MSU’s Department of Theatre’s 2018-2019 Season received 31 nominations for Pulsar Awards and walked away with seven of those awards, the most of any organization.
This was the 15th year for the Pulsar Awards, which recognize Lansing area community, professional, and college theatre programs.
Earlier this month, Lansing City Pulse announced the nominees for the 2018-2019 awards. And although the number of nominations and awards received by MSU is impressive, they don’t tell the full story of the impact MSU’s Department of Theatre has on theatre in the Greater Lansing Area. There also were an additional 20 nominations for MSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni who do theatre work outside the university setting.
“My love for performing only increases as time goes on,” said Alek Doerr, MSU Theatre junior and nominee for Best Lead Actor in a Play for his performance in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. “It’s something I fall more and more in love with and it’s something that makes me strive to be the best version of myself in order to perform the way I’d like.”
MSU’s College of Arts & Letters would like to acknowledge and congratulate all the 2019 Pulsar Award nominees and winners, as well as pass a ‘tip of the plume’ to all the Spartans in the mix.
2018-2019 MSU Affiliated Pulsar Award Nominees
(* denotes winner)
Best Director (Musical)
John Lennox, Lansing Community College — “Hair” ALUMNUS
Brad Willcuts, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” FACULTY
Best Director (Play)
Susan Chmurynsky, Riverwalk Theatre — “These Shining Lives” ALUMNUS
Rob Roznowski, Riverwalk Theatre — “Freud’s Last Session” FACULTY
Ann Folino White, MSU Department of Theatre — “Men on Boats” FACULTY
Music Direction
*Matt Meeuwse, Owosso Community Players — “Mamma Mia!” ALUMNUS
Dave Wendelberger, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” FACULTY
Best Set Design
*Kirk A. Domer, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” FACULTY/CHAIR
Meredith Wagner, MSU Department of Theatre — “The Bacchae” MFA DESIGN
Chad Swan-Badgero, Peppermint Creek Theatre Co. — “Shakespeare in Love” ALUMNUS
Best Choreography
Alisa Hauser, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” FACULTY
David Furumoto, MSU Department of Theatre — “The Bacchae” GUEST FACULTY
Best Property Designer
Grace Foiles, MSU Department of Theatre — “A View from the Bridge” MFA DESIGN
Best Original Script
*Christy Hall, Williamston Theatre — “To Quiet the Quiet” ALUMNUS
Best Sound
*Griffin Irish, MSU Department of Theatre — “The Bacchae” MFA DESIGN
Jason Painter Price, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” FACULTY
Jason Painter Price, Williamston Theatre — “To Quiet the Quiet” FACULTY
Joey Lancour, MSU Department of Theatre — “A View from the Bridge” UNDERGRADUATE
Best Lighting Design
James Thomason, MSU Department of Theatre — “Men on Boats” ALUMUS
*Ray Kelley, MSU Department of Theatre — “The Bacchae” MFA DESIGN
Rachel Aho, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” UNDERGRADUATE
Daniel Huston, Williamston Theatre — “Silent Sky” ALUMNUS
Best Costume Design
Karen Kangas-Preston, Williamston Theatre — “Silent Sky” FACULTY
*Jenna Light Gove, MSU Department of Theatre — “The Bacchae” MFA DESIGN
Best Hair & Makeup
Ketura Le’Audrey, MSU Department of Theatre — “The Bacchae” UNDERGRADUATE
Best Specialization
Alexis Black, Williamston Theatre — “To Quiet the Quiet” FACULTY
Best Lead Actor (Musical)
Ryan Adolph, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” MFA ACTING
*Chase Cain, MSU Department of Theatre – “Oklahoma!” UNDERGRADUATE
Best Lead Actor (Play)
Jeff Magnuson, Riverwalk Theatre — “The Elephant Man” MSU STAFF
Kevin Craig, MSU Department of Theatre — “A View from the Bridge” MFA ACTING
Alek Kristopher Doerr, MSU Department of Theatre — “A View from the Bridge” UNDERGRADUATE
Brian de Vries, Riverwalk Theatre — “Freud’s Last Session” MSU STAFF
Best Lead Actress (Musical)
Isa Rodriquez, Owosso Community Players — “Mamma Mia!” UNDERGRADUATE
Isa Rodriquez, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” UNDERGRADUATE
Sharon Combs, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” MFA ACTING
Best Lead Actress (Play)
Taylor Rupp, Riverwalk Theatre — “These Shining Lives” ALUMNUS
Best Supporting Actor (Play)
Raied Jawhari, MSU Department of Theatre — “A View from the Bridge” UNDERGRADUATE
John Lepard, Williamston Theatre — “To Quiet the Quiet” ALUMNUS
Best Supporting Actor (Musical)
Rusty Broughton, Owosso Community Players — “Mamma Mia!” ALUMNUS
Chad DeKatch, Owosso Community Players — “Mamma Mia!” ALUMNUS
Best Supporting Actress (Musical)
*Anna Birmingham, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” ALUMNUS
Taren Going, Riverwalk Theatre — ” Hairspray” UNDERGRADUATE
Best Featured Actor (Play)
Chad Swan-Badgero, Peppermint Creek Theatre Co. — “Shakespeare in Love” ALUMUS
*DJ Shafer, MSU Department of Theatre — “The Bacchae” UNDERGRADUATE
Best Featured Actress (Play)
Eve Davidson, Riverwalk Theatre — “The Elephant Man” ALUMNUS
Best Featured Actress (Musical)
Zaria Aikens, MSU Department of Theatre — “Oklahoma!” UNDERGRADUATE
Best Ensemble (Play)
“Men on Boats” — MSU Department of Theatre
“Memory of Two Mondays” — MSU Department of Theatre
Best Musical
“Oklahoma!” — MSU Department of Theatre
Best Play
“A View from the Bridge” — MSU Department of Theatre
“Memory of Two Mondays” — MSU Department of Theatre