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BAY STREET PLAYERS

Dolly Awards

Dolly Awards

Announcing the 50th Annual Dolly Awards nominees! Join us at the historic State Theatre on Saturday, August 9.

Many thanks to our generous sponsors!

Food: Market Place (Taste of Lebanon, Awwal Curry, Boba and JBQ’s barbecue), Magnolias Breeze, Chris’s Place, Sol de Mexico, Uncorked, One Thirteen Coffee, El Marie Pizza, The Crazy Gator, Roma Pizza, Double Take Pizza, Rosa Mezcal, Mellow Mushroom

Beer/Wine: Wolbranch, PineSmoke Bee Co

Raffle Baskets: PineSmoke Bee Co., Bay Street Pharmacy, Foxtail Coffee, Cozy Corner Treasurer, Peddlers Wagon, Paws & Effects, Venus de Milo, Cultivate Hair Lounge

Limo Service: Ductman Auto

The Dolly Awards is the annual celebration and recognition of the vast array of talent at the State Theatre from the previous season, so-named to honor the cast and crew of Bay Street Players’ inaugural production of Hello, Dolly! in 1974.

The evening begins with a cocktail reception on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 6:30pm, followed by an awards ceremony featuring dynamic performances, a sneak preview of our 51st Season, a silent auction, and more! Afterward, join us for a champagne reception in appreciation of the generosity of our donors and volunteers.

Come out for a night of fun, drinks, and entertainment! We look forward to seeing you there!

You won’t want to miss this special evening at the historic State Theatre!

The Dolly Awards is free and open to the public, though capacity is limited and RSVPs are required.

Please contact Philadelphia Zimmermann at philadelphia@baystreetplayers.org 
by August 1, 2025 to confirm your attendance.

Special Thanks to our Sponsors

PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR SHAKESPEARE IN HOLLYWOOD directed by Adam Cornett LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS directed by Kim Wise PAPER THIN directed by Katrina Ploof SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL directed by Kim Wise MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING directed by J. Lawrence Kenny
Production of the Year
LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL TAD KINCADE Horton the Elephant Seussical the Musical NICO QUERINO Seymour Little Shop of Horrors
Lead Actor in a Musical
LEAD ACTOR IN PLAY JACOB DIETRICH Charlie Paper Thin LEE KELLY Oberon Shakespeare in Hollywood JEFF RYAN Don Pedro Much Ado About Nothing
Lead Actor in a Play
LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL TAYLOR PANNETT Audrey Little Shop of Horrors JORDAN SHEPHERD The Cat in the Hat Seussical the Musical
Lead Actress in a Musical
LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY GAIL BARTELL Lucrece Paper Thin CHEYENNE DEVER Puck Shakespeare in Hollywood KENYATTA EDWARDS Olivia Darnell Shakespeare in Hollywood
Lead Actress in a Play
SUPPORTING ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL ALYSSA MATTHEWS Gerturde McFuzz Seussical the Musical SAMANTHA ROSSI Mayzie La Bird Seussical the Musical PATRICK STANLEY Mr. Mushnik Little Shop of Horrors
Supporting Actor or Actress in a Musical
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY JOHN CORNEILSON Gerald Paper Thin DENNIS CUTTER Jack Warner Shakespeare in Hollywood ANDRE PROVENCHER Max Reinhardt Shakespeare in Hollywood
Supporting Actor in a Play
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY SAMANTHA FOCHT Lydia Lansing Shakespeare in Hollywood EMMA WADLEY Hero Much Ado About Nothing
Supporting Actress in a Play
FEATURED ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL CHRISTI ANA The Sour Kangaroo Seussical the Musical WREN CHILDERS Jojo Seussical the Musical MALCOLM GIBSON Ensemble & Orin U/S Little Shop of Horrors
Featured Actor or Actress in a Musical
FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY JOSH KELLER Dick Powell Shakespeare in Hollywood DANNY NAVARRO Don John Much Ado About Nothing WENDELL WALLACE Daryl Shakespeare in Hollywood
Featured Actor in a Play
FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY PAIGE CHRISTOFFERS Margaret Much Ado About Nothing DONNA CORBUS Louella Parsons Shakespeare in Hollywood ARIELLE KEREN Lil Hays Shakespeare in Hollywood
Featured Actress in a Play
ACTOR IN A NOTABLE ROLE IN A MUSICAL JOHN CORNEILSON Mr. Mayor Seussical the Musical TODD EVELYN Mr. Bernstein & Ensemble Little Shop of Horrors TY WILKINSON Audrey II Little Shop of Horrors
Actor in a Notable Role in a Musical
ACTRESS IN A NOTABLE ROLE IN A MUSICAL TAYLOR PANNETT Bird Girl Seussical the Musical NORA SHEPHERD Cindy Loo Who & Ensemble Seussical the Musical NATALIE WERBA Ensemble & Audrey U/S Little Shop of Horrors
Actress in a Notable Role in a Musical
ACTOR OR ACTRESS IN A NOTABLE ROLE IN A PLAY JENNY CONGIARDO Leonato Much Ado About Nothing JAKE CULBERTSON Jame Cagney Shakespeare in Hollywood JOSH HERNANDEZ Joe Brown Shakespeare in Hollywood
Actor or Actress in a Notable Role in a Play
YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE: BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY KENSLEY HUGHES Meg Little Women VICTORIA KOSTYUNIN Amy Little Women ALLIE WALKER Pig #1 Surprising Story of the Three Little Pigs MADDIE WILGA Baby Billy Goat Surprising Story of the Three Little Pigs
YPT Best Actor in a Play
YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE: BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL WREN CHILDERS The Sour Kangaroo Seussical the Musical the Musical, Jr. KENNEDY NEWTON Horton Seussical the Musical the Musical, Jr. BRIGETTE O’DONNELL Gertrude McFuzz Seussical the Musical the Musical, Jr. MADDIE STEWART JoJo Seussical the Musical the Musical, Jr.
YPT Best Actor in a Musical

How are the nominees and winners selected? 

Dolly Award nominees are determined by an independent panel of judges consisting of actors, volunteers, long-time patrons, and members of the regional theatre community who attend a minimum of one performance of each production per season. Judges complete a confidential scoring form between each production’s closing date and the following production’s opening date. Scores are averaged at the end of each season, and the top three scoring actors in each category receive nominations; the top scoring actor is named the winner.

The panel of judges is selected by a singular Dolly Awards Coordinator, appointed by the Board of Directors of Bay Street Players. The individual identities of the judging panel are unknown to anyone apart from the Dolly Awards Coordinator.