2026 OCTA STATE AWARD WINNERS​

The 2026 OCTA State Conference was held at Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center in Lima, OH on September 4 - 6. Fifteen theaters across the state came to perform and represent their regions over 3 days. Congratulations to all who participated in a wonderful weekend of theater! 

 

Excerpt #1 26 Pebbles – Troy Civic Theatre
Derek Dunavent – Excellence in Acting as Actor 3
Niccole Sueann Wallace – Excellence in Acting as Actor 6
Savvy Hostetler – Merit in Acting as Actor 1

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Excerpt #2 Over the River and Through The Woods – Silver Lining Players

The Cast of Over the River and Through the Woods – Excellence in Ensemble
Susan Rusinoff – Merit in Costumes
Christian Achkar – Outstanding in Acting as Nick
Tim Champion – Merit in Acting as Nunzio

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Excerpt #3 Calendar Girls – The Drama Workshop
Ray Persing – Merit in Set Design
Victoria Covarrubias – Excellence in Acting as Cora
Becky Cole – Merit in Surprise Entrance as Ruth

Elias Dean – Merit in Acting as Lawrence

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Excerpt #4 It Takes A Village: A Night of One Acts – Gates Mills Players
Craig Gifford - Excellence in Acting as Tom
Adam Meyer – Merit in Acting as Contractor
Lisa Freebairn – Merit in Acting as Patient

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Excerpt #5 Dracula, The Vampire Play – Ritz Teen Thespian Guild
Jim Cook – Outstanding in Set Design
Esme Hummel-Sass – Outstanding in Acting as Dracula
Eve Knisley – Excellence in Acting as Miss Anya
Coryanna Martin – Outstanding in Acting as Professor Van Helsing
Mika Gibson – Excellence in Costumes
**Stage Managers Award for Outstanding in Backstage Cooperation

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Excerpt #6 The Addams Family – The Footlighters, Inc.
Aubrey E. Wilson – Outstanding in Direction
Alan Masters – Excellence in Music Direction
Mike Fielder – Excellence in Choreography
Sophie Grant – Excellence in Costumes
Aubrey E. Wilson – Merit in Lighting Design
Jamie Sivrais – Outstanding in Musial Theatre Performance as Gomez
Val Allen – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Wednesday
Evan Blanton – Merit in Acting as Fester
Parker Culp – Merit in Laughter as Pugsley

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Excerpt #7 What Were The Chances! – Wayne County Performing Arts Council
Wayne County Performing Arts Council – Merit in Presenting an Original Work
Richard Figge – Merit in Acting as Joseph Evans
Lizbeth Mang – Merit in Playwriting

  

Excerpt #8 Buyer and Cellar – Little Theatre Off Broadway
Joel Derkin – Excellent in Acting as Alex More

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Excerpt #9 Storm Warning – Trumbull New Theatre
Jessie Bryner – Merit in Direction
Brett Bunker – Merit in Acting as Jack Forrester

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Excerpt #10 Zanna, Don't! – Loveland Stage Company
Loveland Stage Company – Outstanding Production Team
Ian Meeker – Outstanding in Musical Theater Performance as Mike
Justin Hanks – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Steve
Mary Mills – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Kate
Sienna Glaze – Outstanding in Musial Theatre Performance as Roberta

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Excerpt #11 Nunsense – Harlequins Community Theatre
Curtis Brown – Outstanding in Direction
Curtis Brown – Outstanding in Music Direction
Pamela Shirtz – Merit in Choreography
The Cast of Nunsense – Excellence in Vocal Ensemble
Corinne Howery – Merit in Musical Theatre Performance as Sr. Amnesia
Julie Pratt – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Sr. Hubert
Heather Smith – Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance as Rev. Mother

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Excerpt #12 When The World Was Green (A Chef's Fable) – Actors Collaborative Toledo
Rin Moran – Merit in Acting as Interviewer
Jeffrey J. Albright – Outstanding in Acting as Old Man

