22ND ANNUAL NAACP THEATRE AWARDS ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS

The NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch's Theatre Viewing Committee announces nominations for the 22nd Annual NAACP Theatre Awards. The awards include 32 categories that encompass local and equity nominations. This year's awards show will be held on Monday, November 5, 2012 at 6 P.M. at the famous Directors Guild of America in Hollywood, California.

This year's nominations include "Twist" - an American Musical acquiring seven theatre nominations and directed by Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-Winner Debbie Allen. Not too far behind and tied with "Blues For An Alabama Sky" for the second place in most nominations, "Fela!" is recognized with five nominations. This includes Best Director of a Musical-Local for Tony Award-Winner Bill T. Jones and then to Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Will and Jada Smith, and Ruth and Stephen Hendel for Best Producer-Equity. Another well-known play, "A Raisin In The Sun", garnered several nominations including Best Director-Equity to Phylicia Rashad. Lastly in the local Best Director of a Musical category, writer/producer Bill Reid for "Rockin' In The Ages" goes up against Anne Gesling for "Chicago" and "Parade" directed by Ben Lupejkis.

The Theatre Viewing Committee considers all candidates who submitted their production from January 2011 through December 2011 for possible nomination. All productions must have a five consecutive week production run in Southern California (San Diego to Bakersfield included) to be considered. Productions who met all eligibility requirements before the deadline are considered eligible for a 2012 NAACP Theatre Award. For more information on the NAACP Theatre Awards, please visit www.naacptheatreawards.com or call the office at
(323) 464-7616.

About The NAACP Theatre Awards:
The NAACP Theatre Awards is presented by Board Of The Directors of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Branch. Ron Hasson is Branch President and Tia Boyd is the Executive Producer for the NAACP Theatre Awards Show. The prestigious star-studded gala is produced for the purpose of honoring thespians among the best in the field of entertainment. The branch also celebrates a four-day theatre festival, which provides a platform for thespians to express their craft and share their contributions with an audience of their peers, the community and other individuals who celebrate live theatre in Los Angeles.


22ND NAACP THEATRE AWARDS - NOMINATIONS BY CATEGORY

Best Director – Equity
Blues for An Alabama Sky – Sheldon Epps
A Raisin In The Sun – Phylicia Rashad
The Old Settler – Caryn Desai

Best Director – Local
12' X 9' – Fred Thomas, Jr.
All My Sons – Cameron Watson
The Motor Trade – Jeff Murray

Best Director of a Musical – Equity
Twist – Debbie Allen
Having It All – Richard Israel
Fela! – Bill T. Jones

Best Director of a Musical – Local
Chicago – Anne Gesling
Rockin' In The Ages - Bill Reid
Parade – Ben Lupejkis

Best Ensemble Cast – Equity
Blues for An Alabama Sky
Bring It On

Best Ensemble Cast – Local
12' X 9'
All My Sons
Shoe Story

Best Choreography – Equity
Twist – Debbie Allen
Bring It On – Andy Blakenbuehler
Fela! – Bill T. Jones

Best Choreography – Local
Rockin' In The Ages – Raquel Brussolo
Chicago – Krystal Combs
Dreams In Variations – Steven Nielson & Stephanie Simpson

Best Costumes – Equity
Blues for An Alabama Sky – Karen Perry
Twist - ESosa
Bring It On – Andrea Lauer

Best Costumes – Local
Rockin' In The Ages – Liz Perralta
Chicago – Rodney Munoz
Dreams In Variations – Rachel Weir

Best Lead Female - Equity
The Old Settler – Karen Malina White
Having It All – Jennifer Leigh Warren
Twist – Tamyra Gray Best Lead Female – Local
Sunday Morning – Kinnik Sky
The Interlopers – Diarra Kilpatrick
The Bluest Eye – Sola Bamis

Best Lead Male – Equity
Twist – Alaman Diadhiou
Fela! – Sahr Ngaujah
Superior Donuts – Edi Gathegi

Best Lead Male – Local
The Motor Trade – Alex Morris
Treat Yourself Like Cary Grant – Kim Estes
Sunday Morning – Gichi Gamba

Best Lighting – Equity
Superior Donuts – Daniel Ionazzi
The 1940s Radio Hour – James L. Moody
To Kill A Mockingbird – J. Kent Inacy

Best Lighting - Local
Sunday Morning – Joe Morrison
12' X 9' – Emmanuel Rumph
Hattie…What I need You To Know! – Sammie Wayne

Best Music Director – Equity
Bring It On – Dave Pepin
The 1940s Radio Hour – Linda Kerns
Fela! – Aaron Johnson

Best Music Director – Local
Rockin' In The Ages – Mark Rodriguez
Chicago – Anne Gesling
PARADE – Catherine Rahm

Best One Person Show - Equity
The Night Watcher – Charlayne Woodard
The 1940s Radio Hour – Kimi Walker

Best One Person Show - Local
BabyGirl – Kaypri
Hattie…What I Need You To Know – Vickilyn Reynolds
Oh, Yes She did – Sandy Brown

Best Playwright – Equity
Blues for An Alabama Sky – Pearl Cleage
Superior Donuts – Tracy Letts
The Night Watcher – Charlayne Woodard

Best Playwright – Local
12' X 9' – Fred Thomas, Jr.
The Motor Trade – Norm Foster
Sunday Morning – Kinnik Sky Best Producer – Equity
Twist – Pasadena Playhouse, TAM Producing Partners. Michelle Seward, Dror Soref, Willette Murphy Klausner, Gary Goddard and Forbes Candlish
A Raisin In The sun – Wren T. Brown
Fela! – Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Shawn "Jay Z" Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith

Best Producer – Local
All My Sons – Joseph Stern
12' X 9' – Fred Thomas, Jr and Don B. Welch
Treat Yourself Like Cary Grant – Russell Boast & Dave Fofi

Best Set Design – Equity
Blues For An Alabama Sky – John LaCorelli
Superior Donuts – John Arnone
Bring It On – David Korins

Best Set Design – Local
12' X 9' – Fred Thomas, Jr.
Bridge – David Svengalis
Pity The Proud Ones – Miguel Montalvo

Best Sound – Equity
Bring It On – Brian Ronan
Superior Donuts – Richard Woodbury
The 1940s Radio Hour – Fritz Davis

Best Sound – Local
12' X 9' – Emmanuel Rumph
All My Sons – Steven Cahill
Pity the Proud Ones – Kimberly M. Wilson

Best Supporting Female – Equity
The Old Settler – Tarina Pouncy
Fela! – Melanie Marshall
Bonded – Toyin Moses

Best Supporting Female – Local
Sunday Morning – Kaira Akita
Sunday Morning – Rhonda Morman
The Bluest eye – Danika Butler

Best Supporting Male – Equity
Twist – Cleavant Derricks
Bonded – Ric B. Anthony
A Raisin In The Sun – Brandon David Brown

Best Supporting Male – Local
Sunday Morning – Juhahn Jones
Bash'd – DJ Jedi
Nobody Walks Like My Daddy – Dale Fielder