The stars of the Oamaru Operatic Society’s Chicago production are set to shine again at the inaugural 2013 Otago Southland Theatre Awards.
The Oamaru-based production has received nominations in 13 of 16 different categories.
It is up for best overall production in the awards and various people involved in the production have received nominations as well.
Duncan Whiting is up for best direction, Stephen Hinds for best musical direction and Jeannie Mark for best choreography, among others.
Oamaru Operatic Society president Dan Lewis said everybody was thrilled at the news of the nominations.
Thousands of hours of work went into a production like Chicago and the nominations recognised how much effort everyone put in, he said.
“What we put on stage and the quality we produced was an achievement in itself.”
It was “an honour” to be ranked alongside the other nominees due to the calibre of their productions, he said.
It would be “the icing on the cake” for everyone involved in Chicago if they took home some awards for their efforts, Mr Lewis said.
OSTA convener Helen Horsnell said the awards gave the theatre community the chance to celebrate people’s achievements.
“The awards will celebrate those in the community who give countless hours, often unpaid, towards presenting the high quality productions audiences have come to expect.
“We get to relax, enjoy each other’s company all the while acknowledging those who have excelled in their chosen field of theatre,” she said.
The awards involve the 15 theatre societies in North Otago, Otago, Central Otago and Southland that are New Zealand Musical Theatre Federation members.
Eight regional productions were judged by five people over 10 months for OSTA award consideration.
There were more than 80 nominees throughout 16 categories.
The awards will be held on February 22, 2014 in Dunedin.
2013 OTAGO SOUTHLAND THEATRE AWARDS NOMINATIONS:
BEST OVERALL PRODUCTION
Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST DIRECTION
Duncan Whiting, Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION
Stephen Hinds, Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Jeannie Mark, Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST WARDROBE DESIGN
Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST PROPERTIES DESIGN
Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR DESIGN
Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST LEADING MALE IN A MUSICAL
David Snow as Billy Flynn, Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST LEADING FEMALE IN A MUSICAL
Amber McLelland as Roxie, Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST SUPPORTING MALE IN A PLAY OR MUSICAL
David Blair as Amos Hart, Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society
BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE IN A PLAY OR MUSICAL
Rebecca Ryan as Velma Kelly, Chicago, Oamaru Operatic Society.
By DAVID DE LOREAN
