- Excellence in Costume Design – Benjamin & Kaitlyn Iocco
- Excellence in Direction – Benjamin & Kaitlyn Iocco
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Sam Level
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Matt Dentino
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Phil Nelson
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Marley Davis
- Excellence in Set Design – Benjamin Iocco
- Excellence in Stage Combat – Chelsea Russell
- Excellence in Stage Management – Em Knudten
- Excellence in Vocal Direction – Angie Baker
- Excellence in Choreography – Haley Haskin
- Excellence in Dialect Coaching – Kate Glasheen-Dentino
- Excellence in Ensemble – The Cast of ‘Oliver! The Musical’
- Excellence in Hair/Wigs – Jerica Henline
- Excellence in Lighting Design – Carter Perry
- Excellence in Lighting Execution – Carter Perry
- Excellence in Make-Up – Doug & Cathy Henderson, Heather Lacey, Moriah Lawson, and Erin Level
- Excellence in Musical Direction – Angie Baker & Benjamin Price
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Geri Campbell
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Adria Whitfill
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Corinne Baumann
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Jeff Carter
- Excellence in Orchestral Performance – Benjamin Price & Orchestra
- Excellence in Other – Gayle Spjut for Costume Management
- Excellence in Producing – Benjamin & Kaitlyn Iocco
- Excellence in Program Art – Benjamin Iocco & Eric Dean
- Excellence in Properties – Rachel Cobbs, Benjamin Iocco, and Kaitlyn Iocco
- Excellence in Set Construction – Matt Dentino, John Dorney, Jeff Hanneken, Doug Henderson, Brad Hunkler, Benjamin Iocco, Gordon Iocco, Jessie Pie, and Steve Rawlings
- Excellence in Set Décor – Benjamin Iocco
- Excellence in Sound Design – Aaron Brueckman
- Excellence in Dance Execution – The Cast of ‘Oliver! The Musical’
Author Archives: robbucher
2024-2025 Orchid Awards for Merit Theatre
Filed under In Other News
2024-2025 Orchid Awards for Queen City Productions
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Krissa Thayer
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Niki Rasmussen
- Excellence in Vocal Direction – Spencer Jones
- Excellence in House – Lisa Dunaway
- Excellence in Lighting Design – Kevin Dunaway
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Max Bruns
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Gabi Homonoff
- Excellence in Sound Design – Brandon Maertz & Jamie Rasmussen
A LITTLE BIT OF BROADWAY
- Excellence in Lobby Display – Lisa Dunaway
12 ANGRY JURORS
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Matti Madariaga
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Rockford Koehler
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Gary Robinson
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Mia DeSalvo
- Excellence in Sound Execution – Lauren Davidson & Nancy Cleary
- Excellence in Video Production Design – Brandon Woodward
- Excellence in Lobby Display – Terry Neack & Lisa Dunaway
- Excellence in Make-Up – Matti Madariaga & Shell Bellamy
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Kim Guzman
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Terry Neack
- Excellence in Pre-Show – Kevin Dunaway
- Excellence in Properties – Matti Madariaga & Lauren Davidson
- Excellence in Sound Design – Brandon Maertz & Jamie Rasmussen
Filed under In Other News
2024-2025 Orchid Awards for Loveland Stage Company
- Excellence in Direction – Michael Yarick
- Excellence in Choreography – Jenna Schroeder
- Excellence in Costume Design – Kathy Christopher, Nate Huitger, and Beth Swan
- Excellence in Ensemble – The Cast of ‘James & The Giant Peach Jr.’
- Excellence in Lighting Execution – Cole Blevins, Justin Hanks, and Andrew Theademan
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Caitlin Linz
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Lauren Fritzsche
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Colton Perrmann
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Wren Dewald
- Excellence in Producing – Kiya Fix
- Excellence in Program – Michael Yarick
- Excellence in Properties – Meredith Campbell, Blake Evans, Kiya Fix, Jae Liles, and Michael Yarick
- Excellence in Set Décor – Blake Evans
- Excellence in Set Design – Kiya Fix
DISENCHANTED
- Excellence in Costume Design – Melinda Hubbard
- Excellence in Direction – Carissa Sloan
- Excellence in Ensemble – The Cast of ‘Disenchanted!’
