California Stage earns 7 Elly Award nominations for 4 out of its last 5 productions!

This just in! California Stage is excited to receive 7 Elly Award nominations for its productions of Marat/Sade, Italian Opera, The Third Date, and Sleeping in the Middle of the Bed. Producing Artistic Director Ray Tatar, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award during last year’s ceremony, is happy to be working with such talented artists in such a supportive community.

Michael RJ Campbell earned a Supporting Male in a Musical nomination for his portrayal of The Herald in California Stage’s summer 2014 production of Marat/Sade. Michael went on to appear earlier this year in California Stage’s Italian Opera, Sacramento Theatre Company’s The Pirates of Penzance, and Berkeley Playhouse’s acclaimed Fiddler on the Roof as Tevye. He is currently directing CalStage’s Angel in the Night.

Janet Motenko, also featured in Angel in the Night, was nominated for the Leading Female in a Musical award for her “hilarious” (SN&R) turn as Zerbinetta in CalStage’s West Coast premiere of Italian Opera. At the time, Bev Sykes of the Davis Enterprise gushed that Motenko’s “delicious” performance was “so wonderful it [had] to be seen to be believed.” CalStage’s sellout audiences and now Elly judges seem to have agreed.

Both offerings in CalStage’s recent SacSoloSeriesIV: Serious Detours earned nods as well. Maggie Adair Upton was nominated for her direction of Robert Lautz’ The Third Date, which will also compete for the coveted Best Overall Production of a Comedy award. Richard Winters‘ Sleeping in the Middle of the Bed vies for the both the Best Original Script and Best Overall Production of an Original Script prize. CalStage’s world premiere production of Nedra Pezold Roberts‘ The Vanishing Point, starring Winters, took home the Elly for Best Original Script and Best Overall Production of an Original Script last year.

Winners will be announced at the Elly Awards Ceremony Sunday, September 27th — so stay tuned!