Evan Hoffman won the award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical, for Elden Street Players’ production of ‘Caroline, or Change.’ In a rehearsal picture, from left, Ivana Alexander, Andrea Gerald, Ariana Kruszewski, (as the trio in character as ‘The Radio’) and Anya Randall Nebel as Carolyn.
The Elden Street Players received five awards from the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) for artistic and technical excellence in Community Theater. The Elden Street Players performed in Herndon for over 25 years. In September 2013, the Elden Street Players became the professional level NextStop Theatre Company performing at the Industrial Strength Theater, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon.
"We are excited about the wealth of talent represented by this year's WATCH Award nominees and winners," said Roy Peterson, WATCH Chair. "This group is just one indicator of the vitality of the DC metro community theatre scene."
WATCH is the organization that adjudicates productions and presents annual awards recognizing artistic and technical excellence in Community Theater. The WATCH awards help to foster and encourage the growth of community theater. A total of 114 productions (42 musicals, 72 plays) were judged in 2013 from which the nominations and awardees were chosen.
The WATCH awards were announced at a ceremony at the Birchmere in Alexandria on Sunday evening, March 9. The Elden Street Players received WATCH Awards for:
Outstanding Play - "Red"
Outstanding Direction of a Musical - Evan Hoffman, "Caroline, or Change"
Outstanding Direction of a Play - Gloria DuGan, "Red"
Outstanding Properties in a Play - Susan d. Garvey, "Red"
Outstanding Set Painting in a Play - Mary Speed & Brian Garrison, "Red"
Information on the Elden Street players is at: http://www.nextstoptheatre.org/about-nextstop-theatre-company/. WATCH is at: http://www.washingtontheater.org/