Sunday evening’s show was nearly sold out at the new Arden Playhouse, a wonderful 150-seat venue that opened in March.

All ages were represented in the audience. Were they waiting for the curtain opening on the latest play?   No – the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance (SARTA) was announcing the 2010 Elly nominees.

The Elly Awards are named for the late Eleanor McClatchy, a devoted patron of the arts and former publisher of The Sacramento Bee. The Elly Awards celebrate excellence and the outstanding achievements of community theaters and artists in the greater Sacramento area.

Elly Award nominations included Lead and Supporting Actor and Actress, Director, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Set Design, Overall Production plus Musical Direction and Choreography, if applicable. The nominations were announced for productions in the following categories: Comedy, Drama, Musical, Original Works, Education Musicals and Plays, and Young People's Musicals and Plays.

This past season 262 shows were submitted by 83 theaters. Fifty-nine theaters received nominations. Of the more than 410 Elly nominees, the top 81 vote-getters will receive the Elly Award at the 28th Annual Elly Award Ceremony on Sept. 26 at the Crest Theatre.

SARTA Board of Directors President Leslie Addiego opened the evening introducing Peggy O'Guin, Elly Judging Coordinator and Steve O'Guin Elly Judging Tabulator who would read the list of nominees in each category. The audience was asked to hold its applause until all nominees in each category were read. In spite of this request, lots of folks found it difficult not to show their excitement when they or a friend were nominated. The nominees in each category were greeted with a very hearty round of applause.

El Dorado Musical Theatre had the most nominations with 43. Its production of “The Wizard of Oz” had 16 nominations, and “Les Miserables” grabbed 13, making them the two most nominated in the youth programs category.

El Dorado Musical Theatre was founded in 2001 and does both education and stage productions. It is located in El Dorado Hills. To learn more about the company, click here .

Dorothy (Krista Mackin), Scarecrow (Alex Levy), Lion (Joey Saffren), Tinman (Stefan Sorgea), Wicked Witch (Jenna Lillywhite), Glinda (Lauren Wells), Toto (C.J.)         El Dorado Musical Theatre production of “The Wizard of Oz” 

Runaway Stage Productions had the next-largest number of nominations with 30. It received 21 for its youth programs and nine for its adult theater productions.

Runaway Stage Productions was founded in 1997 and performs at the 24th Street Theatre at the Sierra 2 Center in Sacramento. It has an 18-piece Resident Orchestra dedicated to providing "live" music during performances. Click here for more information on Runaway Stage Productions.

Magic Circle Theatre, the former Civic Theatre West, located in Roseville, also produces adult and children’s programming. Magic Circle Theatre received 24 nominations – 18 for youth programs and six for adult productions. More information on Magic Circle Theatre can be found here.

Solano College Theatre received 16 nominations, 10 of which were for its production of “The Producers.”

Solano College Theatre is part of the Solano Community College, staging productions both in a 374-seat venue on the main campus in Fairfield and a more intimate 175-seat theater on the waterfront in Old Town Suisun City. Click here for more information on Solano College Theatre, it’s shows and programs.

Solano College Theatre production of "The Producers"

A private Sacramento Catholic girls’ high school, St. Francis, received 16 nominations with its production of “Taming of the Shrew,” receiving 12 of those. This was the fourth-most-nominated production in the youth programs category. More information.

Rounding out the top productions in the youth program category were “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Woodland Opera House in Woodland (information), and “Seussical” (10) and “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” (10) both at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs (information).

The Adult category productions were the aforementioned Solano College Theatre production of “The Producers,” (10) “Snow Falling on Cedars” by the Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra in Nevada City (7) (information), “Reefer Madness” by the Artistic Differences Theatre Company of Sacramento (7) (information) and “Crime and Punishment” by KOLT Run Creations also in Sacramento (7), (information).

Lyra Dominguez (Hatsue) and Tucker Braga (Ishmael)

“Snow Falling on Cedars” by the Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra Nevada City

“Reefer Madness” by the Artistic Differences Theatre Company

“Crime and Punishment” by KOLT Run Creation

Now that the Elly nominations are out it is a safe bet that the excitement is building in the community theater and education theater communities for the Elly Award Ceremony. To add to the fun and excitement, every nominee in a musical category is asked to perform a musical number at the show. This is an opportunity to see the best and the brightest of community theater and education theater in the Greater Sacramento region.  

To see the complete list of nominees click here.

The Elly Awards Ceremony
September 26, 2010 at the Crest Theater 10th and K Streets Sacramento, CA
Youth Awards begin at 6pm; Adult Awards begin at 8pm.
Tickets go on sale on Monday, August 16th. Visit here for more information or call (916)443-8229