Theater: Cary Players Announce Pietzsch Nominees

Story by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Chris Adamczyk.

Cary, NC- Cary Players holds their own version of the Oscars known as the Pietzsch Awards. Nominees for this year were recently announced, causing a media frenzy. Maybe you know someone on the list.

Cary Players 2011 Pietzsch Award Nominees

The 2010-2011 theater season produced 5 plays including an original script by Cary resident, Phil Lowden. It also marked the last season that the troupe performed the Valentine’s favorite ensemble production, Love Bits and Bites, at Page-Walker.

Starting in this fall, the Cary Players will have residency at the new Cary Arts Center. The first production will be Once Upon a Mattress.

The awards with the hard to pronounce name (actually sounds like “peach”) is named for a fellow Cary Player and board member, Wilson Pietzsch, who performed in all of the Players productions until his untimely death in 2006.

From their website: The Pietzsch Awards, named in his honor, are designed to recognize individuals who exemplify Wilson’s special blend of dedication, acting ability, volunteerism, and good humor. With these awards, Cary Players hope to build and maintain a tradition of community theater excellence for which Wilson set the standard.

If you missed the season (shame on you!), CaryCitizen saw almost everything and you can read about them below as they are each nominated for an Outstanding Show.

Outstanding Show:
Ruby Red
Over the River and Through the Woods
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Puss in Boots

The following folks have been nominated for their performances. Winners will be announced at the Pietzsch Awards Night held at the Cary Arts Center on September 9, 2011.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress:
Gilly Conklin – Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Jacqueline Dorry -Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Joanna Herath -Ruby Red
Gayle Robinson – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Kate Tonner – Over the River and Through the Woods

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress:
Noelle Barnard – Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Gilly Conklin – Ruby Red
Rita Dimoulas – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Alexandra Merz – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Bonnie Roe – Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense

Outstanding Performance by an Actor
Gus Allen – Puss in Boots
Tracy Fulghum – Ruby Red
George Kaiser – Puss in Boots
Clint Lienau – Love Bit & Bites: The Sixth Sense
Jeff Nugent – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Jason Peck – Over the River and Through the Woods

Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor
Chris Bynum – Puss in Boots
Lyman Collins – Ruby Red
Tracy Fulghum – Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Nick Karner – Ruby Red
Mark Mickunas -Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
Harvey Sage – Over the River and Through the Woods

Outstanding Musical Performance
Dena Byers and Courtney Slocum – Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense – Nightingale
Gilly Conklin and Greg Tarsa – Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense –
Enter My Dreams
Angie Davis, Bonnie Roe, and Joyce Weiser – Love Bits & Bites: The Sixth Sense Stars and Moons
Alexandra Merz – Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus –
Merry Little Christmas
Joanna Herath, Jeri McKee, Bonnie Roe and Megan Woronka –
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Congratulations to all the nominees!