Congrats 2010 Capital Award Recipients!

Presented by Capital Bank, the 4th Annual NCT Capital Awards were truly a success on Monday, May 24th in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. Here is a complete list of this year's recipients:

Outstanding Featured Performer: Nathan Heath, St. David's School, Fiddler on the Roof

Outstanding Scenic Design: Ravenscroft School, Oliver

Outstanding Lighting Design: Ravenscroft School, Oliver

Outstanding Sound Design: Chapel Hill High School, The Wizard of Oz

Outstanding Orchestra: Green Hope High School, FAME

Outstanding Costume Design: Trinity Academy of Raleigh, Ernest in Love

Outstanding Musical Direction: Knightdale High School, Little Shop of Horrors

Outstanding Ensemble: Knightdale High School, Little Shop of Horrors

Outstanding Stage Crew & Technical Execution: Green Hope High School, FAME

Outstanding Choreography: West Johnston High School, Guys and Dolls

Outstanding Direction: Green Hope High School, FAME

Outstanding Supporting Actor: Andrew Coleman, Knightdale High School, Little Shop of Horrors

Outstanding Supporting Actress: Katy Wilson, St. David's School, Fiddler on the Roof

Outstanding Leading Actor: Elgin Giles, West Johnston High School, Guys and Dolls

Outstanding Leading Actress: Katie Finan, Green Hope High School, FAME

Outstanding Musical: Green Hope High School, FAME

Katie Finan and Elgin Giles after the ceremony

ANNIE Cast Complete!

You've already met our adorable orphans and have hopefully heard the exciting news that Andrea McArdle is starring as "Miss Hannigan", now we are thrilled to announce that Robert Newman is joining our cast as "Oliver Warbucks"!

Robert Newman recently completed his 28 year run on the longest running show in broadcasting history, CBS's Guiding Light. He joined the cast as Joshua Lewis in 1981 and continued with the show right up until its final episode in September of 2009. The role garnered him two Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2002 and 2006.

His recent theater credits include a six month run heading up the cast of the Off-Broadway musical Sessions at the Algonquin Theater in NYC, Shenandoah at the Barn Theater in Michigan, Nine at NSMT and A Little Night Music and The Full Monty at PCLO.

And...here's the rest of our fabulous ANNIE cast!

Katherine Anderson: Chorus
Kate Blain: Chorus
Joey Calveri*: Rooster

Tim Caudle*: Chorus/Lt. Ward/Morgenthau

Andrew Chappelle*: Chorus/Dog Catcher

Molly Deans: Chorus

Jennifer Frankel*: Chorus/Ronnie Boylan

Terri Gervais*: Chorus/Mrs. Pugh

Elgin Giles: Chorus

Eric Michael Gillett*: FDR

Laurel Harris*: Chorus/Connie Boylan/Star To Be

Brian Michael Hoffman*: Chorus/Bundles/Ickes/SFX Man

Heather Patterson King*: Chorus/Sophie/Perkins

Eric Mann: Chorus/Fred McCracken

Jeremy Mills: Chorus

Christy Morton*: Grace Farrell

Brian Norris*: Chorus/Bert Healy/Hull

Adrienne C. Perry: Chorus

Jennifer Swiderski*: Chorus/Bonnie Boylan

Tom Treadwell*: Chorus/Drake

Matthew-Jason Willis: Chorus/Howe

*Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

Meet Sandy

Mikey aka "Sandy" was discovered by his guardian and trainer William Berloni in the spring 2005 when he was three years old. Mikey was seized from a family who neglected him for the first three years of his live. When Mr. Berloni first adopted him, he had to be treated for
Heartworm disease which could have been fatal. Later in 2005 Mikey hit the road in the 30^th Anniversary tour of ANNIE as the understudy to “Sandy”.

After two years on the road, Mikey took over the role and has been starring in it for another two years. Mr. Berloni began his career having trained the original Sandy in the Broadway production of ANNIE in 1977. The original "Sandy", like all of Mr. Berloni’s performing dogs, was rescued from an animal shelter. In the proud tradition of ANNIE, Mikey carries on his mission to help the plight of unwanted animals by proving they all can be stars. Mikey is handled by his favorite handler, Patrick Peavy.

Mikey arrives in Raleigh in mid-July, just in time for NC Theatre's ANNIE rehearsals. Do you have your tickets yet? You do not want to miss this lovable mutt on stage...call the NC Theatre Box Office at 919-831-6941 x6944 with code 'ORPHAN' and get 20% off a Family Four (or more) Pack!

Andrea McArdle Works on "Maybe"

Our star of Annie, Andrea McArdle, gets a voice lesson from Seth Rudetsky - vocal coach to the stars. As I'm sure you already know, Andrea was the original orphan Annie on Broadway...and we are thrilled to have her on our stage this summer! Enjoy this clip and watch the Tony's on Sunday, June 13 at 8 PM on CBS!

