This year's NYMF jury included Blossom Chu (patron), Michael Coco (New World Stages), Chris Caggiano (critic), Seth Christenfeld (critic), David Carpenter (Dede Harris Productions), Michael Dale (critic), Frank Evans (Manhattan Musical Theatre Lab), Peter Filichia (critic), Aaron Glick (Stone Productions), Gabrielle Palitz (producer), Hugh Hayes (producer), Craig Horsley (producer), Lily Hung (NYU-Tisch School of the Arts), Isaac Robert Hurwitz (Fox Stage Productions), Tim Jerome (Mainstreet Musicals, Inc.), Sheryl Kaller (director), Lucas McMahon (Alchemation), Matthew Murray (critic), Greg Schaffert (producer), Alison Sheehy (actress), Lynn Spector (dramaturg) and Eric C. Webb (Davenport Theatrical). The NYMF 2014 Awards for Excellence are as follows:
Excellence in Writing (Music)
*Douglas J. Cohen, The Gig
Honorable Mention:
Cardozie Jones and Sean Willis, Madame Infamy
Excellence in Writing (Lyrics)
*Douglas J. Cohen, The Gig
Honorable Mention:
Becca Anderson and Dan Marshall, Academia Nuts
Excellence in Writing (Book)
*Rick Kunzi and Justin Zeppa, Bayonets of Angst
Honorable Mention:
Becca Anderson and Dan Marshall, Academia Nuts
Excellence in Direction
*Thomas Caruso, Academia Nuts
Honorable Mentions:
Igor Goldin, The Gig
Michelle Tattenbaum, Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade
Excellence in Choreography (tie)
*Jason Sparks, Propaganda! The Musical
*Staś Kmieć, The Mapmaker's Opera
Honorable Mention:
Jeffry Denman, Valueville
Excellence in Overall Design
*The Snow Queen
Frances Nelson McSherry, costume design; David Lee Cuthbert, lighting design/projection design, Haddon Kime and Rick Lombardo, sound design
Honorable Mention:
Bayonets of Angst
Seth Easter, scenic design; Candida K. Nichols, costume design; Zach Blane, lighting design; Harrison Adams, sound design
Outstanding Orchestrations or Arrangements
*Michael Gibson, The Gig
Honorable Mention:
Mark Buys, The Mapmaker's Opera
Outstanding Musical Direction
*Jonathan Smith, The Gig
Honorable Mention:
Anna Ebbesen and Dolores Duran-Cefalu, The Snow Queen
Outstanding Ensemble Performance
*Bayonets of Angst
Michael Abbott Jr., Ryan Andes, Herndon Lackey, Ian Lowe, Brian Charles Rooney, J. Robert Spencer, Paul Whitty
Honorable Mention:
The Gig
Stephen Berger, Larry Cahn, Doug Eskew, Kate Fahrner, Nick Gaswirth, Michael Minarik, Kevin Pariseau, Dee Roscioli, Steve Routman, Bruce Sabath, Donna Vivino
Outstanding Individual Performances
• Larry Cahn, The Gig
• Rachel Dunham, Oprahfication
• Alexis Fishman, Der Gelbe Stern (The Yellow Star)
• Alyse Alan Louis, Academia Nuts
• Kenita Miller, Propaganda! The Musical
• Erin Leigh Peck, Mr. Confidential
• Brian Charles Rooney, Bayonets of Angst
• Jennifer Simard, Academia Nuts
• J. Robert Spencer, Bayonets of Angst
• Lynne Wintersteller, Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade
Play-by-Play Best New Musical Award
*Academia Nuts
Book and lyrics by Becca Anderson and Dan Marshall; Music by Julian Blackmore
Best of Fest Audience Prize
*Cloned!
Book by Jacey Powers and Dan Wolpow; Music by Adam Spiegel; Lyrics by Dan Wolpow; Additional Story by Adam Spiegel
First Runner-Up:
Deployed
Book, music and lyrics by Jessy Brouillard
Second Runner-Up:
Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade
Book, music and lyrics by Cheryl E. Kemeny
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to "revitalize musical theatre culture by discovering and promoting new musical theatre artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience."
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