:Program Overview: Overture's Tommy Awards program is an education initiative that recognizes, honors, and encourages excellence in musical theater production among area high school students.
Musicals of participating schools are reviewed by a panel of educators, theater experts, and industry professionals. Based on reviewers' comments and tabulations, productions and individuals receive awards in specific categories at a ceremony held each year at Overture Center in June. The ceremony also features performance and production numbers from award winners in several categories.
Musicals of participating schools are reviewed by a panel of educators, theater experts, and industry professionals. Based on reviewers' comments and tabulations, productions and individuals receive awards in specific categories at a ceremony held each year at Overture Center in June. The ceremony also features performance and production numbers from award winners in several categories.
2020 Jerry Recipients ~ The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame- Outstanding Musical
2019 Jerry Nominations ~ The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Lead Performance:
Larsen Seely (Quasimodo)
Aaron Jackson ( Phoebus de Martin)
Jake Ringwall (Claude Frollo)
Emily Wang (Esmeralda)
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Aidan Lindner ( Clopin Trouillefou)
Nivae Clausen (Leah, Florika)
Outstanding Direction: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Musical Direction: Natalie Baertschy Monica Kenstra
Outstanding Choreography: Sara Zavadsky
Outstanding Stage Management: Monica Kenstra & Lianna Knoblauch
Outstanding Scenic Design: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Lighting Design: Mary Kirby
2019 Jerry Recipients~ RENT ~
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Scenic Design: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Jerry Spirit Award - Rose Reichert
2019 Jerry Nominations ~ RENT ~
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Lead Performance:
Jake Sprengel (Roger Davis)
Jake Ringwall (Tom Collins)
Katie Dionne (Mimi Marquez)
Aaron Jackson (Angel Dumott Schunard)
Kennedy Harwood (Joanne Jefferson)
John Kuske (Mark Cohen)
Outstanding Direction: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Stage Management: Kate Martino & Lilly Strade
Outstanding Overall Design: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Scenic Design: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Lighting Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Sound Design: Doug Hoeft
2018 Jerry Recipients~ INTO THE WOODS ~
INTO THE WOODS- Outstanding Musical
2018 Jerry Nominations ~ INTO THE WOODS ~
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Lead Performance:
Larsen Seely (Baker)
Maddie Mainwood (Baker’s Wife)
Jake Ringwall (Jack)
Kendra Kabara (Witch)
Kenzie McKowen (Cinderella)
Kennedy Harwood (Little Red)
Outstanding Supporting Performance:
Katie Dionne (Jack’s Mother)
Aaron Jackson (Cinderella’s Prince)
Katelyn Farebrother (Rapunzel)
Cooper Hawley (Wolf)
Outstanding Direction: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Musical Direction: Natalie Baertschy & Mary Kirby
Outstanding Stage Management: Grace Statdfield
Outstanding Overall Design
Outstanding Scenic Design Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Lighting Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Sound Design: Doug Hoeft
2017 Tommy Recipients~ Sister Act ~
2017 Tommy Nominations~ Sister Act ~
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Lead Performance:
Outstanding Musical Direction: Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Choreography: Sara Zavadsky
Outstanding Stage Management:
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Sound Design: Nick Winders & Doug Hoeft
Tommy Spirit Award Winner ~ Alecia Hough
Tommy Awards ~ AIDA 2016
AIDA- Outstanding Musical
Tommy Awards ~ Little Shop of Horrors 2016
Tommy Awards ~ Bye Bye Birdie 2015
Les Miserables Outstanding Musical
The Hunchback of Notre Dame- Outstanding Musical
- Mary E. Kirby & Natalie M. Baertschy ~ Directors
- Monica Kenstra & Lianna Knoblauch ~ Stage Manager
- Tommy Spirit Award - Kennedy Harwood
2019 Jerry Nominations ~ The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Lead Performance:
Larsen Seely (Quasimodo)
Aaron Jackson ( Phoebus de Martin)
Jake Ringwall (Claude Frollo)
Emily Wang (Esmeralda)
Outstanding Supporting Performance
Aidan Lindner ( Clopin Trouillefou)
Nivae Clausen (Leah, Florika)
Outstanding Direction: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Musical Direction: Natalie Baertschy Monica Kenstra
Outstanding Choreography: Sara Zavadsky