Annie Around Town: Artsplosure 2010

English Bernhardt, our star of Annie, made her first performance this past weekend at Artsplosure. She performed on the main stage at 1:15 PM and sang "Maybe" and "Tomorrow." The crowd absolutely loved it! Here are a few photos with some of her new-found fans.

Do you have your tickets yet? This is going to be a fabulous show, running July 24-August 1. Click here to purchase online!

2010 Capital Award Nominees Announced!

Presented by Capital Bank, the 4th Annual Capital Awards will be held on Monday, May 24th at 7 PM in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Capital Awards, they are a Tony Awards-style ceremony that celebrate high school musical theatre excellence across the Triangle.

Ten schools are participating in this year's program. Here are a list of the nominees:

Athens Drive High School - Little Shop of Horrors

• Featured Performer (Alec Sturgis)
• Scenic Design
• Musical Direction
• Orchestra
• Supporting Actor (Wiley Black)
• Choreography
• Direction
• Leading Actor (Devin Romney)
• Leading Actress (Sawyer Stone)

Chapel Hill High School - The Wizard of Oz

• Sound Design
• Orchestra

Green Hope High School - FAME!

• Featured Performer (Kailyn Eskridge)
• Scenic Design
• Lighting
• Costumes
• Musical Direction
• Orchestra
• Ensemble
• Choreography
• Direction
• Leading Actress (Katie Finan)
• Stage Crew and Technical Execution
• Outstanding Musical

Knightdale High School - Little Shop of Horrors

• Sound Design
• Scenic Design
• Lighting
• Costumes
• Musical Direction
• Supporting Actor (Andrew Koleman)
• Supporting Actress (Trio)
• Stage Crew and Technical Execution
• Ensemble
• Direction
• Leading Actor (Chris Cunningham)
• Leading Actress (Jordan Ogdan)
• Outstanding Musical
• Musical Direction
• Choreography

North Raleigh Christian Academy - Hello, Dolly!

• Sound Design
• Lighting Design
• Orchestra
• Supporting Actor (Devon Corey)
• Stage Crew and Technical Execution
• Ensemble
• Choreography
• Outstanding Musical

Northwood High School - Guys and Dolls

• Best Supporting Actress (Kate Absker)

Ravenscroft School - Oliver

• Featured Performer (Liam King)
• Scenic Design
• Lighting
• Supporting Actor (Michael Santos)
• Supporting Actress (Anna van Venrooy)
• Stage Crew and Technical Execution
• Leading Actress (Laura Higginson)

St. David's School - Fiddler on the Roof

• Outstanding Musical
• Featured Performer (Nathan Heath)
• Sound Design
• Scenic Design
• Lighting
• Costumes
• Musical Direction
• Supporting Actress (Katy Wilson)
• Supporting Actor (Zach Gregory)
• Stage Crew and Technical Execution
• Ensemble
• Choreography
• Direction
• Leading Actor (Ryan Fitzpatrick)
• Leading Actress (Petra Halbur)

Trinity Academy of Raleigh - Earnest in Love

• Sound Design
• Supporting Actress (Alexandra Oliver)
• Ensemble
• Direction
• Costumes
• Leading Actor (Jonathan Ridell)
• Leading Actress (Hannah Nelson)
• Outstanding Musical

West Johnston High School - Guys and Dolls

• Ensemble
• Choreography
• Leading Actor (Elgin Giles)
• Outstanding Musical
• Featured Performer (Kelsie Jayne)
• Costumes
• Musical Direction
• Orchestra
• Supporting Actor (Jordan Clifton)

Congrats to all nominees and participating schools! Tickets to the Capital Awards are only $12 and are on sale now by calling 919-831-6941 x6944. For more information, please visit www.nctheatre.com.

NCT Volunteer of the Year: Laura Zupan

Congrats to Laura Zupan, NCT's 2009 Volunteer of the Year!

Laura was officially named Hospitality Chair this year, but she has been quietly working behind the scenes and in the office at NC Theatre for two years now. Laura puts together the welcome baskets for the cast and makes sure the crew always has some orange juice and snacks for load-in and the long technical rehearsals prior to each show. But...more than that - she has helped take care of the apartments the out of town actors stayin, and has ensured they know the lay of the land. She has also provided home cooking for crew members during tech week. These are just a few ways she gives her time and energy to NCT!

We would like to thank her for her hard work, dedication and continued support of NCT!

Meet the Orphans of NCT's ANNIE!

English Bernhardt* (Annie)

Katherine Fritsch* (July/Annie understudy)

Mary Kate Englehardt* (Molly)

Kelsey Healey* (Tessie)

Payton Prince* (Duffy)

Alexa Robertson* (Kate)

Kelsey Walston* (Pepper)

Allison Cochrane* (Orphan)

Grace DeLoache (Orphan)

Avery Hoerdemann* (Orphan)

Hannah Hoskins (Orphan)

Mary Callan Kelso* (Orphan)

Hayley Lundberg* (Orphan)

Alexis van Venrooy* (Orphan)

Cady van Venrooy* (Orphan)

*Denotes the actress takes classes at the NC Theatre Conservatory