2024

An official Sponsor of the 2024 OCR Theatre Awards

 

 

ORANGE CURTAIN AWARD

Nick & Julie Charles

 

BEST SHOWS

1. BURIED CHILD @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

2. QUIXOTE NUEVO @ SOUTH COAST REP

3. SWEENEY TODD THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET @ CHANCE THEATER

4. THE ELECTRIC COMPANY THEATRE PRESENTS: ONCE @ MUCKENTHALER CULTURAL CENTER

5. CURTIS THEATRE & BEGINS AND ENDS WITH ‘A’ PRESENTS: EMILIE: LA MARQUISE DU LA MARQUISE DU CHATELET DEFENDS HER LIFE TONIGHT@ CURTIS THEATRE

Best Actor

D.X. Machina (Jackie) MotherFucker with the Hat @ Wayward Artist

Best Actress 

Kalinda Gray (Emilie) Emilie @ Curtis Theatre & Begins and Ends with ‘A’

Best Writing

Benjamin Benne – Alma @ Chance Theater

Best Ensemble 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee @ Wayward Artist

Best Costumes 

Aja Bell – Emilie @ Curtis Theatre & Begins and Ends with ‘A’

Best Set 

Antonio Beach – Buried Child @ Costa Mesa Playhouse

Best College Show 

Romeo & Juliet @ Fullerton Community College

Best Musical 

  Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street @ Chance Theater

Best Young Actress 

Claire Manson (Marian Paroo) The Music Man @ JStage at the Merage JCC

Best Young Actor 

Spike Pulice (Prometheus) Abyss @ The Larking House

Best Performer 

Spike Pulice (Prometheus) Abyss @ The Larking House

Best Makeup 

Kate Galleran – Hedwig and the Angry Inch @ Chance Theater

Best Featured Actor 

Mark Tillman (Bradley) Buried Child @ Costa Mesa Playhouse

Best Featured Actress 

Molly Renze (Lelani) Rotterdam @ Wayward Artist

Best Original Orange County Show 

Cardenio or Double Falsehood @ Shakespeare by the Sea

Best Lighting 

Pablo Santiago – Quixote Nuevo @ South Coast Rep 

Best Sound Design 

Darryl B. Hovis – Curious Case @ Chance Theater

Best Show 

Buried Child @ Costa Mesa Playhouse

Best Actor in a Musical 

Wesley Chavez (Guy) Once @ The Electric Company Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical 

Jocelyn A. Brown (Mrs. Lovett) Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street @ Chance Theater

Best Featured Actor in a Musical 

Jonathan Gillard Daly’s (Julius) Prelude to a Kiss @ South Coast Repertory

Best Featured Actress in a Musical 

Sarah Pierce (Martha) The Secret Garden @ Chance Theater

Best Choreography 

Mo Goodfellow – Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street @ Chance Theater

Audience Award 

Buried Child @ Costa Mesa Playhouse

Best Live Band 

Julian Rymar – Fiddler on the Roof @ The Electric Company Theatre

Best Director 

Brian Johnson – Once @ The Electric Company Theatre

 

2023

ORANGE CURTAIN AWARD

KALINDA GRAY

BEST SHOWS

1. IN THE GREEN @ WAYWARD ARTIST

2. RENT @ CHANCE THEATER

3. APPROPRIATE @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

4. RIDE THE CYCLONE @ CHANCE THEATER

5. TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL @ SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS

BEST MUSICAL

IN THE GREEN @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST ENSEMBLE 

RIDE THE CYCLONE @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST DIRECTOR 

ANNA MILES – IN THE GREEN @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST SET

Lawrence E. Moten III – Appropriate @ South Coast Repertory

BEST COLLEGE SHOW

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE @ VANGUARD UNI

BEST ORIGINAL ORANGE COUNTY SHOW

MATINICUS THE STORY OF ABIGAIL BURGESS @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST LIGHTING

ALECIA BENNETT – IN THE GREEN @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST ACTOR

JAMISON JONES (BEAUREGARDE “BO” LAFAYETTE) APPROPRIATE @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

BEST ACTRESS

DANIELLE HEATON (MARIE-ANTOINETTE) THE REVOLUTIONISTS @ CURTIS THEATRE

BEST YOUNG ACTRESS

SIDNEY AARON APTAKER (CHARLOTTE CORDAY) THE REVOLUTIONISTS @ CURTIS THEATRE

                      BEST YOUNG ACTOR                   

LOGAN BOOTH (CHRISTOPHER) A CURIOUS CASE @ SADDLEBACK COLLEGE

BEST SOUND DESIGN

DAVE MICKEY – RENT @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST ONE-PERSON SHOW

