2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival Award Winners Announced

The winners of the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival Awards have been announced, presented during a July 27 ceremony at Urbo. The full list is as follows:

The 2015 NYMF Award for Best Musical
Songs for the Fallen

Best of Fest Audience Prize
The Calico Buffalo

Outstanding Lead Actor
Sam Bolen, Pope! An Epic Musical

Outstanding Lead Actress
Sheridan Harbridge, Songs for the Fallen

Outstanding Featured Actor
Andre Ward, Claudio Quest

Outstanding Featured Actress
Liz McCartney, Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera

Outstanding Music
Winner: Ben Chavez, The Cobalteans
Honorable Mentions: Jordan Kamalu, Single Wide; Matthew Gurren and James Campodonico, What Do Critics Know?

Outstanding Lyrics
Winner: Yianni Papadimos, The Cobalteans
Honorable Mention: Justin Moran, Pope! An Epic Musical

Outstanding Book
Winner: Yianni Papadimos, The Cobalteans
Honorable Mention: Drew Fornarola and Marshall Pailet, Claudio Quest

Outstanding Direction
Winner: John Tartaglia, Claudio Quest
Honorable Mention: Paul Stancato, The Cobalteans

Outstanding Choreography
Winner: Justin Boccitto, What Do Critics Know?
Honorable Mention: Shannon Lewis, Claudio Quest

Outstanding Overall Design
Winner: Claudio Quest – Timothy R. Mackabee (scenic), Jennifer Schriever (lighting), Leon Dobkowski (costume), Matt Kraus (sound), Michael Schupbach and the Puppet Kitchen (puppet)

Honorable Mention: Pope! An Epic Musical – Rob Vissinger (scenic), Grant Yeager (lighting), Vanessa Leuck (costume), Patrick Weaver (sound), Addison Heeran (props)

Outstanding Musical Direction
Winner: Evan Feist, Acappella
Honorable Mention: Kristen Lee Rosenfeld, The Cobalteans

Outstanding Musical Direction
Winner: Evan Feist, Acappella
Honorable Mention: Jordan Ross Weinhold, The Cobalteans

Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Winner: Acappella – Miche Braden, Darilyn Castillo, Anthony Chatmon II, Katrina Rose Deideriksen, Cheryl Freeman, Rachel Gavaletz, Emily Goglia, Tyler Hardwick, Alex Koceja, Janelle McDermoth, Gavyn Pickens, Garett Turner, Darryl Jovan Williams, Virginia Ann Woodruff

Honorable Mention: The Cobalteans – PJ Adzima, Andrew Bridges, Aleks Knezevich, Nicholas McGovern, Alex Walton

Outstanding Individual Performance
Derek Carley, Single Wide
Lindsey Brett Carothers, Claudio Quest
Mark Coffin, Wearing Black
Jason Edward Cook, Pope! An Epic Musical
Stacia Fernandez, Single Wide
Matthew Miner, Single Wide
Mary Mossberg, What Do Critics Know?
Shakina Nayfack, Manuel versus the Statue of Liberty
Jacqueline Petroccia, Single Wide
Ethan Slater, Claudio Quest

Special Citations
Social Relevance and Impact – Manuel versus the Statue of Liberty
Puppetry and Puppet Design – Michael Schupbach and The Puppet Kitchen, Claudio Quest

Now in its 12th year, the New York Musical Theatre Festival nurtures the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theater. The festival ran through July 27 at various venues around midtown Manhattan.