SNAP! Receives 55 TAG Nominations for 2008 - Wins 18
BY BOB FISCHBACH
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

SNAP, which shares Omaha's smallest theater with the Shelterbelt, won 18 of the 31 awards presented for the 2007-08 season. All three shows had themes dealing with homosexuality.

Nine were for "Zanna Don't," a musical that imagines a high school in which gays are the majority and heterosexuals the closeted minority. In addition to best musical, the show won for stage direction and music direction by Todd Brooks, choreography by Patrick Roddy, musical lead actor Stephen Michael Shelton, as Zanna, and supporting actor Dan Chevalier, as Mike, plus costume design, props design and youth technician Dusty Davis.

"Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika," the second half of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer-winning opus about AIDS in the 1980s, won in four comedy-drama acting categories: lead actor Michal Simpson as Roy Cohn, supporting actress Therese Rennels as Hannah Pitt and Ethel Rosenberg, supporting actor Roderick Cotton as Belize, and featured actress Kirstin Kluver as the angel.

Actress Connie Lee's name was called twice. She won for comedy-drama lead actress, playing a ruthless Hollywood agent for a closeted actor in "The Little Dog Laughed." She also won featured actress in a musical for "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the Omaha Community Playhouse, in which she led a singing, dancing office typing pool.

Brooks won a third award for comedy-drama direction on "The Little Dog Laughed," which also won for lighting design.

The Omaha Community Playhouse was the second most honored theater, winning eight awards. "South Pacific" won for musical lead actress Angela Jenson-Frey, as Nellie, and for sound design. Playhouse associate director Susan Baer Collins won musical supporting actress as Joanne in "Company," which also won best ensemble number for "Side by Side."

Ben Beck won featured actor in a musical, playing a Chinese white slaver in "Thoroughly Modern Millie." The Playhouse's "Shakespeare in Hollywood" won acting awards for Bernie Clark, as studio mogul Jack Warner, and youth actor Gage Wallace, as a harried assistant.

Best cabaret or special event went to Mary Carrick for "Some People: Great Songs of the Musical Theatre," which was co-produced by Cabaret Theatre, BroadStreet Theatre and North Side Christian Church.

"From the Shelterbelt With Love" won best one-act for "Bankin' on the Grand," a skit about a couple stuck atop their flooded trailer. Nick Zadina's "The Day Omaha Exploded," also at the Shelterbelt, won best new script.

2008 Nominations for SNAP!

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role, Comedy/Drama

·      Kirstin Kluver, The Angel/Various Roles, Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role, Comedy/Drama

·      Dennis Maddux, Ethel Merman, Christmas with the Crawfords, SNAP! Productions

·      Jeff Nelson, Shirley Temple, Christmas with the Crawfords, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role, Musical

·      Connie Jo Podendorf, Chaperone/Nurse, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      Jenny Priesman, Karla/Mable/Diner, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      Katie Spicka, Candi/Loretta/Diner, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role, Musical

·      Jeremy Gillmore, Arvin/Tex/Diner, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      Johnny Mack, Tank, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      John Remington, Mr. Gomez, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Youth Tech

·      Dusty Davis, Zanna Don’t, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design

·      Jeff Lively, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      M. Michele Phillips & Dave Podendorf, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

·      Dave Podendorf, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design

·      Todd Brooks, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

·      Todd Brooks, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      Liz Kendall, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design

·      Matt DeNoncour & Jerry Woiderski, Angels in America Part I:  Millennium Approaches,  SNAP! Productions

·      Matt DeNoncour & Jerry Woiderski, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

·      Ernie Gubbels, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

·      Elizabeth Kendall, Zanna Don’t! , SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Comedy/Drama

·      Jennifer Gilg, Harper Pitt/Various Roles, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

·      Emily Neve, Ellen, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

·      Therese Rennels, Hannah Pitt/Various Roles Angels in America Part I:  Millennium Approaches,  SNAP! Productions

·      Therese Rennels, Hannah Pitt/Various Roles Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy/Drama

·      Roderick Leon Cotton, Belize/Mr. Lies, Angels in America Part I:  Millennium Approaches,  SNAP! Productions

·      Roderick Leon Cotton, Belize/Mr. Lies, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

·      Michael Juarez, Alex, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

·      Brian Zealand, Joe Pitt, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

