Bryna Soriano received a $500 scholarship from NEPTA to further her education at Wilkes University, where she will work toward a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre. Submitted photo

Bryna Soriano received a $500 scholarship from NEPTA to further her education at Wilkes University, where she will work toward a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre.

Submitted photo

Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.
<p>Olivia Stettler of Tamaqua received a $500 scholarship from NEPTA to further her education at Kent State University, where she will work toward a degree in Theater Studies with a concentration in Performance.</p> <p>Submitted photo</p>

Olivia Stettler of Tamaqua received a $500 scholarship from NEPTA to further her education at Kent State University, where she will work toward a degree in Theater Studies with a concentration in Performance.

Submitted photo
<p>Joe Sheridan accepted NEPTA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his many dedicated years of talent and creative services, to the local theatre community.</p> <p>Submitted photo</p>

Joe Sheridan accepted NEPTA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his many dedicated years of talent and creative services, to the local theatre community.

Submitted photo
<p>Shown in a scene from the Music Box Playhouse production of ‘The Music Man’ are Max Reynolds, who won a NEPTA Award for his performance; and Dane Bower who won a Best Lead Actor in a Musical Award for his performance in Gaslight Theatre’s production of ‘Next to Normal.’</p> <p>Times Leader file photo</p>

Shown in a scene from the Music Box Playhouse production of ‘The Music Man’ are Max Reynolds, who won a NEPTA Award for his performance; and Dane Bower who won a Best Lead Actor in a Musical Award for his performance in Gaslight Theatre’s production of ‘Next to Normal.’

Times Leader file photo
<p>The PTPA production of ‘Newsies,’ which took place in Hazleton last summer, received the Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance award for Best Family Show as well as an award for Best Choreographer to Samantha Schugardt and an award for Best Teen Actor to Derek (DJ) Elliott Jr.</p> <p>Times Leader file photo</p>

The PTPA production of ‘Newsies,’ which took place in Hazleton last summer, received the Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance award for Best Family Show as well as an award for Best Choreographer to Samantha Schugardt and an award for Best Teen Actor to Derek (DJ) Elliott Jr.

Times Leader file photo
<p>Alice Lyons, at left, won a NEPTA award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Gaslight Theatre Production of ‘Next To Normal.’ The production also won an award for Best Musical, Best Musical Director (Jennifer Hunter) and Best Lead Actor in a Musical (Dane Bower.)</p> <p>Times Leader file photo</p>

Alice Lyons, at left, won a NEPTA award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her performance in the Gaslight Theatre Production of ‘Next To Normal.’ The production also won an award for Best Musical, Best Musical Director (Jennifer Hunter) and Best Lead Actor in a Musical (Dane Bower.)

Times Leader file photo

The Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance recently held its 23rd Awards ceremony for the 2019 year, and due to coronavirus issues the event was streamed LIVE to the Facebook page of Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance and on NEPTA’S YouTube Channel. The event can still be viewed by going to the NEPTA facebook page.

Those at the helm who painstakingly put this event together and hosted the livestream event were: Jacob Shoesmith-Fox and Claudia Stuart Shoesmith-Fox of Theatrical Gems; MC was Scott Colin Woolnough of Little Theater of Wilkes Barre; NEPTA President Paige Balitski of Diva Productions; and creating the program for the event was Bob DeLuca of Endless Mountains Theater Company. Past NEPTA Award recipients Dane Bower and Mike Wawrzynek performed an innovative opening for the show. NEPTA representatives voted on more than 60 shows to come up with nominations and recipients of various categories.

NEPTA member organizations who were nominated, received awards or took part in the ceremony include: Actors Circle and Diva Productions of Lackawanna County; Actors Guild of Schuylkill County also Center Stage of Schuylkill; DM Performance Works both of Schuylkill and Luzerne County; Endless Mountains Theatre Company of Susquehanna County; Gaslight Theatre, Little Theatre of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania Theater of Performing Arts, and Music Box Theatre of Luzerne County; and Theatrical Gems and Worthington Players at Shawnee of Monroe County. Members at large are Regina Lanzo and Marty Courtney.

Also, at the event, graduating seniors who received $500 scholarships from NEPTA were acknowledged: Bryna Soriano, of Wilkes-Barre, attending Wilkes University in the fall for a B.F.A in Musical Theatre, and Olivia Stettler of Tamaqua, attending Kent State University in the fall for a B.A. in Theater Studies with a concentration in Performance.

NEPTA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Joe Sheridan for his many dedicated years of talent and creative services, to the local theatre community. For over 35 years, Joe Sheridan has been consistently involved in all aspects of theater, both on stage and behind the scenes with nearly every theatre in the Wyoming Valley, including: The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, Showcase Theatre, Music Box Dinner Playhouse, Genetti’s Dinner Theatre, and KISS Theatre Company.

Complete list of NEPTA Award recipients:

Best Sound Design

Jacob Shoesmith-Fox – “The Secret Garden,” Theatrical Gems

Best Lighting Design

Jon Vojtko – “Jekyll and Hyde,” LTWB

Best Set

Dave Reynolds and Mike Wawrzynek – “August: Osage County,” LTWB

Best Costume Design

Eyanna Gruver – “Jekyll and Hyde,” LTWB

Best Youth Actress (12 and under)

Lauren Maula – “The Secret Garden,” Theatrical Gems

Best Youth Actor (12 and under)

Max Reynolds – “The Music Man,” Music Box

Best Teen Actress (13-18)

Milana Daiute – “Matilda,” DMPW

Best Teen Actor (13-18)

Derek (DJ) Elliott Jr. – “Newsies,” PTPA

Best Youth Production

“Aladdin Jr” – Worthington

Best Teen Production

“School House Rock Jr.” (Teen Cast) – PTPA

Best One-Act

“Ripped” – Diva

Best Family Show

“Newsies” – PTPA

Best Original One-Act (Writing)

“The Yellow Leaf” by David Parmelee – LTWB

Best Original Full-Length Production (Writing)

“Mona Lisa and the Cross” by K.K. Gordon – Diva

Best Ancillary Ensemble

“Playroom: Home for the Holidays” – Gaslight

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama

Kimmie Leff – “August: Osage County, LTWB

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama

Tim McDermott – August: Osage County,” LTWB

Best Lead Actress in a Drama

Maddie Giardina – “Mona Lisa and the Cross,” Diva

Best Lead Actor in a Drama

Christopher Alu – “Orphans,” Diva

Best Director of a Drama

Casey Thomas – “Orphans,” Diva

Best Drama

“August: Osage County” – LTWB

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Marcie Herman Riebe – “Dearly Departed,” Actors Circle

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Eric Lutz – “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Diva

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy

Alicia Nordstrom – “Almost, Maine,” PTPA

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy

Bob Balitski – “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Diva

Best Director of a Comedy

Paige Balitski – “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” Diva

Best Comedy

“Dearly Departed” – Actors Circle

Best Choreographer

Samantha Schugardt – “Newsies,” PTPA

Best Music Director

Jennifer Hunter – “Next to Normal,” Gaslight

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

Katie Owens – “Company,” Music Box

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

Christopher Pavlick – ”1776,” PTPA

Best Lead Actress in a Musical

Alice Y. Lyons – “Next to Normal,” Gaslight

Best Lead Actor in a Musical

Dane Bower – “Next to Normal,” Gaslight

Best Director of a Musical

Alexandra Liguori – “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” Music Box

Best Musical

“Next to Normal” – Gaslight

Lifetime Achievement Award

Joe Sheridan