Places, please - Its time for this years Pulsar nominations

Over the course of the past year, judges Erin Buitendorp, Mary Cusack, Tom and Kathy Helma, Paul Wozniak and Ute Von Der Heyden have surveyed the local theater landscape to find the very best of the best. In order to qualify for a Pulsar award, a show must be seen and rated by at least three of the six judges. Ballots are turned in, scores are averaged and compiled, and the Excel spreadsheets reveal the rest.

This year’s nominees are drawn from almost every theater company, including Icarus Falling, Lansing Civic Players Guild, Peppermint Creek, Riverwalk, Williamston and the now-defunct BoarsHead, as well as the theater departments of Lansing Community College and Michigan State University. Some nominees are local favorites; a few are out-of-towners.

Most categories have five nominees. In some cases, there weren’t enough shows to fill out a particular category (such as ensemble — musical), so the category was narrowed down to productions or performers that particularly impressed the judges.

We already know who won the Pulsars, but we won’t reveal that until June 14, when City Pulse hosts the awards ceremony during a dinner cruise aboard the Michigan Princess. Tickets to the party — which starts at 5:30 p.m. — are $25 ($18 for students) and the reservation deadline is June 7. Call (517) 371-5600 ext. 12 or fill out the mail-order form on Page 9.

And now, without further adieu — drum roll, please!

The 2010 Pulsar Nominees

Play

“American Buffalo” (LCC)

“Palmer Park” (MSU)

“The Seafarer” (PC)

“Speed-The-Plow” (IF)

“This Wonderful Life” (WT)

Musical

“Altar Boyz” (PC)

“Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC)

“Living the Dreams of My Ancestors” (RW)

“Rent” (MSU)

“The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU)

Director — Play Deborah Keller, “American Buffalo” (LCC) Chad Badgero, “The Seafarer” (PC) Kristine Thatcher, “The Smell of the Kill” (WT) Jeff Croff, “Speed-The-Plow” (IF) Tony Caselli, “This Wonderful Life” (WT)

Director — Musical Chad Badgero, “Altar Boyz” (PC) John Lepard, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC) Scott Burkell, “Rent” (MSU) Tommy Gomez, “The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU) Jane Falion, “The Rothschilds” (RW)

Ensemble — Play “Cheatin’” (LCP) “Opposites Attract” (LCP) “The Smell of the Kill” (WT) “The Trojan Women” (MSU)

Ensemble — Musical“Altar Boys” (PC) “Living the Dreams of My Ancestors” (RW)

Lead Actor in a Play Michael Banghart, “American Buffalo” (LCC) Rick Dethlefsen, “The Seafarer” (PC) Cody Masalkoski, “Our Town” (LCC) John Lepard, “This Wonderful Life” (WT) Allan I. Ross, “Speed- The-Plow” (IF)

Lead Actor in a Musical Joseph Baumann, “The Rothschilds” (RW) Doak Bloss, “The Rothschilds” (RW) Sebastian Gerstner, “The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU) Derek Smith, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC)

Lead Actress in a Play Rachel Kabodean, “Our Town” (LCC) Abby Murphy, “Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight” (PC) Chai’Tavia Mushatt, “Palmer Park” (MSU) Kilashandra Waters, “The Cider House Rules” (LCC) Amy Winchell, “Speed-The-Plow” (IF)

Lead Actress in a Musical Abigail English, “Into the Woods” (RW) Veronica Gracia-Wing, “Into the Woods” (RW) Jennifer Shafer, “The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU) Corinna VanHamlin, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC)

Supporting Actor in a Play Joseph Albright, “It Came From Mars” (WT) John Astin, “Bluff” (BH) Eric Dawe, “The Seafarer” (PC) Jack Dowd, “The Seafarer” (PC) Mark Gmazel, “Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight” (PC)

Supporting Actor in a Musical Rusty Broughton, “The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU) Jeff Kennedy, “Into the Woods” (RW) Brandon Piper, “Rent” (MSU) Sineh Wurle, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC)

Supporting Actress in a Play Michelle Meredith, “Kid Purple” (MSU) Abby Murphy, “Enchanted April” (RW) Linda Setzer, “Bluff” (BH) Sandy Thomasson, “Enchanted April” (RW) Gloria Vivalda, “Enchanted April” (RW)

Supporting Actress in a Musical Colleen Bethea, “The Rothschilds” (RW) Chris Purchis, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC) Kellyn Uhl, “Rent” (MSU) Kellyn Uhl, “The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU)

Featured Actor in a Play Vinnie Mascola, “Kid Purple” (MSU) Ron Hillard, “Palmer Park” (MSU) Jacob Hodgson, “It Came From Mars” (WT) Brad Rutledge, “The Seafarer” (PC)

Featured Actor in a Musical Chad DeKatch, “Into the Woods” (RW) Michael Hays, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC) Curran Jacobs, “The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU) Jeff Massey, “The Rothschilds” (RW)

Featured Actress in a Play ErinCline, “Ah, Wilderness” (LCC) Rachel Frawley, “You Can’t Take It WithYou” (MSU) Julie Sihiling, “Bluff” (BH) Piaget Ventus, “Palmer Park”(MSU)

Featured Actress in a Musical LauraCroff, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC) Claudia Dibbs, “Rent” (MSU)Sarah Sonnenberg, “The Rothschilds” (RW) Lauren LoGrasso, “The RockyHorror Show” (MSU)

Music Director JeffEnglish, “The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU) James Geer, “Into the Woods”(RW) Donna Green, “Altar Boyz” (PC) Derek Smith, “Hank Williams: LostHighway” (LCC) John Dale Smith, “Rent” (MSU)

Choreography KimKondrat, “The Rocky Horror Show” (MSU) Karyn Perry, “Altar Boyz” (PC)Hope Hadley Rollins; Tonya Hardy; Min. Janice Rogers; Bonita Smith;Doris Copedge; Antoinette and Deandra Lewis; Rosalyn English; Min.Rosalyn Jones; Evang. Patricia Campbell-Castro, “Living the Dreams ofMy Ancestors” (RW) Joni Starr, “Rent” (MSU)

Lighting JoeDickson, “Altar Boyz” (PC) Reid G. Johnson, “This Wonderful Life” (WT)Samantha Bostwick, “Rent” (MSU) Jeremy Winchester, “The Cider House Rules”(LCC) Michael Wright, “American Buffalo” (LCC)

Sound JoeDickson, “Altar Boyz” (PC) Ken Faulk, “Flyover, USA” (WT) QuintessaGallinat, “This Wonderful Life” (WT) Will Meyers, “It Came From Mars”(WT) Lucas Nunn, “Palmer Park” (MSU)

Set Design BartleyH. Bauer, “Ah, Wilderness” (LCC) Bartley H. Bauer, “The Cider HouseRules” (LCC) Janine Woods Thoma, “It Came From Mars” (WT) Daniel C.Walker, “The Smell of the Kill” (WT) Michael Wright, “American Buffalo”(LCC)

Props LindaBurke, “Ah, Wilderness” (LCC) Zac Campbell, “You Can’t It With You”(MSU) Deborah Keller, “American Buffalo” (LCC) Charles Sutherland, “ItCame From Mars” (WT) Ray Kurtis and Melody Teodoro-Kurtis, "The Rothschilds" (RW) 

Costumes Charlotte Deardorff, “Ah, Wilderness” (LCC) Deborah Keller, “American Buffalo” (LCC) Charlotte Deardorff, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” (LCC) Lark Burger, “Enchanted April” (RW) Kristina Miller, “The Trojan Women” (MSU)