & Lauren Helton Collegiate Principal Ensemble Mark Hardy Outstanding Direction

	Timon of Athens Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Nick Rose Outstanding Performance

	Travels of Angelica Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Heather Wood Equity Outstanding Supporting Performance Joseph P. Tilford, set design Thomas C. Hase, lighting design Susan Tsu, illustrator John Boesche, projection design Outstanding Scenic Design

	Twelfth Night Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Jeremy Dubin Outstanding Direction

	Two Gentlemen of Verona UC College-Conservatory of Music Outstanding Musical 2009 Andrew Palermo Outstanding Choreography/Direction Lauren Sprague Outstanding Performance Cast Outstanding Ensemble Reba Senske Outstanding Costumes Roger Grodsky Outstanding Musical Direction

	Working Northern Kentucky University Theatre & Dance Ken Jones Outstanding Direction

Most Valuable Players for 08-09 Theatre Season
	Cathy Springfield Cathy has never stopped MVP�ing. She was one of the first people to suggest a League of Cincinnati Theatres. Five years ago, she achieved a career-long dream when she opened the theatre in the Gallagher Student Center at Xavier University, but she was not content to stop there. Why not a Shakespeare summer camp? Why not find a way to give some employment to area theater artists? Why not a production of Angels in America to cap this Xavier Players season? Why not a residency by playwright Naomi Wallace? And why not a theater major for Xavier? That�s the long-time dream that Cathy is still dreaming, and this season she took significant steps to make it a reality, debuting a partnership with Madcap Puppets that intensifies next season and that will hopefully in the not-distant future give Xavier one of a handful of national university degree programs in theater for young people.

	Jim Stump Jim is Cincinnati�s theatre volunteer-in-chief. From fall curtain-up parties to Equity auditions, from planning meetings to street fairs, to sending out thousands of e-mails each year on behalf of Cincinnati theatre, Jim is always there, tirelessly and generously making the case for Cincinnati theater in private and in public. And when he hasn�t been busy promoting Cincinnati theatre offstage, Jim is a very fine actor who has also appeared on most stages in Cincinnati. This month Jim steps down as the longtime president of the League of Cincinnati Theatres.

Rising Stars for 08-09 Theatre Season
	Alison Vodnoy Alison is both a playwright and a performer, and winner of multiple Acclaims for her one-woman 2008 Cincinnati Fringe show, �In Rehearsal� and as part of the student ensemble of CCM�s �On the Verge.� CCM Drama chair Richard Hess says, �Alison is an electric performer, and from the moment she auditioned for our program five years ago I knew she was something special. Her work in Cincinnati has been varied and constant, and I�m so proud of her growth as an artist.�

	Rachel Perin Rachel has been a stand-out actor and dancer throughout her NKU career. She is a veteran of dance concerts, outreach tours, the Comedy Improvisation Touring Troupe and is the go-to dance captain for many NKU musicals, including �Once on This Island� and �Working� which she also helped choreograph. Theatre and Dance department chair Ken Jones says Rachel is �a wonderful young actor, and a gifted choreographer. She is fun and funny. Her imagination is strong, and she excels at taking chances with her art.�

Theatre Educator Awards for 08-09 Theatre Season
	Emily Himonidis St. Henry High School "My teacher rocks my socks," Kaitlin Staverman wrote, applauding Emily Himondis for always reminding students that "it is not the leads the make a show great; it's also the cast that backs them up." Himonidis, Staverman continues, "includes everyone, especially the students who don't feel like they fit in any place else and often they don't." Over the past four years, Himonidis has adopted three children from Guatemala, "but she gives up hundreds of hours with them to be at play practice." "She's made a difference in my life by helping me to break out of my shell. She taught me that it's okay to be yourself and to make sure you have fun in whatever you do."

Trailblazer Awards for 08-09 Theatre Season
	Richard Hess CCM Drama Department Chair Ask about Richard Hess and the same words come up: �Vision.� �Passion.� �Dedication.� The chair of Drama at CCM, Hess fosters relationships, sends students beyond CCM and helps to populate Cincinnati�s independent theater scene and promote creation of new work. As CCM Drama alum Richard Oberacker puts it, �Richard is one of the most fearless artists Cincinnati has right now. And I don�t mean just what he puts onstage. He has risked much and sacrificed even more to make CCM Drama what it is today. There are new works being created, and the students are not only encouraged to develop their own projects, but in many cases required to do so. He teaches by example, and he understands that he can�t produce graduates who are willing to take bold risks if he isn�t doing so.� On campus, Hess had added a senior showcase in New York and Los Angeles, and annual Dolly Awards to applaud a job well done in the drama department. Off-campus, CCM drama students and alums have been an essential part of Cincinnati Fringe, with 20-25 percent of the work every year having a CCM drama connection. According to his students, Richard Hess �has a huge heart, a wonderful sensibility, and a passion for storytelling and for what art can and should do.