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.
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