MATINICUS THE STORY OF ABIGAIL BURGESS @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST COSTUMES

LUIS CORNEJO – LA CAGE AUX FOLLES @ THE GEM THEATRE

BEST MAKEUP

MARCI ALBERTI & PAUL HADOBAS (PROSTHETICS) BEAUTY & THE BEAST @ CYPRESS COLLEGE

BEST FEATURED ACTOR

CODY AARON HANIFY (KARL/STEVE) CLYBOURNE PARK

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS

MIA ANDERSON (BEV/KATHY) CLYBOURNE PARK @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

GAVIN COLE (ROGER) RENT @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

AMANDA GODOY (JUTTA) IN THE GREEN @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL

MYLES DAVIS (NICKY/TREKKIE MONSTER/BAD IDEA BEAR) AVENUE Q @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

AUDREY CRABANO (HILDEGRARD-MOUTH) IN THE GREEN @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

EMILY-MAE KAMP – IN THE GREEN @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST WRITING

SIMON J.O. MARTIN – WEIRDO @ THE LARKING HOUSE

BEST ENSEMBLE

RIDE THE CYCLONE @ CHANCE THEATER

Robert Foran(The Amazing Karnak), Hayley Wolff (Ocean O’Connell Rosenberg), Jared Machado (Mischa Bachinski), Wyatt Hatfield (Noel Gruber), Jaylen Baham (Ricky Potts), Rose Pell (Constance Blackwood), Em Flosi (Jane Doe) 

BEST PERFORMER

DANIELLE HEATON (MARIE-ANTOINETTE) THE REVOLUTIONISTS @ CURTIS THEATRE

2022

BEST SHOWS

1. McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: IN THE HEIGHTS @ LA MIRADA THEATRE

2. THE WHALE @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

3. CRY IT OUT! @ CHANCE THEATER

4. NOISES OFF @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

5. TIGER STYLE @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

BEST MUSICAL

TOXIC AVENGER THE MUSICAL @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST ENSEMBLE 

NOISES OFF @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

Jackie Melbon(Dotty Otley), Michael Keeney(Lloyd Dallas), Jaycob Hunter(Garry Lejeune), Stephanie Noel Garrison (Brooke Ashton), Hailey Tweter (Poppy Norton-Taylor), Mark Tillman(Frederick Fellows),Sarah McGuire (Belinda Blair), Eduardo Mora(Tim Allgood), Mitchell Nunn (Selsdon Mowbray).

BEST DIRECTOR 

MICHAEL SERNA – THE WHALE @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

BEST SET

MICHAEL SERNA – THE WHALE @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

BEST COLLEGE SHOW

PROOF @ SADDLEBACK COLLEGE

BEST ORIGINAL Orange County SHOW

BRACKISH @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST LIGHTING

DONNY JACKSON – McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: IN THE HEIGHTS @ LA MIRADA THEATRE

BEST ACTOR

PETER HILTON (CHARLIE) THE WHALE @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

BEST ACTRESS

AMANDA ZARR (LINA) CRY IT OUT @ CHANCE THEATER

RUNNER UP: NATALIE GIANNOSA (MAYOR BABS BELGOODY) THE TOXIC AVENGER @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST YOUNG ACTRESS

SOPHIA WHITE (ELLIE) THE WHALE @ COSTA MESA PLAYHOUSE

BEST YOUNG ACTOR

WYATT LOGAN (NED ALLYN) SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE @ ELECTRIC COMPANY IN FULLERTON

BEST SOUND DESIGN

IAN SCOT – XANADU @ LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE

2021

THE WEBSITE TOOK AN AWARD HIATUS IN 2021.

2020

THE WEBSITE TOOK AN AWARD HIATUS IN 2020.

2019

BEST SHOWS

1. SKYLIGHT @ CHANCE THEATER

2. POOR YELLA REDNECKS @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

3. ZOOT SUIT @ SHAKESPEARE OC

4. 1776 @ LA MIRADA THEATRE

5. PHOTOGRAPH 51 @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

RUNNER UP: AMERICAN MARIACHI @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

BEST MUSICAL

1776 @ LA MIRADA THEATRE

BEST ORIGINAL ORANGE COUNTY SHOW

STRONG ARM @ WAYWARD ARTIST 

BEST ENSEMBLE 

1776 @ LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

James Barbour (Edward Rutledge),Peter Van Norden(Benjamin Franklin), Andy Umberger(John Adams),Teri Bibb(Abigail Adams),Caleb Shaw(Thomas Jefferson),Ellie Wyman(Martha Jefferson),Nick Santa Maria (John Hancock), Peter Allen Vogt (Samuel Chase),Victor E. Chan( Robert Livingston), Brad Rupp (George Reed), Gordon Goodman (Stephen Hopkins), Jason Chacon (Dr. Josiah Bartlett), Jordan Goodsell(Charles Thomson), Jordan Schneider (Dr. Lyman Hall)

BEST DIRECTOR 

OANH NGUYEN – SKYLIGHT @ CHANCE THEATER

RUNNER UP: JEFF LOWE – ALCHEMY THEATRE COMPANY’S  PUFF @ STAGEStheatre

BEST SET  

DANIEL ESPINOZA – NEXT TO NORMAL @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST ACTOR

JOSEPH DUNHAM (HANK FELTON) STRONG ARM @ WAYWARD ARTIST

BEST ACTRESS

JESSICA ERIN MARTIN (KYRA) SKYLIGHT @ CHANCE THEATER

2018

THE WEBSITE TOOK AN AWARDS HIATUS IN 2018.