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Monica Weber
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Jun Holubeck
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Kim Guzman
- Excellence in Hair/Wigs – Christina Siciliano
- Excellence in Musical Direction – J.E. Kurzynski
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Pettrina Barresi
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Kayla Haas
- Excellence in Orchestral Performance – J.E. Kurzynski, Austin Bengal, and Bob Schwartz
- Excellence in Producing – Jill Gornet
GODSPELL
- Excellence in Choreography – Hunter Gee
- Excellence in Costume Design – Emily Pine
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Brett Gregory Parr
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Justin Hanks
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Michael Yarick
- Excellence in Direction – Amy Prestridge
- Excellence in Ensemble – The Cast of ‘Godspell’
- Excellence in Musical Direction – Amy Prestridge & Bob Schwartz
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Ashley Merk
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Keilah Boone
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Tosha Love
- Excellence in Orchestral Performance – The ‘Godspell’ Orchestra
- Excellence in Overall Performance Quality – The Cast of ‘Godspell’
- Excellence in Program – Peggy Goodwin and Carissa Sloan
- Excellence in Properties – Doug Bruening
- Excellence in Set Construction – Tom Cavano and Dave Wall
- Excellence in Sound Design – Kyle Echols
- Excellence in Stage Management – Nate Huitger
- Excellence in Vocal Direction – Amy Prestridge
THE TOXIC AVENGER
- Excellence in Costume Design – Tom Morris
- Excellence in Direction – John Sloan
- Excellence in Hair/Wigs – Christina Siciliano
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Amanda Marasch
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Garrett Klaas
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Justin Hanks
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Kayla Haas
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Nick Dunker
- Excellence in Producing – Jill Gornet
- Excellence in Properties – Jae Liles
- Excellence in Choreography – Garrett Klaas
- Excellence in Lighting Design – Vincent Eldridge
- Excellence in Make-Up – Christina Siciliano
- Excellence in Musical Direction – Jon Scheiding
- Excellence in Orchestral Performance – The Toxic Avenger Orchestra
- Excellence in Photography – Mark Motz
- Excellence in Program – Peggy Goodwin and Carissa Sloan
- Excellence in Set Décor – Jeff Centrello
- Excellence in Sound Design – Izy Jones
- Excellence in Sound Execution – Josh Marcus and Leah Marcus
- Excellence in Stage Management – Glenna Knapp
- Excellence in Vocal Direction – Jon Scheiding
Filed under In Other News
2024-2025 Orchid Awards for Mason Community Players
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – David Hesson
- Excellence in Lighting Design – Jason Gonzalez
- Excellence in Make-Up – Jessie Faye
- Excellence in Set Décor – Laureen Catlin, Jim Cronin, Lara Gonzalez, and Mary Stan Fizer
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Darren Lee
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Michele Deremo
- Excellence in Lobby Display – Dana Davis
- Excellence in Stage Management – Stephanie Dalsfoist
SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE!
