Two Peninsula school musicals nominated for top awards in Seattle

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, May 27, 2015

High school operettas in Sequim and Port Townsend have been nominated for top honors in the statewide 5th Avenue Theater High School Musical Awards.

The awards will be presented June 8 at the 5th Avenue Theater, 1308 Fifth Ave. in Seattle.

Port Townsend’s “Little Shop of Horrors,” which was performed during the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival, garnered three nominations.

Sequim’s “Fiddler on the Roof” received two nominations.

Both also received several honorable mentions: seven for Sequim students and five for those in Port Townsend.

The 5th Avenue Awards honor outstanding achievement in high school musical theater.

This year, 104 productions were reviewed.

Port Townsend nominations are for:

■ Outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role — Austin Kreig as Seymour.

■ Outstanding performance by an actor in a featured ensemble role — Ian Coates as Customer 1.

■ Outstanding hair and makeup design.

Sequim’s nominations are for:

■ Outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role — Ben Heintz as Tevye.

■ Outstanding performance by an actor or actress in a non-singing role — Spencer Neale as the Constable.

Port Townsend’s honorable mentions were for outstanding direction, music direction, scenic design, stage crew and for outstanding performance by an ensemble group by the Urchins — Claire Forbes, Keira Matkins and Jessica von Volkli.

Sequim’s honorable mentions were for outstanding orchestra and hair and makeup design, as well as several outstanding performances by cast members.

They are Victoria Hall as Golde, actress in a leading role; Kaylee Ditlefsen as Fruma-Sarah, actress in a featured ensemble role; Danny Willis as Fyedka, actor in a supporting role; Jared Kneidl as Avram, actor in a featured ensemble role; and the Bottle Dancers — Jared Kneidl, Seth Mitchell, David Burgher and Hunter Cauffman — an ensemble group.

For a complete listing of 2015 5th Avenue Award nominees, go to http://tinyurl.com/PDN-5thavenueawards.