By Katie Scarvey
kscarvey@salisburypost.com
St. Thomas Players and Catawba College earned 11 nominations each from the Metrolina Theatre Association, with the St. Thomas Playersí production of ěAlmost, Maineî winning nine nominations. Piedmont Players Theatre received six nominations.
The Metrolina Theatre Awards, given annually, recognize excellence in theatre in the categories of Drama, Comedy, Musical, Regional (North and South), College/University and Special Event.
Catawba College received the following nominations in the College/University category:
Jesse Siak, Outstanding Lead Actor-Male, ěBright Lights, Big Cityî
Shanna Locklair, Outstanding Lead Actor-Female, ěHello Dolly!î
Adam Weiner, Outstanding Supporting Actor Male, ěBright Lights, Big City.î
Autumn Hamilton, Outstanding Supporting Actor-Female, ěBright Lights, Big City.î
Mike Innis, Outstanding Cameo, ěBright Lights, Big City.î
Zack Lynch, Best Direction ó ěBright Lights, Big City.î
Erin Dougherty, Outstanding Set Design, ěHello Dolly!î
Christopher D. Zink, Outstanding Lighting Design, ěBright Lights, Big Cityî
David Hagy, Outstanding Musical Direction/Conducting, ěHello Dollyî
John Stafford, Outstanding Musical Direction/Conducting, ěBright Lights, Big Cityî
Mary Alice Nichols, Outstanding Choreography, ěHello Dolly!î

St. Thomas Players received the following nominations in the Regional/North category:Outstanding Production, ěAlmost, Maineî
Aaron Alderman, Outstanding Supporting Actor, ěAlmost, Maineî
Brian Romans, Outstanding Supporting Actor-Male, ěAlmost, Maineî
Lynne Harrell, Outstanding Supporting Actor, Female, ěAlmost Maineî
Justin Dionne, Outstanding Direction, ěAlmost, Maineî
Andy Maben, Outstanding Set Design, ěAlmost,Maineî
Chris Speer, Outstanding Lighting Design, ěAlmost Maineî
Jeffrey Salerno, Outstanding Sound Design, ěAlmost Maineî
Jeffrey Salerno and Chris Speer, Outstanding Sound Design, ěPinocchioís Sisterî
Ashton Tibbitt, Outstanding Properties Design, ěPinocchioís Sister.î
Andy Maben, Outstanding Special Technical Effect (shoe dropping), ěAlmost Maineî

Piedmont Players Theatre received the following nominations:
Garrett Jennings, Outstanding Cameo, ěThe Farnsworth Inventionî
Reid Leonard, Outstanding Set Design, ěThe Farnsworth Inventionî
Jeff Miller, Outstanding Sound Design, ěThe Farnsworth Inventionî
Dan Ryan, Outstanding Musical Direction/Conducting, ěGreaseî
Gwen Matthews, Outstanding Choreography, ěGreaseî
Reid Leonard, Outstanding Special Technical Effect (set design around ěGreased Lightningî car, ěGreaseî
In other nominations of local interest, Craig Kolkebeck was nominated for Outstanding Direction for a Musical for ěScrooge!î produced by Childrenís Theatre of Charlotte.
The awards ceremony will be held Oct. 9 at the Omni Charlotte Hotel. For a link to purchase tickets, go to www.seatyourself.biz/metrolinatheatre.
For more information about the Metrolina Theatre Association, visit www. metrolinatheatre.org.