Carolina Curtain Call’s Critics’ Picks of the 2017-18 Theatre Season
(September 1, 2017 – August 30, 2018)
VOTING INFO COMING SOON!
The Upstate is so fortunate to be a Mecca of theatre and this list by two of our critics Sandy Staggs and Jeff Levene (and a few trusty theatre freaks) includes only a fraction of the beautiful and empowering shows, dazzling performances, and incredible technical feats performed every day right here in the Upstate.
Please feel free to WRITE-IN your favorite moments from the 2017-18 Theatre Season.
And, do notify us of any corrections on FB Messenger or by email at sandy@carolinacurtaincall.com
MUSICAL OF THE YEAR – Professional Theatre
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – Greenville Little Theatre
BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON – The Warehouse Theatre
IN THE HEIGHTS – Glow Lyric Theatre
MAMMA MIA! – Centre Stage
RAGTIME – Greenville Little Theatre
MUSICAL OF THE YEAR – Large Community Theatre
BEEHIVE: THE 60s MUSICAL – Mill Town Players
GRITS: The Musical – Abbeville Opera House
HONKY TONK ANGELS – Mill Town Players
LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL – Spartanburg Little Theatre
MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE – South Carolina Children’s Theatre*
ROCK OF AGES – Spartanburg Little Theatre
MUSICAL OF THE YEAR – Medium/Small Community Theatre
CABARET – The Market Theatre Company
HAPPY DAYS: THE MUSICAL – Foothills Playhouse
INTO THE WOODS – Greenwood Community Theatre*
KISS ME KATE – Tryon Little Theater
NUNSENSE – Younts Center for Performing Arts*
THE BROOM CUPBOARD – Misfit Theatre Company*
PLAY OF THE YEAR – Professional Theatre
A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN– The Warehouse Theatre
FOUR OLD BROADS – Centre Stage
PERFECT WEDDING – Greenville Little Theatre
SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE – Greenville Little Theatre
THE CAKE – The Warehouse Theatre
THE FLICK – The Warehouse Theatre
WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING – Centre Stage
PLAY OF THE YEAR – Large Community Theatre
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST – Spartanburg Little Theatre
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – Mill Town Players
VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE – Abbeville Opera House*
PLAY OF THE YEAR – Medium/Small Community Theatre
DEATH OF A SALESMAN – The Market Theatre Company*
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK – Foothills Playhouse*
DRIVING MISS DAISY – Clemson Little Theatre
I AM MY OWN WIFE – Proud Mary Theatre Company
OUTSIDE MULLIGAR – Tryon Little Theater
SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES – Proud Mary Theatre Company
SHAKESPEARE PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
ROMEO & JULIET – Guerrilla Shakespeare Company
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING – The Warehouse Theatre
ROMEO AND JULIET – Scrappy Shakespeare*
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW – Upstate Shakespeare Festival
THE WINTER’S TALE – Upstate Shakespeare Festival
TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA – Greenville Summer Shakespeare*
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – The Rocky River Shakespeare Festival*
MUSICAL REVUE OF THE YEAR
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ – Mill Town Players
ROCKIN’ THE KEYS – Centre Stage
GROOVIN’ – Younts Center*
ONE-NIGHT-ONLY SHOW OF THE YEAR
ARMED – Glow Lyric Theatre
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – 24 Hour Musical
24 HOUR PLAY FESTIVAL – Greenville Little Theatre
ORIGINAL PLAY/MUSICAL OF THE YEAR
THE BROOM CUPBOARD – Misfit Theatre Company*
MUSICAL – DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Andrew Scoville – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
Jenna Tamisiea Elser – IN THE HEIGHTS, Glow Lyric Theatre
John Fagan – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Suzanna McCalla & Sam McCalla – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Kimberlee Ferreira – BEEHIVE: THE 60s MUSICAL, Mill Town Players
Christopher Rose – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
Jay Coffman – ROCK OF AGES, Spartanburg Little Theatre
PLAY – DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Jay Coffman – ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Suzanna McCalla – SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE, Greenville Little Theatre
Christopher Rose – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – Mill Town Players
Drew Whitley – DEATH OF A SALESMAN, The Market Theatre Company
Jimmy O. Burdette – DRIVING MISS DAISY, Clemson Little Theatre
Robert Fuson – I AM MY OWN WIFE, Proud Mary Theatre Company
Kerrie Seymour – THE CAKE, The Warehouse Theatre
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Susan Lyle – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Christian Elser – IN THE HEIGHTS, Glow Lyric Theatre
LeRoy Kenedy – LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL, Spartanburg Little Theatre
LeRoy Kenedy – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
Tim St. Clair, II – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Julia West – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
Joshua & Hannah Morton – BEEHIVE: THE 60s MUSICAL, Mill Town Players
Chase McAbee – ROCKIN’ THE KEYS, Centre Stage
Holly Caprell – BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO, Centre Stage
LIVE ORCHESTRA/BAND OF THE YEAR
ROCK OF AGES – Spartanburg Little Theatre
IN THE HEIGHTS – Glow Lyric Theatre
BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON – The Warehouse Theatre
GUYS AND DOLLS – Spartanburg Little Theatre
FIDELIO – Glow Lyric Theatre
ROCKIN’ THE KEYS – Centre Stage
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ – Mill Town Players
MUSICAL ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR (LARGE)
LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL – Spartanburg Little Theatre
RAGTIME – Greenville Little Theatre
MAMMA MIA! – Centre Stage
IN THE HEIGHTS – Glow Lyric Theatre
