Theater News

2017 New York Musical Festival Award Recipients Announced

The annual festival of new musicals ended on August 6.

Samuel Floyd (center) leads the cast of Ben, Virginia and Me: The Liberace Musical, directed by Paul Stancato, for NYMF at the Acorn Theatre.
Samuel Floyd (center) leads the cast of Ben, Virginia and Me: The Liberace Musical, directed by Paul Stancato, for NYMF at the Acorn Theatre.
(© Russ Rowland)

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) has announced the winners of its 2017 NYMF Awards for Excellence. The awards were presented at Hudson Terrace on August 6, the last day of the festival.

The list of winners is as follows:

Outstanding Overall Design
Jason H. Thompson, Whitney Locher, Scott Neale, Ann Wrightson, Georama: An American Panorama Told on 3 Miles of Canvas

Outstanding Musical Arrangements and Orchestrations
Doug Oberhamer, Errol and Fidel

Outstanding Choreography
Justin Boccitto, Errol and Fidel

Outstanding Book
Julie Soto, Generation Me

Outstanding Lyrics
Matt Schatz with additional lyrics by Jack Herrick, Georama: An American Panorama Told on 3 Miles of Canvas

Outstanding Music
Richard Allen and Taran Gray, Freedom Riders

Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role
Randy Blair, Georama: An American Panorama Told on 3 Miles of Canvas
George Psomas, Errol and Fidel
Nattalyee Randall, The Goree All-Girl String Band

Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role
Nancy Anderson, The Fourth Messenger
Milo Manheim, Generation Me
Brian Charles Rooney, Miss Blanche Tells It All

Outstanding Ensemble
Generation Me: Addyson Bell, Jenna Bergman, Laila Drew, Ian Ferrell, Mateo Gonzales, Brett Hargrave, Celia Hottenstein, Milo Manheim, Will Meyers, Julia Nightingale, Anthony Norman, Dante Palminteri, Oscar Revelins, Anabella Ronson-Benenati, and Deandre Sevon

Outstanding Direction
West Hyler, Georama: An American Panorama Told on 3 Miles of Canvas

Best Musical
Generation Me

Individual Performance Awards
Janet Aldrich, Ben, Virginia, and Me (The Liberace Musical)
Sydia Cedeño, Errol and Fidel
Ian Ferrell, Generation Me
Julia Nightingale, Generation Me
Anabella Ronson-Benenati, Generation Me
P.J. Griffith, Georama: An American Panorama Told on 3 Miles of Canvas
Harriet D. Foy, Motherfreakinghood! (Maternal Discretion Advised)
Tara Martinez, Night Tide
Sharon Sachs, Numbers Nerds
Carrie Berk, Peace, Love, and Cupcakes
Zoe Wilson, Play Like a Winner

Special Citations

Building a Movement Through Musical Theater: Sheryl Berk, Carrie Berk, Jill Jaysen, and Rick Hip-Flores of Peace, Love, and Cupcakes for their partnership with NoBully.org

Theatre for Young Audiences: Matthew McElligott, Tuxbury, Brian Sheldon, and Michael Musial, Backbeard

Extraordinary Festival Costume Design: Kurt Alger for Ben, Virginia, and Me (The Liberace Musical)

Social Relevance and Impact: Richard Allen and Taran Gray, Freedom Riders

Festival Achievement in Projection Design: Kevan Loney for his work on Ben, Virginia, and Me (The Liberace Musical), Generation Me, Numbers Nerds, and The Cadaver Synod.

Best of Fest Awards

Show-Score Best of Fest: Reading
Christmas in Hell

Show-Score Best of Fest: Concert/Event
Dorian Gray

Show-Score Best of Fest: Production
Errol and Fidel