Nominations announced for DC Theatre Scene Audience Choice Awards

Solomon Howard

DC Theatre Scene has announced their 7th annual nominations for the 2012-2013 Washington area theatre season. A number of performers and performances that we covered were nominated for awards this year.

The DC Theatre Scene staff evaluated 291 professional productions in the Washington D.C. area in the following categories: Plays, Musicals, Family Shows, Operas, and Cabarets. This year’s awards recognize the outstanding work of 33 presenting companies, 133 individual performances and 15 ensemble cast performances.

Readers will choose the top five finalists in all categories in the first round of balloting which begins Monday, August 12th, and will determine the winners in the second, and final round, which ends Sunday, August 25th.

Hunkentenor Jonathan Blalock getting all barihunky

Nominated for "Best Opera" was Gregory Spears' Paul's Case! at UrbanArias featuring barihunk Keith Phares and hunkentenor Jonathan Blalock. The opera is based on the famous short story by Willa Cather. Blalock plays the lead role of Paul, the son of an businessman in early 20th-century Pittsburgh, who is played by Keith Phares. Paul, who is tired of his dreary existence steals money from his job and runs off to New York City to taste freedom and enjoy a life of luxury.

Also nominated was D.J. Sparr's Approaching Ali starring barihunk Solomon Howard. The opera based on the life of Muhammid Ali and was created under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative, Washington National Opera’s program for commissioning contemporary American opera. The libretto is by Mark Campbell and Davis Miller, based on Miller’s own autobiographical novella.

Rod Gilfry and Michael Todd Simpson lent some muscle to Show Boat

Another nomination for "Best Opera" went to Show Boat with barihunks Rod Gilfry and Michael Todd Simpson alternating the role of Gaylord Ravenal at the Kennedy Center. Soloman Howard was also featured in the smaller role of Joe, alternating with Morris Robinson. The Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein classic was directed by Francesca Zambello, one of the founders of the term "barihunk."

Joining  Blalock and Howard in the category of "Best Male Performer in an Opera" is Giorgio Caoduro, for his performance in Puccini's Manon Lescaut at the Washington National Opera.

Here are the complete nominations for opera. Sign up to vote and see all the nominations at the DC Theatre Scene website:

BEST OPERA  Anna Bolena, Washington National Opera
Approaching Ali, Washington National Opera
Manon Lescaut, Washington National Opera
Paul’s Case!, UrbanArias
Show Boat, Washington National Opera

BEST MALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA
Davis Miller (Davis Miller), Approaching Ali, Washington National Opera
Georgio Caduro (Lescaut), Manon Lescaut, Washington National Opera
Jonathan Blalock (Paul), Paul’s Case, Urban Arias
Solomon Howard (Mohammed Ali), Approaching Ali, Washington National Opera

BEST FEMALE PERFORMER IN AN OPERA

Alyson Cambridge (Julie) Showboat, Washington National Opera
Aundi Marie Moore (Odessa Clay) in Approaching Ali, Washington National Opera
Patricia Racette (Tosca) Tosca, Washington National Opera
Sondra Radvanovsky (Anna) Anna Bolena, Washington National Opera