The Connection Newspapers reports that Herndon’s community theater, the Elden Street Players, was nominated for 22 theater awards this year:

The Elden Street Players garnered 22 nominations as the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors announced the nominees for the 2012 WATCH Awards Jan. 15 at the Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria.

Last year’s production of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” garnered 11 nominations including Outstanding Musical. Outstanding Play nominee “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream” earned seven nods while “Thrill Me” walked away with three and “Frozen” with one nomination.

Nominations include:

* Outstanding Direction of a Play – Evan Hoffmann – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
* Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – Jaclyn Young as “Hermia/Snout/Wall” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
* Outstanding Play – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
* Outstanding Set Decoration in a Play – Evan Hoffmann – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
* Outstanding Set Painting in a Play – Kate Meier & Karl Meier – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
* Outstanding Sound Design in a Play – Ben Allen – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
* Outstanding Stage Combat Choreography – Katherine Frattini – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
* Outstanding Direction of a Musical – Richelle “Rikki” Howie – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical – Patrick Doneghy as “Andre DeShields” – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical – Christopher Prince as “Ken Page” – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Michelle Harmon as “Armeila McQueen” – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Rikki Howie as “Charlayne Woodard” – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical – Jade Jones as “Nell Carter” – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Music Direction – J. Michael d’Haviland – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Musical – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Set Construction in a Musical – James Villarrubia et al – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Set Design in a Musical – James Villarrubia – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Set Painting in a Musical – Cathy Rieder & James Villarrubia – Ain’t Misbehavin’
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play – Adam Downs as “Ralph” – Frozen
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical – Christopher Smith as “Nathan” – Thrill Me
* Outstanding Light Design in a Musical – Tom Epps – Thrill Me
* Outstanding Set Design in a Musical – Grant Kevin Lane – Thrill Me

Congratulations to our excellent neighborhood theater!