Winners Announced for 2018 Footlights People's Choice Awards
Each award was granted to a professional and non-professional recipient

Released on:
-For Immediate Release-
June 26, 2018 – (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) The second annual Footlights People’s Choice Awards were held Monday, June 25, 2018, at Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Quadracci Powerhouse. The event was sponsored by the United Performing Arts Fund and hosted by local performer John McGivern, best known for his Emmy award-winning work on PBS.
In addition to the 30 winners in 15 categories, Footlights added special Community Outreach and Lifetime Achievement Awards this year.
“To further our mission of promoting the quality and quantity of the arts in the Greater Milwaukee area, we felt it was necessary to expand this event to spotlight and honor some of the companies and individuals who have made their mark and touched many with their talents and hard work in the community,” said Steve Marcus, President and Publisher of Footlights.
Several non-professional and professional groups performed during the ceremony including Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Waukesha Civic Theatre, Chant Claire Chamber Choir, In Tandem Theatre, Greendale Community Theatre, All in Productions and Hartford Players.
Area artists and audiences alike celebrated following the event with an after-party at the Quadracci Powerhouse lobby. The Stangs, a husband and wife acoustic duo served as entertainment.
A complete list of winners can be found below:
Outstanding Sound Design (Non-Professional)
Heather Pulkowski
Into the Woods
Sunset Playhouse
Outstanding Sound Design (Professional)
Charles Coes & Nathan Roberts
Animal Farm
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Outstanding Lighting Design (Non-Professional)
Becca Rodenkirch
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Hartford Players
Outstanding Lighting Design (Professional)
Jason Fassl
Sweeney Todd
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design (Non-Professional)
Darcy Devens
Barefoot in the Park
Waukesha Civic Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design (Professional)
Theresa Ham
The Wiz
First Stage
Outstanding Set Design (Non-Professional)
Michael Talaska
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Waukesha Civic Theatre
Outstanding Set Design (Professional)
Aaron Dyszelski
Zombies from the Beyond
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Youth Performer (Non-Professional)
Ella Rose Kleefisch
Little Red Riding Hood
Into the Woods
Sunset Playhouse
Outstanding Youth Performer (Professional)
Ivy Broder
Lucy
A Charlie Brown Christmas
First Stage
Outstanding Supporting Performer (Non-Professional)
Rebecca Janny
Mrs. Van Daan
The Diary of Anne Frank
Falls Patio Players
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play (Professional)
Brittany Boeche
Toby Belch
Twelfth Night (Drunk)
Bard & Bourbon
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical (Non-Professional)
Eric Welch
Lumiere
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Sunset Playhouse
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical (Professional)
Elyse Edelman
Baroness
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
First Stage
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play (Non-Professional)
Ben Johnson
Paul Bratter
Barefoot in the Park
Waukesha Civic Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play (Professional)
Marques Causey
Elegba
The Brothers Size
Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical (Non-Professional)
Michael Haubner
Jesus
Jesus Christ Superstar
West Allis Players
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical (Professional)
Andrew Varela
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Choreography (Non-Professional)
Megan & Tricia Hohnl
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Hartford Players
Outstanding Choreography (Professional)
Ryan Cappleman
Sweeney Todd
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Music Direction (Non-Professional)
Patrick Thompson
If/Then
Greendale Community Theatre
Outstanding Music Direction (Professional)
Kerry Bieneman
The Tales of Hoffmann
Skylight Music Theatre and Milwaukee Opera Theatre
Outstanding Direction (Non-Professional)
Tim Backes
Next to Normal
All In Productions
Outstanding Direction (Professional)
Matthew Ozawa
Sweeney Todd
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Special Performance (Non-Professional)
Divas and Dolls: A Rising Star Cabaret
Sunset Playhouse Musical MainStage Concert Series
Outstanding Special Performance (Professional)
Head out on the Highway
Kids From Wisconsin
Outstanding Play (Non-Professional)
Dancing with Hamlet
Windfall Theatre
Outstanding Play (Professional)
The Brothers Size
Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
Outstanding Musical (Non-Professional)
Spring Awakening
Rogue Stage Theater
Outstanding Musical (Professional)
Sweeney Todd
Skylight Music Theatre
Community Outreach (Non-Professional)
Feast of Crispian
Community Outreach (Professional)
First Stage
Lifetime Achievement (Non-Professional)
Roger Bochek
Lifetime Achievement (Professional)
Ruth Schudson
About Footlights
Footlights is the playbill-of-choice for countless performing arts organizations in the region, serving companies of all sizes, including Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Skylight Music Theatre, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Next Act Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, In Tandem Theatre, as well as many music groups and local college and universities’ dance, music, and theatre programs. Footlights extends playbill services to Chicago, Madison, and many locations in between. Footlights playbills and Footlights.com are products of Marcus Promotions, Inc.
Contact Information:
Ryan Albrechtson
262-439-5750 | ralbrechston@footlights.com
1918 Mac Arthur Road | Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188
Footlights.com