By Marisa Dawson, Photo Courtesy of BCT
Bennington Community Theatre (BCT) received significant recognition from the Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards (OEAA), earning nine nominations for the 20th annual ceremony. The nominations highlight the theatre’s strong performances and technical achievements during the eligibility period.
In the Outstanding Drama category, BCT’s production of Steel Magnolias was nominated. Stephanie Olson earned a nod for Outstanding Supporting Actor for her role in Steel Magnolias.
The majority of nominations came from the theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz, including:
– Outstanding Youth Performer: Prise Yates and Katherine Sukraw
– Outstanding Lighting Design: Maddie Maupin
– Outstanding Prop Design: Donna Dahlsten
– Outstanding Scenic Design: Donna Dahlsten
– Outstanding Costume Design: Leah Skorupa-Mezger
– Outstanding Sound Design: James Passolt
– Outstanding Music Direction: James-Michael Sellers
The 20th OEAA awards gala took place on Sunday, February 15, at The Admiral in Omaha, where winners were announced. Several BCT members attended the event to celebrate the nominations.
Although BCT did not win any awards this year, the nominations mark a major milestone for the organization. BCT President Blake Thompson said, “I think we’ve grown so much this year and that is very apparent with this recognition!” Additionally, he noted the year’s success was measured by their ability to put on larger productions. This resulted in a larger cast and greater reach throughout the community and beyond.
Being selected as nominees among the region’s talented arts community shows BCT’s growth and impact in local theatre. Congratulations to all the nominated artists and the entire BCT team on this impressive accomplishment!
