Desert Theatre League announces 107 nominations for their 2025 Desert Star Awards

The Desert Theatre League, who for the past 39 years has been recognizing local theatrical excellence with their Desert Star Awards, has announced their 2025 nominees. In a field of over 83 productions performed during the 2024-25 theatre season in member organizations ranging from Indio to Twentynine Palms, Theatre 29 was recognized with a record 37 nominations for their productions of The Sound of Music with eight, The Summer Youth Program’s Seussical the Musical Jr. seven, Jesus Christ Superstar and the revue Musical Mischief six, And Then There Were None, A Streetcar Named Desire & Clue with three each and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with one. Theatre 29 nominees include: Best Production - Musical - Youth Theatre Seussical the Musical Jr. Best Director - Musical - Youth TheatreGary Daigneault - Seussical the Musical Jr. Best Choreographer - Youth TheatreAva Roberts - Seussical the Musical Jr. Best Supporting Actor - Musical - Youth TheatreEli Young - Seussical the Musical Jr. Best Supporting Actress - Musical - Youth TheatreGracie Johannsson - Seussical the Musical Jr. The Michael Cruickshank Award for Best Director - DramaKathryn Ferguson - And Then There Were None Best Lead Actor - Drama - ProfessionalDeacon Ledges - A Streetcar Named Desire Best Lead Actress - DramaVictoria Shupe - A Streetcar Named Desire Best Lead Actress - Drama - ProfessionalBobbie Breckenridge - A Streetcar Named Desire Best Supporting Actor - DramaJoseph Rego - And Then There Were None Best Supporting Actress - DramaLaura Harwood - And Then There Were NoneBetty Wanless - The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Best Lead Actor - ComedyCharles Harvey - Clue Best Supporting Actor - ComedyMakasi Boykin - Clue Best Production - Musical Sound of Music Best Director - MusicalCharles Harvey - Jesus Christ SuperstarLisa Hodgson/Bianca Stoker - Sound of Music Best Musical Director - MusicalKathryn Ferguson - Jesus Christ SuperstarBianca Stoker - Sound of Music The Michele Gaines Award for Best Choreographer of a MusicalLisa Hodgson - Jesus Christ SuperstarLisa Hodgson - Sound of Music Best Lead Actor - MusicalScott Clinkscales - Jesus Christ Superstar Best Lead Actress in a MusicalCatt Christine - Jesus Christ SuperstarAnalisa Pilecki - Sound of Music Best Supporting Actor - Musical - ProfessionalDeacon Ledges - Jesus Christ Superstar Best Supporting Actress - MusicalNancy Abramson - Sound of MusicCatt Christine - Sound of Music Best Production - Cabaret/RevueMusical Mischief Best Director - Cabaret/RevueScott Clinkscales - Musical Mischief Best Lead Male Performer Cabaret/RevueScott Clinkscales - Musical Mischief Best Lead Female Performer - Cabaret/RevueAnalisa Pilecki - Musical MischiefJasmine Shaffer - Musical Mischief Best Supporting Female Performer - Cabaret/RevueTiffany Crocker - Musical Mischief Best Costume DesignTera Noel Bottorff - Sound of MusicCindy Daigneault - Seussical the Musical Jr.Kathryn Ferguson - Clue The Ron Hamm Award for Best Hair and Makeup DesignLiam Keeran/Ava Roberts - Seussical the Musical Jr. The Inaugural Joshua Tree Shakespeare Festival garnered seven nominations for their production of Twelfth Night including: Best Production - ComedyTwelfth Night Best Director - ComedyCharlie E. Walker Best Lead Actor - ComedyKurt Schauppner Best Lead Actress - Comedy - ProfessionalBobbie Breckenridge Best Supporting Actress - ComedyCooki BilsboroughMolly Katelbach Best Costume DesignJoelle Drury/Trenalee Pieper Joshua Tree based Thought Theatre garnered four for their production of The Mountaintop Their nominees include: Best Production - Staged ReadingThe Mountaintop Best Director - Staged Reading - ProfessionalMiri Hunter Best Lead Actor - Staged ReadingKevin Hayles Best Lead Actress - Staged ReadingVeronica Alcantara New touring company Inspiration’s Edge got 4 nominations for their sole production of Late Company. Their nominees include: Best Production - DramaLate Company The Michael Cruickshank Award for Best Director - DramaLiyan McNeltier Best Lead Actress - DramaRebecca McWilliams Best Supporting Actor - DramaGabriel Figueredo And Joshua Tree Theatre Under the Stars brought in three nominations of their production of Waiting for Godot Best Production - DramaWaiting for Godot The Michael Cruickshank Award for Best Director - DramaAbe Daniels Best Lead Actor - DramaChris Fleischman Award winners will be announced at the Desert Stars Awards Dinner October 19th at Sun City Palm Desert.