The Owen Sound Little Theatre is heading into its final week of Something Rotten! with 14 award nominations from the Western Ontario Drama League.
“Whether we win or not doesn’t really matter, we’re just thrilled to be nominated,” says the musical’s director Kathleen Cassidy. “We do the adjudication process as an educational component for our theatre because the adjudicators come and they give us some input on what we’ve done right and what we’ve done wrong, and how we might try something different.”
Cassidy started her work into the production of Something Rotten! last year, followed by crew members and salespeople. Actors started rehearsals in December.
The OLST’s production was recently visited by an adjudicator from the WODL, and was happy to announce the 14 nominations for the musical, which runs until April 27th.
The musical, which takes place in Elizabethan England, tells the story of two brothers who are trying to gain notoriety through their theatre troupe, but find themselves stuck in the shadow of ‘The Bard’ himself – William Shakespeare.
“It’s a mash-up of Shakespeare and modern-day musicals, so if you love Shakespeare or you love musicals – or you hate Shakespeare after having to study him in high school, there’s comedy in there for everyone,” Cassidy says. “And there’s also a lovely, touching story of two brothers as they try to come to terms with what’s important to them.”
She says that she’s proud of the cast and crew for their work, including newcomer James Black, who plays Shakespeare in his first-ever role, and the costume design team led by Catherine Tilley.
Something Rotten! is also one of four productions nominated for the Outstanding Production honour.
“It’s just a great evening of entertainment. People have been leaving the theatre with big smiles on their faces.”
The Western Ontario Drama League Awards Ceremony is on May 18th.
Tickets are still available for all four remaining shows, and is rated PG-13 for mild language and innuendo.
The nominations include:
- Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role – Jamie Smith as Nick Bottom
- Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role – Becky Robinson as Bea Bottom
- Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role – Lacey Mooney as Nancy Nostradamus
- Best Newcomer – James Black as Shakespeare
- Best Cameo – Dan Herrick as Robin
- Outstanding Production
- Outstanding Direction – Kathleen Cassidy
- Best Visually Coordinated Costumes – Catherine Tilley
- Best Sound Design – Matt Martin
- Outstanding Lighting Design – David Beisel
- Outstanding Musical Direction – Gord McConachie-Anderson
- Outstanding Choreography – Paula Mercer
- Creative Production Design in a Limited Stage Space – Paul Nicholson
- Memorable Moment in a Show