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Justin Hanks
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – David Bower
- Excellence in Set Décor – Julie Poux, Becca McLaughlin, and Sonya Neff
- Excellence in Lobby Display – Gail Rudolph
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Lara Gonzalez
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Kelley Flaugher
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Genna Pisano
- Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance – Giulia Pisano
- Excellence in Program – Robert Terry
THE MOUSETRAP
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Abby Farmer
- Excellence in Program – Katie Werner
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Parker Culp
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Finn Brockwell
- Excellence in Lobby Display – Mary Beth Benken-Riesenberg
- Excellence in Set Décor – Mary Stan Fizer
THE CEMETERY CLUB
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Lisa Breithaupt
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Mary Beth Benken-Riesenberg
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Sonya Neff
- Excellence in Direction – Ray Lebowski
- Excellence in Set Décor – Darren Lee
- Excellence in Acting in a Play – Susan Deyo
- Excellence in Costume Design – Kally Turner
- Excellence in Lighting Execution – Finn Brockwell
- Excellence in Lobby Display – Giulia Pisano & Genna Pisano
- Excellence in Photography – Eva Bower
- Excellence in Set Construction – Darren Lee
- Excellence in Sound Design – Nathan Courtney
BLITHE SPIRIT
Excellence in Acting in a Play – Anecia Johnson
Excellence in Acting in a Play – Ashley Herbert
Excellence in Set Design – Susan Berger
Excellence in Acting in a Play – Lisa White
Excellence in Hair/Wigs – Linda Geering
Excellence in Program – Jenn Dwyer
Excellence in Properties – Paula Johansen and Paula Clark
Excellence in Special Effects – Susan Berger, Phil Catlin, Stephen Catlin, Dana Davis, Darren Lee, and Gail Rudolph
2024-2025 Orchid & OCTAfest Convention Awards
Scroll down for links to Orchid Awards by Theatre Group
NAMED AWARDS
- ART ROUSE AWARD – Robert Weidle
- MARIO PITOCCO AWARD – Carolyn Martinez
- ROGER GROOMS AWARD – Douglas Berlon
- PRESIDENT’S AWARD – Mark Culp, Jon Scheiding, & Amanda Emmons Shumate
- THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY THEATRE AWARD – Betsy & C. J. Bossart
- JOLE LIND RISING STAR AWARDS – Curtis Perea (ACTUP) | Nor White (BPI) | Allie Webber (CSP) | Savannah Kennedy (CMT) | Evan Blanton (FLI) | Michaela Cramer (INNOVA) | Kyle Echols (LSC) | Matthew O’Brien (MPI) | Eva Bower (MCP) | Lauren Davidson (QCP) | Elise Gillespie (RTP) | Parker Dreier (SSP) | Lisa White (TDW) | Mindi Emmons (TCP) | Drue Harris (VP)
EXCERPTS INVITED TO REPRESENT THE SOUTHWEST REGION AT STATE
- DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS – Footlighters, Inc.
- DISENCHANTED – Loveland Stage Company
- MY THREE ANGELS – The Drama Workshop
- SOUTHERN BELLS – Sunset Players (Alternate)
EXCERPT AWARDS
Below is the list of OCTA awards for the shows that excerpted over the convention weekend.
THESE SHINING LIVES
The Village Players of Fort Thomas
- Evan Beckmeyer – Excellence in Acting as Tom Donahue
- Sydney Vollmer – Excellence in Acting as Catherine Donahue
- Nathan Turner – Merit in Acting as Announcer
- The Village Players of Ft. Thomas – Merit in Set Transitions
- Sydney Vollmer/Tamara Sanow/Madelynn Meredith/Claudia Covarrubias – Merit in Acting as Ensemble Quartet
PUFFS
Tri-County Players
- Niki Rasmussen – Merit in Acting as Megan
- Niki Rasmussen/Mason Glass/James Pinkley – Merit in Ensemble Trio as Megan/Oliver/Wayne
12 ANGRY JURORS
Queen City Productions
- Jenny Caplan – Merit in Acting as Juror 10
- Rockford Koehler – Merit in Acting as Juror 3
- Rae Moretti – Merit in Acting as Juror 7
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
The Footlighters, Inc.
