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
Micah Nicholson (Barfee), Jenna Luck (Olive), Erik Sanchez (Chip), Brooke Halliday (Marcy), Clayton Michael Walker (Leaf), Joelle B. Lurie (Logainne), Angel Correa (Panch), Carolyn Lupin (Rona), Jake Burnett (Mitch).
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.
Fantastic article! I have seen many of Haven’s show! The sets and costumes are breathtaking and truly bring every show…