Hi-Desert theatrical productions have garnered 32 Desert Star Award nominations by the Desert Theater League for 2013-14. Leading the way with 16 nominations is Theatre 29 in Twentynine Palms. The nominations include “The Perils of Goldilocks” for Outstanding Production: Comedy/Drama—Youth Theatre, with Natalie Coughlin as Outstanding Lead Actress, and John Wright for Outstanding Set Design. Gabby Timbrook, in her first role at Theatre 29, was nominated for her supporting role in the drama, “A Doll’s House.” The musical “Spamalot” received seven nominations: Outstanding Musical Production; Kathryn Ferguson as Outstanding Director, Outstanding Musical Director, and Costume Design; Mandi Pushkar for choreography; Analisa Pilecki for Outstanding Lead Actress; and Jericho McWilliams for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Mandi Pushkar received a second nomination for Outstanding Choreography for “Nunset Boulevard.” Marty Neider was nominated as Outstanding Director of a Comedy, and Donette Swain for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy, for “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery.” Kathryn Ferguson received two other nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress for a comedy, and for costume design in “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
With the rest of the local nominations, here is managing editor Tami Roleff…
In its first year of productions, the newly formed St. Joseph’s Players received eight nominations. “Steel Magnolias” was nominated as Outstanding Drama. Rebecca Havely received three nominations as Outstanding Director and supporting actress for “Steel Magnolias” and Outstanding Director “On Golden Pond.” “On Golden Pond” was also nominated as Best Comedy. Nominated for their roles in “On Golden Pond” are Lloyd Steele for Lead Actor, and Trevor Carpenter for the Bill Groves Award for Outstanding Juvenile. Rebecca Havely and Ron Stimbert were also nominated for set design. The Hi-Desert Playhouse received seven nominations for its production of “A Moon Over Buffalo”: Outstanding Comedy; Wendy Cohen and Marge Doyle for Outstanding Director of a Comedy; Howard Cohen for lead actor in a comedy; Wendy Cohen for lead actress in a comedy; Richie Sande for supporting actor; and Joy Groves and Analisa Pilecki for supporting actress in a comedy. Joy Groves also was nominated as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for her role in “The Haunting of Vincent Van Gogh,” at the Groves Cabin Theatre.