2017

BEST SHOWS

1. MOBY DICK & ONCE @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

2. MAN OF LA MANCHA @ LA MIRADA THEATRE

3. EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL @ MAVERICK THEATRE 

4. ORANGE @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY  

5. MERCHANT OF VENICE @ STAGESTHEATRE  

RUNNER UP: DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER @ HUNTINGTON BEACH ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

2016

BEST SHOWS

1. DOGFIGHT THE MUSICAL @ CHANCE THEATER

2. HAMLET @ SHAKESPEARE OC

3. MOONLIGHT & MAGNOLIAS @ MODJESKA PLAYHOUSE

4. AMERICAN COAST THEATRE COMPANY: ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD @ VANGUARD UNIVERSITY

5. EMPIRE THE MUSICAL @ LA MIRADA THEATRE

RUNNER UP: THE PRODUCERS @ HUNTINGTON BEACH ACADEMY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS

BEST ORIGINAL ORANGE COUNTY SHOW

MONUMENTS @ STAGESTHEATRE

BEST COLLEGE SHOW

CLYBOURNE PARK @ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE 

BEST DIRECTOR 

MATTHEW MCCRAY AND TAYLOR STEPHENSON – DOGFIGHT @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST SET 

DAVID GALLO – EMPIRE THE MUSICAL @ LA MIRADA THEATRE

BEST ACTRESS

ASHLEY ARLENE NELSON (ROSE FENNY) DOGFIGHT @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST ACTOR

ANDREW JAMES VILLARREAL (DOUG) GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES @ STAGESTHEATRE

BEST YOUNG ACTOR

ADRIAN VILLEGAS (MAX BIALYSTOCK) THE PRODUCERS @ HUNTINGTON BEACH ACADEMY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS

BEST YOUNG ACTRESS

ERICA JACKSON (LUCY) DOG SEES GOD @ STAGESTHEATRE

2015

BEST SHOWS

1. AVENUE Q @ MAVERICK THEATER

2. ABUNDANCE @ SOUTH COAST REPERTORY

3. AS YOU LIKE IT @ SHAKESPEARE OC

4. C.S. LEWIS’ THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS @ BARCLAY THEATRE

5. RCT YOUTH SERIES PRESENTS: ALICE IN WONDERLAND @ ROSE CENTER THEATRE

RUNNER UP: LOCH NESS A NEW MUSICAL @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST ORIGINAL ORANGE COUNTY SHOW

GRACE NOTE @ OC-CENTRIC NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

BEST COLLEGE SHOW

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL @ FULLERTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

RUNNER UP: CARRIE THE MUSICAL @ CAL STATE UNIVERSITY, FULLERTON

BEST COSTUME

ANDREA BIKHOLM – CYRANO DE BERGERAC @ MAVERICK THEATER

RUNNER UP: JULIAN CROUCH AND PHELIM MCDERMOTT’S – THE ADDAMS FAMILY: A NEW MUSICAL COMEDY @ 3D THEATRICALS

BEST SET

PAUL EGGINTON – KISS ME KATE @ VANGUARD UNIVERSITY 

RUNNER UP: SARA RYUNG CLEMENT – THE DRAGON PLAY @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST DIRECTOR

PETER URIBE – AS YOU LIKE IT @ SHAKESPEARE OC

BEST ACTOR

NATHAN MAKARYK (CYRANO DE BERGERAC) CYRANO DE BERGERAC @ MAVERICK THEATER

BEST ACTRESS

JULIA CASSANDRA SMITH (HALEY WESTERBROOK) LOCH NESS THE MUSICAL @ CHANCE THEATER

BEST YOUNG ACTOR

TIMOTHY BRIGHT (MALVOLIO) TWELFTH NIGHT @ FULLERTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BEST YOUNG ACTRESS

SARAH McGUIRE (ANNIE SULLIVAN) THE MIRACLE WORKER @ THE ATTIC THEATER

Thank you to our Awards Supporters:

Anonymous – $250

Anonymous – $20

Craig Tyrl – $100

Tasha Ames – $20

Lizzy McCabe – $25

Update: After the 2023 OCR Awards, all shows reviewed after the September 9 deadline will qualify for the OCR Awards in the coming year.

Extra category information:

The young Actor & Actress Category is under 30 years old.

Last modified: March 24, 2025