CATS, Sierra Stages, LeGacy and Quest all nominated for Elly Awards

Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra is a leader in nominations for Elly Awards in the 2014-15 season (eight in total), including a best overall production nomination for Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. The other local nominees include Sierra Stages (two), LeGacy Presents (four) and Quest Theaterworks (five, including best overall production for Gidion’s Knot).

It is a reminder of the growing excellence of our region’s community theater, which our magazine has chronicled in “Community theater thriving and part of our social fabric,” among other articles.

More than 430 Elly nominees for the 2014-15 season were announced at an informal nomination reception on Sunday. More than 100 actors, directors, technicians, and producers were on hand to listen excitedly for their names to be called. This year’s theme is “How Sweet It Is” and featured an assortment of brightly colored candies displayed in decorative candy jars.

The Adult Elly Award ceremony will be on Sunday, September 27, at 7 p.m. at the Elks Lodge No. 6 in Sacramento.

During the 2014-15 season 240 shows were submitted by 76 theaters. Fifty-eight theaters and 127 productions received nominations.

The local nominations are:

Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra of Grass Valley for Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

CATS— overall production
Annie Lareau — direction
Lyra Dominguez — leading female
Kevin M. Lin — leading male
Randall Nakano — leading male
Jill Kelly — costume design
Tim Dugan — lighting design
Pamela Hodges — set design

Sierra Stages of Nevada City for Peter Pan
Jill Kelly — costume design
Donale McKay, Erin Beatie —lighting design

LeGacy Presents of Nevada County CA for Brighton Beach Memoirs
Alvis LeGate — direction
Sue LeGate-Halford — leading female
Les Solomon — lightening design
Darryl Stines — set design

Quest Theaterworks for Calendar Girls
Judy Blake— direction

Quest Theaterworks of Grass Valley for Gidion’s Knot
Quest Theaterworks — overall production
Joan Deaderick — direction
Lois Ewing — leading female
Trish Adair — leading female

Lake Wildwood Theatre also received a nomination for costume design for Johnny Danger, and the Nevada County Performing Arts Guide received two nominations for Alices in Wonderland.

Named for the late Eleanor McClatchy, a devoted patron of the arts and former publisher of the Sacramento Bee, the Elly Awards celebrate excellence and the outstanding achievements of community theaters and artists in the greater Sacramento area. Created 33 years ago by local community actors, the Elly Awards have grown from a local Sacramento tradition to now include theatres within a 70-mile radius.

For more information visit SARTA.com.

This summer, meanwhile, Sierra Stages production of The Producers is winning high praise. For the first time, Sierra Stages has sold out a show for six nights in a row. Sierra Stages received 51 Elly Award nominations in its first six seasons. A video of its production of The Producers is here:

(Photo: David Wong for Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet)