Snohomish native Wildrick earns Outstanding Actress award at Gregory Awards

SEATTLE — Snohomish High School alumna and longtime professional performer Billie Wildrick was named Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the annual Gregory Awards ceremony Monday at McCaw Hall.

Wildrick won for her heartbreaking portrayal of Sally Bowles in the Village Theatre production of “Cabaret,” which played in Everett during July.

The Gregory Awards are the Puget Sound region’s version of Broadway’s Tony awards.

Administered by the nonprofit Theatre Puget Sound since 1998, the Gregory Awards honor the outstanding achievements of professional theaters in greater Seattle area. The award is named for the late Gregory Falls, a former chairman of the University of Washington drama department, who is generally credited with setting the stage for the region’s current vibrant theater scene.

Wildrick, a Broadway veteran, has had a busy year.

Along with “Cabaret,” she starred as the bubbly Carrie Pipperidge, the gal who’s in love with Mr. Snow, in the 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of Rodgers &Hammerstein’s “Carousel” in February.

She made her directorial debut with the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Seattle Music Theatre in September. And earlier this month she opened a reprise run of “Sauced” at Cafe Nordo.

In November, Wildrick is headed back to the Ordway Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she takes on the role of Maria in “The Sound of Music.” This past Christmas, Wildrick played the mother in “A Christmas Story” at the Ordway.

Village’s “Cabaret” was directed by Pulitzer prize-winning and Tony award-winning playwright and lyricist Brian Yorkey.

He and composer Tom Kitt are perhaps best known for their musical “Next to Normal,” but also for the more recent Broadway production “If/Then.” The national touring show of “If/Then,” with Ida Menzel reprising her starring role, plays next week at Seattle’s Paramount.

As Sally Bowles, Wildrick was great, Yorkey said.

“Billie is a super star and has been for years,” he said. “She is a consummate pro who wants to grasp the essential truth of her role, a brilliant singer and totally willing to jump in and try new things.”

New Century Theatre Company, which was named theater of the year. Village Theatre was nominated in this category as was A Contemporary Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre.

“Into the Woods” at StageRight was named outstanding musical. Nominees included Village’s “Cabaret” and “Mary Poppins,” as well as “Dick Whittington and His Cat” at Seattle Children’s Theatre and “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” by the 5th Avenue and ACT.

Seattle Rep’s “Lizard Boy” was named outstanding new play. The musical, by well-known regional actor Justin Huertas, was directed by Brandon Ivie, another locally-bred Broadway vet who was nominated for best director. Kirsten deLohr Helland, known to Everett audiences from her role as Eponine in Village’s “Les Miserables,” was named outstanding supporting actress in a musical for her role in “Lizard Boy.” Huertas was named outstanding actor in a musical for his performance in his new play. Huertas also was named outstanding supporting actor in a musical for his role in Village’s “In the Heights.”

Among those nominated in the supporting musical actor category was Brandon Oke of Everett, for his role in “A Christmas Story.”

Eric Ankrim (“Jacques Brel”), Jared Michael Brown (Dick Whittington”), Jason Collins (“Cabaret”) and Nick DeSantis (Village’s “No Way to Treat a Lady”) were nominated in the best musical actor category.

Others nominated in the best musical actress category included Cayman Ilika (Village’s “Mary Poppins”), Jessica Skerritt (The 5th’s “A Christmas Story”), Laura Griffith (“Carousel”) and Devon Busswood (ArtsWest Playhouse’s “Dogfight”). Among those nominated in the best supporting musical actress were Nicole Beerman (“Cabaret”), Iris Elton (In the Heights”) and Bobbi Kotula (“No Way to Treat a Lady”).

Elijah Alexander was named outstanding actor in a play for his role in “The Invisible Hand” at ACT. Erik Gratton, a Village regular, was nominated for his role in “Slaughterhouse-Five” at Book-It. Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, who starred in “Little Bee” at Book-It, was named outstanding actress in a play.

Outstanding director was Greg Carter for “Our Town” at Strawberry Theatre Workshop.

Kathryn Van Meter of Village was named outstanding choreographer for her work in “Mary Poppins” and Cynthia Savage was named outstanding costume designer, also for “Mary Poppins.”

For more Gregory Awards nominees and winners, go to www.gregoryawards.org.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.