The New York Musical Festival wrapped up its 2018 season with the August 5 presentation of the Awards for Excellence, celebrating productions, readings, and concerts that comprised the organization's 15th annual lineup.
The production of Between the Sea and the Sky took home a total of five awards at the Hudson Terrace reception, including Best Musical. Also leading the pack with five wins each were Emojiland, Interstate, and Pedro Pan.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM 6 SHOWS AT THE 2018 NEW YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL
See below for the complete list of 2018 NYMF Awards for Excellence winners:
BEST OF FEST: READING
Legacy: A Musical Indictment
Book, music, and lyrics by November Christine
BEST OF FEST: CONCERT
Fatty Fatty No Friends
Book by Christian De Gré, Joseph Anderson & Serrana Gay; music by Christian De Gré; story by Serrana Gay; lyrics by Joseph Anderson
BEST OF FEST: PRODUCTION
An American Hero: A New World War II Musical
Book by Kenneth L. Stilson; music and lyrics by Cody Cole
OUTSTANDING OVERALL DESIGN
Between the Sea and Sky
Joshua Warner (scenic design), Jessica Creager (lighting design), Heather Carey (costume design), Josh Liebert (sound design)
OUTSTANDING MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS AND ORCHESTRATIONS
Thomas Hodges, Sonata 1962
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY
Kenny Ingram, Emojiland
OUTSTANDING BOOK
Justin Moran and Jonathan Roufaeal, Peter, Who?
OUTSTANDING LYRICS
Kit Yan and Melissa Li, Interstate
OUTSTANDING MUSIC
Luke Byrne, Between the Sea and Sky
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alexis Floyd, If Sand Were Stone
Natalie Toro, Pedro Pan
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE
Trish Lindstrȫm, If Sand Were Stone
Sushma Saha, Interstate
Christina Maxwell, Sonata 1962
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE
Between the Sea and Sky: Anna L. Baker, Jenny Rose Baker, Jordan Bell, Thaddeus Kolwicz, Caroline Lellouche, Barbara McCulloh, Jason Moody, Sarah Jane Shanks, Jessica Turk
Emojiland: Jessie Alagna, Brandon L. Armstrong, Jordon Bolden, Chloe Fox, Keith Harrison, Laura Nicole Harrison, Cooper Howell, Megan Kane, Alex G. Kunz, Josh Lamon, Lesli Margherita, Angela Wildflower
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION
Michael Bello, Between the Sea and Sky
BEST MUSICAL (SPONSORED BY PLAY-BY-PLAY)
Between the Sea and Sky
PERFORMANCE AWARDS:
Taylor Caldwell, Pedro Pan
Gregory Diaz IV, Pedro Pan
Kristen Di Mercurio, The Gunfighter Meets His Match
Esco Jouléy, Interstate
Josh Lamon, Emojiland
Adam Schween, An American Hero: A New World War II Musical
Julian Silva, Pedro Pan
Uton Evan Onyejekwe, ‘68: A New American Musical
Angela Wildflower, Emojiland
Andreas Wyder, Interstate
SPECIAL CITATIONS
University Excellence: Southeast Missouri State University for their production of An American Hero: A New World War II Musical
Festival Achievement in Lighting Design: Jamie Roderick for Emojiland
Mental Health Awareness: Carly Brooke Feinman and Cassie Wilson, If Sand Were Stone
Representation and Inclusion: Melissa Li and Kit Yan, Interstate
Political Relevance and Impact: Rebecca Aparicio and Stephen Anthony Elkins, Pedro Pan
Arts Advocacy: Thomas Hodges and Patricia Loughrey, Sonata 1962