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – Greenville Little Theatre
MUSICAL ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR (SMALL)
BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON – The Warehouse Theatre
CABARET – The Market Theatre Company
HONKY TONK ANGELS – Mill Town Players
NUNSENSE – Younts Center*
ROCKIN’ THE KEYS – Centre Stage
BEEHIVE: THE 60s MUSICAL – Mill Town Players
HANDS ON A HARDBODY – Spartanburg Little Theatre
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO – Centre Stage
CHOREOGRAPHY
Ashley Bingham – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
Michelle Morast – IN THE HEIGHTS, Glow Lyric Theatre
Kimberlee Ferreira – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Greenville Little Theatre
Kimberlee Ferreira – CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’, Mill Town Players
Ben Hobbs – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
April Kibbe – GUYS AND DOLLS, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Michael Cherry – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Allison Mitchell – THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Upstate Shakespeare Festival
SOLO DANCER OF THE YEAR
Kaylin Herd – CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’, Mill Town Players
PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE – MUSICAL
David Bean – GHOST, CENTRE STAGE
Benjamin Davis – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
Samuel Floyd – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Greenville Little Theatre
Trey Hendon – GUYS & DOLLS, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Ediberto Ortega – IN THE HEIGHTS, Glow Lyric Theatre
Dave LaPage – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE – MUSICAL
Anna Lee Altman – LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Meghan Cole – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
Meg Foster – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Magdalena Laws – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Greenville Little Theatre
Jessica Luffey – FIDELIO, Glow Lyric Theatre
Glenda ManWaring – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Katerina McCrimmon – IN THE HEIGHTS, Glow Lyric Theatre
Kaylee Willis – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Jon Kilpatrick – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Delvin Choice – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Luke Browder – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Ray Cohen – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
Rod McClendon – BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO, Centre Stage
Ben Dawkins – GUYS AND DOLLS, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Andrew Coleman – IN THE HEIGHTS, Glow Lyric Theatre
Benjamin Abrams – ROCK OF AGES, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Craig Smith – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Greenville Little Theatre
Carter Allen – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Greenville Little Theatre
Bruce Meahl – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE – MUSICAL
Jessica Eckenrod – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Cindy Mixon – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Gisele Gathings – GHOST, CENTRE STAGE
Rachel Jeffreys – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
Lori Guthrie – LEGALLY BLONDE, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Susan Kocher – KISS ME KATE, Tryon Little Theater
Michele Colletti – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Celia Blitzer – HANDS ON A HARD BODY, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Crystal Marie Stewart – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
Joanna Haynes – GUYS AND DOLLS, Spartanburg Little Theatre
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE SOLO OF THE YEAR
Tiffany Nave as Janis Joplin – BEEHIVE, Mill Town Players
PLAY – ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR
GOD OF CARNAGE – Centre Stage
WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING – Centre Stage
CLYBOURNE PARK – The Warehouse Theatre
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST – Spartanburg Little Theatre
SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE – Greenville Little Theatre
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD – Mill Town Players
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW – Upstate Shakespeare Festival
CLYBOURNE PARK, The Warehouse Theatre
PLAY – PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Dave LaPage – I AM MY OWN WIFE, Proud Mary Theatre Company
Josh Wilson – ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Rob Gentry – DEATH OF A SALESMAN, The Market Theatre Company
Chris Cashon – CAPTURE NOW, Centre Stage
Stephen Brown – THE FLICK, The Warehouse Theatre
Thomas Pounds – THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, Electric City Playhouse
Sam Nelson – MISS JULIE, Guerrilla Shakespeare Company
Reed Halvorson – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Mill Town Players
PLAY – PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Sarah Hurley – ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Amanda Sox – THE CAKE, The Warehouse Theatre
Mimi Wyche – THE CAKE, The Warehouse Theatre
Pat Shull – DRIVING MISS DAISY, Clemson Little Theatre
Sam McCalla – SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE, Greenville Little Theatre
Emily Grove – PERFECT WEDDING, Greenville Little Theatre
Sara Tolson – THE TIN WOMAN, Center Stage
Nakeisha Daniel – MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, The Warehouse Theatre
PLAY – PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Evan Harris – SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE, Greenville Little Theatre
Todd Janssen – PERFECT WEDDING, Greenville Little Theatre
Christopher Paul Smith – OUTSIDE MULLINGAR, Tryon Little Theater
Andy Lecture – SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, Proud Mary Theatre Company
Charlie Stowe – THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Upstate Shakespeare Festival