Outstanding Stage Management: Monica Kenstra & Lianna Knoblauch
Outstanding Scenic Design: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Lighting Design: Mary Kirby
2019 Jerry Recipients~ RENT ~
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Scenic Design: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Jerry Spirit Award - Rose Reichert
2019 Jerry Nominations ~ RENT ~
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Lead Performance:
Jake Sprengel (Roger Davis)
Jake Ringwall (Tom Collins)
Katie Dionne (Mimi Marquez)
Aaron Jackson (Angel Dumott Schunard)
Kennedy Harwood (Joanne Jefferson)
John Kuske (Mark Cohen)
Outstanding Direction: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Stage Management: Kate Martino & Lilly Strade
Outstanding Overall Design: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Scenic Design: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Lighting Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Sound Design: Doug Hoeft
2018 Jerry Recipients~ INTO THE WOODS ~
INTO THE WOODS- Outstanding Musical
- Mary E. Kirby & Natalie M. Baertschy ~ Directors
- Doug Hoeft~ Sound Design
- Grace Statfield ~ Stage Manager
- Tommy Spirit Award - Amy Weyers
2018 Jerry Nominations ~ INTO THE WOODS ~
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Lead Performance:
Larsen Seely (Baker)
Maddie Mainwood (Baker’s Wife)
Jake Ringwall (Jack)
Kendra Kabara (Witch)
Kenzie McKowen (Cinderella)
Kennedy Harwood (Little Red)
Outstanding Supporting Performance:
Katie Dionne (Jack’s Mother)
Aaron Jackson (Cinderella’s Prince)
Katelyn Farebrother (Rapunzel)
Cooper Hawley (Wolf)
Outstanding Direction: Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Musical Direction: Natalie Baertschy & Mary Kirby
Outstanding Stage Management: Grace Statdfield
Outstanding Overall Design
Outstanding Scenic Design Mary Kirby & Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Lighting Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Sound Design: Doug Hoeft
2017 Tommy Recipients~ Sister Act ~
- Outstanding Lead - Erin Ashenhurst (Mother Superior)
- Outstanding Orchestra
- Outstanding Stage Manager - Grace Statdfield
- Outstanding Stage Manager - Madison Ranta
- Outstanding Choreography - Sara Zavadsky
- Tommy Spirit Award - Alecia Hough
2017 Tommy Nominations~ Sister Act ~
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Orchestra
Outstanding Lead Performance:
- Maddie Teipner (Deloris Van Cartier)
- Erin Ashenhurst (Mother Superior)
- Brendan Sienko (Curtis)
- Grant Schwab (Eddie)
- Katie Dionne (Sister Mary Robert)
- Kenzie McKowen (Sister Mary Patrick)
- Alecia Hough (Sister Mary Lazarus)
- Jake Ringwall (TJ)
- Jordan Forberg (Joey)
- Cooper Hawley (Monsignor O'Hara)
- Maddie Mainwood (Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours)
Outstanding Musical Direction: Natalie Baertschy
Outstanding Choreography: Sara Zavadsky
Outstanding Stage Management:
- Grace Statdfield
- Madison Ranta
Outstanding Costume Design: Mary Kirby
Outstanding Sound Design: Nick Winders & Doug Hoeft
Tommy Spirit Award Winner ~ Alecia Hough
Tommy Awards ~ AIDA 2016
AIDA- Outstanding Musical
- Mary E. Kirby & Natalie M. Baertschy ~ Directors
- Sara Zavadsky ~ Choreography
- Chad Abramowski ~ Scenic Design
- Nick Winders & Doug Hoeft ~ Sound Design
- Maria Butscher ~ Stage Manager
- Tommy Spirit Award - Emma Freichels
Tommy Awards ~ Little Shop of Horrors 2016
- Outstanding Ensemble
- Outstanding Leading Performance ~ Jordan Forberg (Seymour)
- Outstanding Supporting Performance ~ Drew Spadaro (Voice of Audrey II)
- Outstanding Supporting Performance ~ Brendan Sienko (Mr. Mushnik)
- Outstanding Supporting Performance ~ Tyler Behm (Orin Scrivello)
- Outstanding Stage Management ~ Maddie Mainwood
- Tommy Spirit Award - Tyler Behm
Tommy Awards ~ Bye Bye Birdie 2015
- Outstanding Lead Performer – Nick Shinners (Albert Peterson)
- Outstanding Supporting Performers
- Emily Farebrother (Mrs. Doris MacAfee)
- Mel Wing (Mae Peterson)
- Tommy Spirit Award – Rachel Evans
Les Miserables Outstanding Musical
- Outstanding Lead Performers
- Samantha Kent (Cosette)
- Zach Olson (Marius)
- Ross Spadaro (Jean Valjean)
- Drew Spadaro (Javert)
- Maddie Teipner (Eponine)
- Tommy Spirit Award – Natalie Gagliano
- Director – Mary Kirby
- Music Director – Natalie M. Baertschy
- Costume Design – Katie Doerner
- Stage Manager – Natalie Gagliano
- Outstanding Stage Management – Elizabeth Schopeke
- Outstanding Technical Achievement - lighting design, costumes, set design, props, and technical direction
- Outstanding Orchestra
- Outstanding Supporting Performer - Billy Krager as Motel, the Tailor
- Outstanding Leading Performer - Tim Ohlert as Tevye