Winners for the 2019 Footlights People's Choice Awards Announced
Non-professional and professional recipients honored in each category

Released on:
-For Immediate Release-
June 22, 2019 – (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) The third annual Footlights People’s Choice Awards, celebrating Greater Milwaukee’s phenomenal performing arts community, took place Saturday June 22, 2019, at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield. The event was sponsored by the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts and Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant. Matt Kemple, founder of Milwaukee Comedy and the Underground Collaborative, plus co-founder of the Milwaukee Fringe Festival, hosted the event.
In addition to the 30 winners in 15 categories, Footlights gave the Lifetime Achievement Awards to local actress Gladys Chmiel and In Tandem Theatre founders Chris and Jane Flieller. In Tandem Theatre recently ended regular seasons after 21 years of providing countless jobs to Milwaukee area artists.
Several non-professional and professional groups performed during the ceremony including Main Street Song & Dance Troupe, Lake Country Playhouse, Danceworks, First Stage, Hartford Players and Theater RED.
Area artists and audiences alike celebrated following the event with an after-party at the Wilson Center. Appetizers and desserts from Classy Girl Cupcakes, BelAir Cantina, Bonefish Grill, Thunder Bay Grille, Nothing Bundt Cakes and free wine from Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant were served. Salsa band Nabori performed outside in the Burke Colonnade and after party sponsor Fred Astaire Dance Studios moved and grooved along with them and provided mini-dance lessons during the break.
A complete list of winners can be found below:
Outstanding Sound Design (Non-Professional Production)
Richard Becker
Guys and Dolls
Hartford Players
Outstanding Sound Design (Professional Production)
Megan B. Henninger
Urinetown
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design (Non-Professional Production)
Chris Meissner
Billy Elliot
Waukesha Civic Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design (Professional Production)
Jason Fassl
Carmina Burana
Skylight Music Theatre in collaboration with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Danceworks and Chant Claire Chamber Choir
Outstanding Costume Design (Non-Professional Production)
Lisa Quinn
Mary Poppins
Sunset Playhouse
Outstanding Costume Design (Professional Production)
Nikki Maritch
Zie Magic Flute
Milwaukee Opera Theatre & Quasimondo Physical Theatre
Outstanding Set Design (Non-Professional Production)
Matt Carr & Andrea Klohn
Mary Poppins
Sunset Playhouse
Outstanding Set Design (Professional Production)
Evan Crain
Punk is Dead
Alchemist Theatre
Outstanding Youth Performer (Non-Professional Production)
Ryan Vanselow
Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot
Waukesha Civic Theatre
Outstanding Youth Performer (Professional Production)
Reese Bell
Matilda
Matilda the Musical
First Stage
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play (Non-Professional Production)
Anna Lee Murray
Rosalie Wells
The Children’s Hour
Outskirts Theatre
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Play (Professional Production)
Elyse Edelman
Angie
Top Girls
Renaissance Theaterworks
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical (Non-Professional Production)
Tim Albrechtson
Kurt Kelley
Heathers the Musical
Sunset Playhouse
Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical (Professional Production)
SaraLynn Evenson
Lilliane Le Fleur
NINE the Musical
Theater RED
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play (Non-Professional Production)
Andre Lee Ellis
Hoke Colburn
Driving Miss Daisy
The Village Playhouse
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play (Professional Production)
Marcee Doherty-Elst
Sue Mengers
I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers
Theater RED
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical (Non-Professional Production)
Joe Gallo
Jack Kelly
Newsies
Spotlight Productions
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical (Professional Production)
Briana Rose Lipor
Doc Danger
Doc Danger and the Danger Squad
Milwaukee Opera Theatre
Outstanding Choreography (Non-Professional Production)
Tricia Dobrient
Godspell
Hartford Players
Outstanding Choreography (Professional Production)
Ryan Cappleman
Hairspray
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Music Direction (Non-Professional Production)
Julie Johnson
Anything Goes
Falls Patio Players
Outstanding Music Direction (Professional Production)
Christie Chiles Twillie
Five Guys Named Moe
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Direction (Non-Professional Production)
Maddi Conway
You Got Older
Outskirts Theatre
Outstanding Direction (Professional Production)
Eric Welch
NINE the Musical
Theater RED
Outstanding Special Performance (Non-Professional Production)
Comicality 2019
Hartford Players
Outstanding Special Performance (Professional Production)
Cabaret Series: Ben Tajnai & Shawn Holmes
Skylight Music Theatre
Outstanding Play (Non-Professional Production)
August: Osage County
Rogue Stage Theater
Outstanding Play (Professional Production)
Things I Know To Be True
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
Outstanding Musical (Non-Professional Production)
Mary Poppins
Sunset Playhouse
Outstanding Musical (Professional Production)
NINE the Musical
Theater RED
Contact Information:
Stephanie Harte
(262) 439-5748 | editor@footlights.com
1918 MacArthur Rd | Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188
Footlights.com