Brian Reeder – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Mill Town Players
Doug Egge – SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, Proud Mary Theatre Company
Matthew Ballard – ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Spartanburg Little Theatre
PLAY – PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Beverly Clowney – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Mill Town Players
Teresa Hough – STEEL MAGNOIAS, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Miranda Barnett – CLYBOURNE PARK, The Warehouse Theatre
Cindy Mixon – FOUR OLD BROADS, Centre Stage
Valerie Barnet – STEEL MAGNOIAS, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Kim Granner – OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS, Greenville Little Theatre
Caroline Jane Davis– 5 LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE, Proud Mary Theatre Company
Anne Robards – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Mill Town Players
SCENIC DESIGN – MUSICAL
Clint Walker – LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Will Lowry – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
John Fagan – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Kim Granner – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Will Ragland– BEEHIVE, Mill Town Players
Will Lowry – IN THE HEIGHTS, FIDELIO & HMS Pinafore, Glow Lyric Theatre
SCENIC DESIGN – PLAY
Shannon Robert – CLYBOURNE PARK, The Warehouse Theatre
Will Luther – STEEL MAGNOLIAS, Spartanburg Little Theatre
XXXXX – THE CAKE, The Warehouse Theatre
Jayce Tromsness – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Mill Town Players
Suzanne McCalla – SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE, Greenville Little Theatre
COSTUMES – MUSICAL
Will Luther – LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL – Spartanburg Little Theatre
Kendra Johnson – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
Charlotte Jones – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Thomas Brooks – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
Katie Halstensgard – BEEHIVE, Mill Town Players
Kennedy Roberts – FIDELIO, Glow Lyric Theatre
Hazel James Designs – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
COSTUMES – PLAY
Elizabeth Gray – MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, The Warehouse Theatre
Sarah Greene – THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Upstate Shakespeare Festival
Thomas Brooks – SHERLOCK HOLMES & THE CHRISTMAS GOOSE, Greenville Little Theatre
Tiffany Nave – RED HERRING, Centre Stage
Thomas Brooks – PERFECT WEDDING, Greenville Little Theatre
Kendra Johnson – CLYBOURNE PARK, The Warehouse Theatre
Jennifer Latto – ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Stacy Hawks – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Mill Town Players
HAIR & MAKE-UP – MUSICAL
XXXXXXX – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
XXXXXXX – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
Tiffany Nave & Cast – BEEHIVE, Mill Town Players
Victor DeLeon – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Will Luther – LEGALLY BLONDE, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Will Luther – ROCK OF AGES, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Thomas Brooks – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
HAIR & MAKE-UP – PLAY
Victor DeLeon – RED HERRING, Centre Stage
Thomas Brooks – PERFECT WEDDING, Greenville Little Theatre
Will Luther – STEEL MAGNOLIAS, Spartanburg Little Theatre
XXXXXX – MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, The Warehouse Theatre
LIGHTING – MUSICAL
Maranda DeBusk – GHOST, CENTRE STAGE
Kevin Frazier – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
Kevin Frazier – MAMMA MIA!, Centre Stage
Cory Granner – RAGTIME, Greenville Little Theatre
John King – CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’, Mill Town Players
Peter Lamson – LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Tony Penna – BEEHIVE: THE 60s MUSICAL, Mill Town Players
Kevin Frazier– IN THE HEIGHTS, Glow Lyric Theatre
Maranda DeBusk – FIDELIO, Glow Lyric Theatre
Maggie McNeil – CABARET, The Market Theatre Company
LIGHTING – PLAY
XXXXXX – THE CAKE, The Warehouse Theatre
John King – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Mill Town Players
Kevin Frazier – RED HERRING, Centre Stage
Peter Lamson – ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Spartanburg Little Theatre
SOUND DESIGN – MUSICAL
Christopher Nicholas – GHOST, Centre Stage
Jim Breitmeier – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
Cory Granner – BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Greenville Little Theatre
SOUND DESIGN – PLAY
John King – TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Mill Town Players
XXXXXXXX – THE FLICK, The Warehouse Theatre
Kevin Frazier – RED HERRING, Centre Stage
I AM MY OWN WIFE – Proud Mary Theatre Company
Peter Lamson – ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Barry Whitfield – SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, Proud Mary Theatre Company
VIDEO DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Christopher Nicholas – GHOST, Centre Stage
ROCK OF AGES – Spartanburg Little Theatre
WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING – Centre Stage
SPECIAL EFFECTS OF THE YEAR
JJ Pearson – “GHOST,” CENTRE STAGE
EXPENSIVE PROP OF THE YEAR
Pickup Truck – HANDS ON A HARDBODY, Spartanburg Little Theatre
Flying Car – CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, Artios Academies of Greenville
ARIEL CHOREOGRAPHY
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – Greenville Little Theatre
RAGTIME – Greenville Little Theatre
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
Bill Munoz – BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, The Warehouse Theatre
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN SCENIC DESIGN
Barry Whitfield – LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, USC Upstate
*Not reviewed by CCC Critics, but patron reviews, social media & known quality of theatre’s work.