By The Concord Insider - Feb 2, 2016 | 1 comment

The Children’s Theatre Project of the Concord Community Players performed a number from their production of “Shrek” at the awards ceremony. (Courtesy photo)

Concord High students Gracie Kontak and Pablo Rubin (front) show off their skills in the Peacock Players performance of “Chicago.” (Courtesy photo)

The 14th annual New Hampshire Theatre Awards were held at the Capitol Center for the Arts on Jan. 23. Production companies, professional and community actors, as well as those who work behind the scenes, were recognized for all they had done over the previous year.

Many local actors and theater groups were nominated for their worthy productions and as you will soon find out, a few even took home some hardware.

Concord Community Players of Concord’s Matt McGonagle earned the title as best actor in a community musical for his work as Sweeney Todd in the production of Sweeney Todd.

Sara Souter, who played Mrs. Lovett in the Concord Community Players rendition of Sweeney Todd was a finalist for best actress in a community musical. The community players’s production of Sweeney Todd as a whole was a finalist for best production of a community musical.

Rowan Ferrier’s performance as J. Pierrepont Finch in RB Productions’s How to Succeed at Business Without Really Trying was awarded best youth actor.

Concord High School student Grace Kontak won best youth actress for her performance as Velma Kelly in Chicago for Peacock Players out of Nashua.

And here is a look at the rest of the winners:

Best Production

Drama/Comedy, Community: Time Stands Still – theatre KAPOW

Musical, Community: Crazy For You – Actorsingers

Drama/Comedy, Professional: Outside Mullingar – Peterborough Players

Musical, Professional: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – New London Barn Playhouse

Youth: Chicago – Peacock Players

Best Director

Drama/Comedy, Community: Dennis O’Neil, Death of a Salesman – M&D Productions

Musical, Community: Keith Weirich, Chicago – Peacock Players

Drama/Comedy, Professional: Gus Kaikkonen, Outside Mullingar – Peterborough Players

Musical, Professional: Keith Andrews, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – New London Barn Playhouse

Best Actor

Drama/Comedy, Community: Kevin O’Neil as Willy Loman, Death of a Salesman – M&D Productions

Musical, Community: Matt McGonagle as Sweeney Todd, Sweeney Todd – Community Players of Concord

Drama/Comedy, Professional: Kraig Swartz as Fancourt Babberley, Charley’s Aunt – Peterborough Players

Musical, Professional: Chris Collins-Pisano as Freddy Benson, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – New London Barn Playhouse

Youth: Rowan Ferrier as J. Pierrepont Finch, How to Succeed at Business Without Really Trying – RB Productions

Best Actress

Drama/Comedy, Community: Julianne Brosnan as Linda Loman, Death of a Salesman – M&D Productions

Musical, Community: Mia Berardi as Natalie, All Shook Up – StageCoach Productions

Drama/Comedy, Professional: Bridget Beirne as Rosemary Muldoon, Outside Mullingar – Peterborough Players

Musical, Professional: Sara Schoch as Princess Puffer/Angela Prysock, The Mystery of Edwin Drood – New London Barn Playhouse

Youth: Gracie Kontak as Velma Kelly, Chicago – Peacock Players

Best Supporting Actor

Drama/Comedy, Community: J Mark Morrison as Lucien P. Smith, The Boys Next Door – Bedford Off Broadway

Musical, Community: Elliot Owens as Dennis, All Shook Up – StageCoach Productions

Drama/Comedy, Professional: Steven Walters as Jack, Charley’s Aunt – Peterborough Players

Musical, Professional: Remi Sandri as Lawrence Jameson, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – New London Barn Playhouse

Youth: Dawson Ellis as Leaf Coneybear and Carl Grubenierre, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – The Winnipesaukee Playhouse

Best Supporting Actress

Drama/Comedy, Community: Barbara Webb as Madame Arcati, Blithe Spirit – Jean’s Playhouse

Musical, Community: Candace (Glickman) Gatzoulis as Anita, West Side Story – Majestic Theatre

Drama/Comedy, Professional: Dale Hodges as Aoife Muldoon, Outside Mullingar – Peterborough Players

Musical, Professional: Kera Halbersleben as Muriel Eubanks, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – New London Barn Playhouse

Youth: Olivia Dube as Paulette Buonofuonte, Legally Blonde – Majestic Theatre

Best Music Director

Community: Henry Kopczynskie III, Chicago – Peacock Players

Professional: Robbie Cowan, The Mystery of Edwin Drood – New London Barn Playhouse

Best Choreographer

Community: Valerie Psoinos Nelson, Chicago – Peacock Players

Professional (Tie): Keith Andrews, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – New London Barn Playhouse; Keith Coughlin, The Mystery Of Edwin Drood – New London Barn Playhouse

Best Costume Designer

Community: Alex Homola, Chicago – Peacock Players

Professional: Allison Crutchfield, The Mystery of Edwin Drood – New London Barn Playhouse

Best Scenic Designer

Community: Jim Webber, Time Stands Still – theatre KAPOW

Professional: Charles Morgan, Outside Mullingar – Peterborough Players

Best Sound Designer

Community: Rich Loomer, Chicago – Peacock Players

Professional: Timothy M Bailey, The Mystery of Edwin Drood – New London Barn Playhouse

Best Lighting Designer

Community: Tayva Young, Time Stands Still – theatre KAPOW

Professional: Porsche McGovern, The Mystery of Edwin Drood – New London Barn Playhouse