Check out the nominees for 19th annual Po'okela Awards in theater

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

The best people in Hawai'i theater have been recognized as nominees for the 19th annual Po'okela Awards, Hawai'i's version of the Tonys.

Winners will be announced at a banquet and awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on July 22 at Ko'olau Golf Club in Kane'ohe. Tickets cost $50, $35 for Hawai'i State Theatre Council members. VIP tables will be available at $400 for eight people and $500 for 10. For reservations, call Martha Walstrum at 261-3475.

The nominees are:

•	Key to theaters ACT — Army Community Theatre DHT — Diamond Head Theatre HPU — Hawai'i Pacific University KAPA — Kona Association of Performing Arts LCC — Leeward Community College Theatre MVT — Manoa Valley Theatre OHIA — 'Ohi'a Productions PUN — Punahou School Academy TAG — The Actors' Group UH — University of Hawai'i-Manoa, Kennedy Theatre

• Joe Abraham, "Over the River and Through the Woods," MVT
• Noah Johnson, "Equus," TAG
• Eric Nemoto, "Equus," TAG
• Allan Y. Okubo, "The Wash," MVT
• Jim Tharp, "You Can't Take it With You," HPU

Leading Female in a Play

• Betty Burdick, "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds," TAG
• Betty Burdick, "Wit," MVT
• Florence Chang, "The Wash," MVT
• Kathy Cullis, "The Night of the Iguana," KAPA
• Jan McGrath, "The Insanity Case of Mrs. A. Lincoln," TAG

Leading Male in a Musical

• Dion Donahue, "Oliver!" ACT
• Josh Harris, "Annie," DHT
• Laurence Paxton, "Jekyll & Hyde," DHT
• Dennis Proulx, "My Fair Lady," ACT
• Kevin Yamada, "Flower Drum Song," ACT

Leading female in a Musical

• Paige Finch, "Annie," DHT
• Kaitlin Kiyan, "Oliver!" ACT
• Shari Lynn, "Mame," DHT
• Stefanie Okuda, "Flower Drum Song," ACT
• Janel Parrish, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA

Featured Male in a Play

• John D'Auria, "Over the River and Through the Woods," MVT
• John Hunt, "You Can't Take it With You," HPU
• Dann Seki, "The Wash," MVT
• Hayden de M. Yates, "Equus," TAG
• Brent Yoshikami, "Wit," MVT

Featured Female in a Play

• Sharon Adair, "Over the River and Through the Woods," MVT
• Christine Berwin, "Eco-Circus," UH
• Frankie Enos, "Rain," TAG
• Becky Maltby, "You Can't Take it With You," HPU
• Lei Spadaccini, "Wit," MVT

Featured Male in a Musical

• Dion Donahue, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• Kanoa Goo, "Mame," DHT
• Greg Howell, "Song of Singapore," MVT
• Douglas S. Scheer, "Titanic," DHT
• Cori Vas, "Titanic," DHT

Featured Female in a Musical

• Mary Chesnut Hicks, "Titanic," DHT
• Marika Dillard, "Smokey Joe's Cafe," MVT
• Wisa D'Orso, "Mame," DHT
• Katie Leiva, "Song of Singapore," MVT
• Eden-Lee Murray, James Joyce's "The Dead," HPU

Choreography

• Cathy Foy, "Song of Singapore," MVT
• John Rampage, "Mame," DHT
• Andrew Sakaguchi, "Smokey Joe's Cafe," MVT
• Andrew Sakaguchi and Ka'ohi Yojo, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA

Director of a Play

• Lyn Kajiwara Ackerman, "The Wash," MVT
• Roger Long, "Wit," MVT
• Joyce Maltby, "You Can't Take it With You," HPU
• Brad Powell, "Equus," TAG

Director of a Musical

• Karen Bumatai, "Song of Singapore," MVT
• Joyce Maltby, James Joyce's "The Dead," HPU
• Lisa Matsumoto, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• John Rampage, "Mame," DHT
• Andrew Sakaguchi, "Smokey Joe's Cafe," MVT

Musical Director

• Roslyn Catracchia, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• Lina Jeong Doo, "Flower Drum Song," ACT
• Melina Lillios, "Song of Singapore," MVT
• Melina Lillios, "Titanic," DHT
• Emmett Yoshioka, "Annie," DHT

Set Design

• Joseph Dodd, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• Joseph D. Dodd, "Wit," MVT
• Tom Giza, "Oliver!" ACT
• Patrick M. Kelly, "Blithe Spirit," DHT
• Patrick M. Kelly, "Titanic," DHT

Costume Design

• Sukey Dickinson, "Titanic," DHT
• Athena Espania, "Song of Singapore," MVT
• Sandra Finney, "Much Ado About Nothing," UH
• Vickie Van Wagner, "Trudi and the Minstrel," PUN
• Karen G. Wolfe and John Rampage, "Mame," DHT

Lighting Design

• Cathie Anderson, "Song of Singapore," MVT
• Stephen Clear, "Jekyll & Hyde," DHT
• Stephen Clear, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• Ed James, "Wit," MVT

Sound Design

• Roslyn Catracchia, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• Jason Taglianetti, "Song of Singapore," MVT
• Jason Taglianetti, "Wit," MVT
• Kurt Yamasaki, "Titanic," DHT

NonResident Guest Artist

• Isabelle Decauwert, actor, "Jekyll & Hyde," DHT
• Hugh Hanson, costumes, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• Jade Stice, director and choreographer, "Jekyll & Hyde," DHT
• Jennifer Waldman, director and choreographer, "Titanic," DHT

Ensemble

• James Joyce's "The Dead," HPU
• "Smokey Joe's Cafe," MVT
• "Song of Singapore," MVT
• "Titanic," DHT
• "World Blend," LCC

Original Script

• Karen Yamamoto Hackler, "Eco-Circus," UH
• Lisa Matsumoto and Roslyn Catracchia, "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• Garrick Paikai, Phillip Bullington and Michael Jerome Mariani II, "World Blend," LCC

Overall Musical

• James Joyce's "The Dead," HPU
• "Mame," DHT
• "On Dragonfly Wings," OHIA
• "Song of Singapore," MVT
• "Titanic," DHT

Overall Play

• "Equus," TAG
• "Over the River and Through the Woods," MVT
• "The Wash," MVT
• "Wit," MVT
• "You Can't Take it With You," HPU