 

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Musical

·      Caitlin Mabon, Roberta, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      Megan Van Alstine, Kate, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Musical

·      Dan Chevalier, Mike, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      Jerry Woiderski, Steve, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design

·      Nancy Ross, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

·      Kevin Steward, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Properties Design

·      Donita Brooks, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      Rhonda Hall, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

·      Rhonda Hall, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

·      Krystal Kelly & Joe Basque, Angels in America Part I:  Millennium Approaches,  SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement by a Choreographer

·      Patrick Roddy, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction

·      Todd Brooks, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble

·      “Be A Man”, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      “Who’s Got Extra Love”, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

·      “Finale”, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Stage Direction, Comedy/Drama

·      Todd Brooks, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

·      M. Michele Phillips, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Stage Direction, Musical

·      Todd Brooks, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Comedy/Drama

·      Connie Lee, Diane, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Comedy/Drama

·      Matt Allen, Prior Walter, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

·      Jim Palmer, Mitchell, The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

·      Michal Simpson, Roy Cohn/Various Roles, Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, Musical

·      Stephen Michael Shelton, Zanna, Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Comedy Production

·      The Little Dog Laughed, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Drama Production

·      Angels in America Part I:  Millennium Approaches,  SNAP! Productions

·      Angels in America Part II: Perestroika, SNAP! Productions

Outstanding Musical Production

·      Zanna Don’t!, SNAP! Productions



Complete list of Theatre Arts Guild Award winners

BEST SHOWS
Musical: "Zanna Don't," SNAP Productions
Comedy: "The Little Dog Laughed," SNAP
Drama: "Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika," SNAP
Cabaret or special event: "Some People: Great Songs of the Musical Theatre," Cabaret Theatre/North Side Christian Church/BroadStreet Theatre Co.
One-act: "Bankin' on the Grand," "From the Shelterbelt with Love," Shelterbelt Theatre

DIRECTION
Stage direction, musical: Todd Brooks, "Zanna Don't," SNAP
Musical direction, musical: Todd Brooks, "Zanna Don't," SNAP
Stage direction, comedy or drama: Todd Brooks, "The Little Dog Laughed," SNAP
Choreography: Patrick Roddy, "Zanna Don't," SNAP

ACTING, MUSICALS
Lead actress: Angela Jenson-Frey, Nellie Forbush, "South Pacific," Omaha Community Playhouse
Lead actor: Stephen Michael Shelton, Zanna, "Zanna Don't," SNAP
Supporting actress: Susan Baer Collins, Joanne, "Company," Playhouse
Supporting actor: Dan Chevalier, Mike, "Zanna Don't," SNAP
Featured actress: Connie Lee, Mrs. Flannery, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Playhouse
Featured actor: Ben Beck, Ching Ho, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," Playhouse
Ensemble: "Side by Side," "Company," Playhouse

ACTING, COMEDY OR DRAMA
Lead actress: Connie Lee, Diane, "The Little Dog Laughed," SNAP
Lead actor: Michal Simpson, Roy Cohn, "Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika," SNAP
Supporting actress: Therese Rennels, Hannah Pitt/various roles, "Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika," SNAP
Supporting actor: Roderick Cotton, Belize, "Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika," SNAP
Featured actress: Kirstin Kluver, Angel/various roles, "Angels in America Part 2: Perestroika," SNAP
Featured actor: Bernie Clark, Jack Warner, "Shakespeare in Hollywood," Playhouse

THEATRE ARTS
Set design: Bill Van Deest, "Seascape," Blue Barn Theatre
Costume design: Kevin Steward, "Zanna Don't," SNAP
Lighting design: Ernie Gubbels, "The Little Dog Laughed," SNAP
Sound design: Tim Burkhart and John Gibilisco, "South Pacific," Playhouse
Props design: Donita Brooks, Jim Brooks and Connie Fowler, "Zanna Don't," SNAP
New script: Nick Zadina, "The Day Omaha Exploded," Shelterbelt

YOUTH AWARDS
Actress: Delaney Kunz, Kate, "She Stoops to Conquer," Brigit St. Brigit Theatre
Actor: Gage Wallace, Daryl, "Shakespeare in Hollywood," Playhouse
Stage tech: Dusty Davis, "Zanna Don't," SNAP