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Excerpt #13 8 Minutes Left – Amil Tellers of Dramatics/Encore Theatre
Harley Salvage – Merit in Acting as Observer
Lizzie Kallenberg – Excellence in Acting as Ursula
Rose Lawrence – Merit in Acting as Bernard
Wes Allen – Excellence in Sound Design

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Excerpt #14 Bonnie & Clyde – Van Wert Civic Theatre
Jerry Zimmerman – Outstanding in Direction
Terri Spencer – Outstanding in Musical Direction
Mary Ann & Joe Falk – Outstanding in Lighting Design
Cheyenne Weber – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Bonnie Barrow
Ashton Szabados – Outstanding in Musical Theatre Performance as Clyde Barrow
Nick Long – Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance as Buck Barrow
Hannah Davis – Excellence in Musical Theatre Performance as Blanche Barrow
Amy Boley – Merit in Acting as Emma
Douglas Long Jr. – Excellence in Vocal Performance as Ted Hinton
The Cast of Bonnie & Clyde – Outstanding in Ensemble

 

Excerpt #15 Clue – Fremont Community Theatre
Kaje Holthouse – Outstanding in Direction
Kaje Holthouse/Joyce Purk/Sue Stotz/Kristen Lindsay - Excellence in Costumes
The Cast of Clue – Outstanding in Ensemble
Nate Ball/Stephanie Wise/Amy Berger/Darla Brown/Phil Wylykanowitz/Katherine Gauthier/
Anderson Lee/Allie Schmidt / Grace Cooper/ Jordan Holthouse/Ellie Holthouse – Outstanding in
Crew Work
**Stage Managers Award for Outstanding is Backstage Cooperation

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AACT Alternate:
Zanna, Don’t!

AACT Invitees:
Nunsense
Clue

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Set Design Awards
Dan Dermody – Outstanding in Set Design
Rabbit Hole, Mariemont Players

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Kathy Bergstrom & Chester Boffo – Outstanding in Set Design
The Odd Couple, Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County

Chris Bilecki – Excellence in Set Design
The Foreigner, Bellevue Society for the Arts

Justin Hanks/Jim Tobergta/Cariss Sloan – Excellence in Set and Projection Design
The Wizard of Oz, Loveland Stage Company

Mitch Antesky – Excellence in Original Fashion Art Prop Design
Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Waterville Playshop

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Chris Bilecki – Merit in Set Design

Over The River And Through The Woods, Harlequins Coach House Theatre

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Hair & Makeup Awards

Joyce Purk – Excellence in Individual Costume Design
Clue, Fremont Community Theatre

Kaje Holthouse/Joyce Purk/Kristen Lindsay/Sue Stotz – Excellence in Overall Costume
Coordination
Clue, Fremont Community Theatre

Kristen Renee Lindsay – Excellence in Overall Costume Coordination
State Fair, Fremont Community Theatre

Kathy Bergstrom – Excellence in Overall Costume Coordination
The Woman in Black, Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County

Kathy Bergstrom – Excellence in Overall Costume Coordination
The Odd Couple, Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County

Patty Mills – Excellence in Overall Costume Design
The Wizard of Oz, Loveland Stage Company

Christina Siciliano/Lisa Graham/Jennah Blair – Excellence in Hair and Makeup
The Wizard of Oz, Loveland Stage Company

Christina Siciliano – Excellence in Hair and Makeup
The Wizard of Oz, The Footlighters, Inc.

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Newsletter Awards

The Footlighters, Inc. – The Libretto

Erica Beimesche, Editor

Excellence in Masthead
Outstanding in Special Feature
Merit in Use of Graphics
Outstanding in Layout & Overall Quality
Excellence in Writing
Excellence in Overall Newsletter​​

 

Art Rouse Travel Award

The Footlighters, Inc. 

 

Patron Program Awards

East Region – Most Improved
Southwest – Overall Leader

 

​2026 Hall of Fame Inductees
Mason Community Players, Inc. – Mason, OH
Robert Weidle – Cincinnati, OH
Rick Lee – Lima, OH