- Carolyn Martinez/Kristie Marasch– Outstanding in Costumes
- Kimmie Anne Thierauf/Jerry Wiesenhahn – Outstanding in Choreography
- Jerry Wiesenhahn – Outstanding in Direction
- The Cast of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – Outstanding in Ensemble
- Wayne Wright – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Lawrence
- Robert Breslin – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Freddy
- Laura Petracco – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Jolene
- Rebecca Wall – Excellence in Vocal Performance as Christine
- Jen Drake – Excellence in Vocal Performance as Muriel
- Ryan Oelker – Excellence in Set Design
- Footlighters, Inc. – Excellence in Set Transitions
- Wes Ledyard – Excellence in Props
- Greg Dastillung – Outstanding in Vocal Direction
- Charlie Wilhelm – Outstanding in Musical Direction
MOON OVER BUFFALO
Mariemont Players Inc.
- Linda Roll – Excellence in Costumes
- Aimee Ward – Excellence in Acting as Rosalind
- Evan Blanton – Merit in Acting as Howard
- John Conrard – Merit in Acting as George
SOUTHERN BELLES
Sunset Players
- Dennis Murphy – Excellence in Directing
- Dennis Murphy – Excellence in Playwriting
- The Cast of Southern Belles – Excellence in Ensemble
- Rilla Foster – Merit in Acting as Gaybelle Reardon
- Kathie Labanz – Merit in Acting as Sally Belle Robinson
- Virginia Venegas – Merit in Acting as Maribelle Wainwright
THE CEMETERY CLUB
Mason Community Players
- Ray Lebowski – Excellence in Directing
- Kally Turner – Merit in Costumes
- The Cast of The Cemetery Club – Merit in Ensemble
- Bob Brunner – Merit in Acting as Sam
DOG SEES GOD
CenterStage Players, Inc.
- Ellis Quinne – Excellence in Acting as CB
- The Cast of Dog Sees God – Excellence in Ensemble
- Roman Harris-Richardson – Excellence in Acting as Beethoven
- Deanna Berryhill/Faith Von Handorf – Merit in Duo Acting as Tricia & Marcy
- Christine Gallagher – Merit in Acting as CB’s Sister
- Parker Culp – Merit in Directing
MY THREE ANGELS
The Drama Workshop
- Dennis Murphy/Anne Connor Stanforth – Outstanding in Costumes
- Dennis Murphy – Excellence in Directing
- Dennis Murphy – Excellence in Set Design
- Chris Eyers – Merit in Acting as Henri
- Michael Kiser – Merit in Acting as Felix
- The Cast of My Three Angels – Excellence in Ensemble
- Christie Bishop – Merit in Acting as Jules
- Ken Macke – Merit in Acting as Joseph
DISENCHANTED
Loveland Stage Company
- Monica Weber – Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance as Snow White
- Pettrina Barresi – Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance as Cinderella
- Kayla Haas – Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance as Sleeping Beauty
- Melinda Hubbard – Outstanding in Costumes
- Christina Siciliano – Excellence in Hair and Make-up
- The Cast of Disenchanted – Outstanding in Vocal Ensemble
- Tom Cavano – Merit in Set Pieces
- Carissa Sloan – Excellence in Directing
- Jon Scheiding – Outstanding in Musical Direction
- Jon Scheiding & Bob Schwartz – Outstanding in Pit Performance
SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL
INNOVAtheatre
- Michaela Back & Michelle Back – Excellence in Costumes
- Angela Dixon – Excellence in Vocal Performance as Sour Kangaroo
- Janiya Nickell – Merit in Vocal Performance as Baby Kangaroo
- Charlie MacPherson – Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance as JoJo
The Orchid Awards are presented at the end of each season determined by an adjudication system of providing three judges per production for each of the ACT of Greater Cincinnati member groups. Orchid awards for the 2024-2025 Season:
- Acting Up
- Beechmont Players
- CenterStage Players of Ohio
- Cincinnati Music Theatre
- Drama Workshop
- Fairfield Footlighters
- Footlighters Inc.
- INNOVAtheatre
- Loveland Stage Company
- Mason Community Players
- Merit Theatre Company
- Queen City Productions
- Rivertown Players
- Royal Theatre Company
- Sunset Players
- Tri-County Players
- Village Players of Ft. Thomas
Filed under On Stage





