CL Theater Award Nominations 

The Charlotte Theater scene has come of age! Or at least our Annual Perry Awards have reached that milestone: The time has come to announce the finalists for CL's 21st Annual Charlotte Theatre Awards.

As you read, I'm retreating to my laboratory where I make all the complex chemical analyses necessary to winnow down my list and reveal the purest gold to shine on Charlotte stages in 2007. Meanwhile gaze at the bounty of quality theater performances, productions, and theatercraft that Charlotte theatergoers witnessed last year.

Congratulations to all the nominees.

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY

Christopher Hull -- My Husband's Wild Desires Almost Drove Me Mad (Mr. Griffith)

Glenn Hutchison -- The Pavilion (Narrator)

Hank West -- The Odd Couple (Felix Unger)

Jeff Johnston -- The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Dasher-Hollywood-Donner)

Jerry Colbert -- Murder at the Howard Johnson's (Mitchell Lovell)

Lee Thomas -- The Sublet Experiment (Eric)

Robert L. Simmons -- Mr. Marmalade (Mr. Marmalade)

Scott Helm -- Go, Dog. Go! (MC Dog)

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY

Adyana de la Torre -- The Clean House (Matilde)

Autumn Gentile -- Murder at the Howard Johnson's<P> (Arlene Miller)

Beth Yost -- Mr. Marmalade (Lucy)

Claudia Carter Covington -- The Clean House (Lane)

Greta Zandstra -- Sorry, Wrong Chimney (Samantha Tuttle)

Julie Janorschke -- Women Who Steal (Karen)

Kristen Jones -- The Sublet Experiment (Melanie)

Sheila Snow Proctor -- The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Blitzen-Dancer)

BEST DIRECTOR, COMEDY

Alan Poindexter -- Go, Dog. Go!

Craig Spradley -- Having a Wonderful Time, Murder at the Howard Johnson's

James Yost -- Mr. Marmalade

Joe Copley -- The Sublet Experiment

Julie Janorschke -- Brighton Beach Memoirs

Karen Lamb -- The Eight: Reindeer Monologues

Mark Sutch -- Natural Selection

Scott Ripley -- The Clean House

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA

Billy Ensley -- The Pillowman (Katurian K. Katurian)

Chad Calvert -- Orson's Shadow (Orson Wells)

Craig Kolkebeck -- American Buffalo (Walter "Teacher" Cole)

Jan Notzon -- The Crucible (John Proctor)

Jerry Colbert -- The Guys (Nick)

Stephen Friedrich -- Wrestling Season (Matt)

Tim Ross -- Waiting for Godot (Didi)

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA

Corlis Hayes -- Having Our Say (Miss Sadie Delaney)

Greta Marie Zandstra -- New Kid (Mencha)

Julia Grigg -- Wrestling Season (Kori)

Kim Watson Brooks -- Intimate Apparel (Esther)

Laura Depta -- The Goddess and the Magdalene (Mary)

Lolly Foy -- The Crucible (Elizabeth Proctor)

Sheila Snow Proctor -- Fiction (Linda)

BEST DIRECTOR, DRAMA

Ann Marie Costa -- Intimate Apparel

Craig Kolkebeck and Thom Tonetti -- American Buffalo

Dennis Delamar -- The Pillowman

James Yost -- Fiction, Orson's Shadow

Matt Cosper -- New Kid

Michael Simmons -- Omnium Gatherum

Nicia Carla -- Wrestling Season

BEST ACTOR, MUSICAL

Andrew Griner -- Oliver! (Oliver Twist)

Ben Mackel -- The Christmas Doll (Nick Button)

Craig Estep -- Children of Eden (Noah)

James K. Flynn -- Smoke on the Mountain (Burl)

Mike Collins -- Oliver! (Fagin)

Scott Ripley -- Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Hedwig)

Steven Jepson -- South Pacific (Emile de Becque)

Vito Abate -- Junie B. Jones & a Little Monkey Business (Crybaby William, Dad & The Boss)

BEST ACTRESS, MUSICAL

Caroline Bower -- Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount), The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy Gale), The Christmas Doll (Lucy Wolcott)

Greta Marie Zandstra -- Smoke on the Mountain (June)

Gwen Edwards -- Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business (Junie B. Jones)

Kathryn Stamas -- Oliver! (Nancy)

Lisa Smith -- The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Jeannie)

Pamela Bob -- Wildwood Flowers (June Carter)

Susan Roberts Knowlson -- South Pacific (Ensign Nellie Forbush)

BEST DIRECTOR, MUSICAL

Alan Poindexter -- The Wizard of Oz, The Christmas Doll

Billy Ensley -- Oliver!

Bo Thorpe -- Wildwood Flowers

Craig Spradley -- Smoke on the Mountain

Dennis Delamar -- The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Jill Bloede -- Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business

Tom Hollis -- Thoroughly Modern Millie

BEST CONDUCTOR/MUSIC DIRECTOR

Adam Watkins -- The Wizard of Oz

Drina Keen -- Junie B. Jones & a Little Monkey Business, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Christmas Doll

Ellen Robison -- Smokey Joe's Café

Harry Owens -- Oliver!

Marsha Colbert -- Smoke on the Mountain

Marty Gregory -- The Great American Trailer Park Musical

BEST CHOREOGRAPHER

Delia Neil -- Go, Dog. Go! The Wizard of Oz

Eddie Mabry -- Thoroughly Modern Millie

John Thomas Mayfield -- Mr. Marmalade

Linda Booth -- South Pacific, Oliver!

Ron Chisholm -- Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business, The Christmas Doll

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER

Annamarie Gatto -- Mr. Marmalade, The Heidi Chronicles

Bob Croghan -- Children of Eden, The Christmas Doll

Chad Calvert -- Orson's Shadow

Courtney Burt Scott -- Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business, The Wizard of Oz

Donna Conrad -- Natural Selection, The Clean House

Jennifer Matthews -- Seussical

Jenny Wunderlich, Sandy Garin, Carol Patterson -- A Mad, Mad Madrigal

Myk Chambers -- The Goddess and the Magdalene, The Pillowman