2012 NAACP Theater Awards Nov. 5

NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch's Theater Viewing Committee announced nominations for the 22nd Annual NAACP Theater Awards. The nominations include Jay-Z, Will and Jada Smith, Debbie Allen, Bill T. Jones, and Phylicia Rashad. This year's awards show will be held on Monday, Nov. 5, 2012 at 6:00 p.m at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood.

This year's nominations include "Twist" - an American musical acquiring seven theater nominations and directed by Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-Winner Debbie Allen. Not too far behind and tied with "Blues For An Alabama Sky" for the second place in most nominations, "Fela!" is recognized with five nominations. This includes Best Director of a Musical-Local for Tony Award-Winner Bill T. Jones and then to Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Will and Jada Smith, and Ruth and Stephen Hendel for Best Producer-Equity.

Another well-known play, "A Raisin In The Sun", garnered several nominations including Best Director-Equity to Phylicia Rashad. Lastly in the local Best Director of a Musical category, writer/producer Bill Reid for "Rockin' In The Ages" goes up against Anne Gesling for "Chicago" and "Parade" directed by Ben Lupejkis.

The Theater Viewing Committee considered all candidates who submitted their production from January 2011 through December 2011 for possible nomination. All productions must have had a five consecutive week production run in Southern California (San Diego to Bakersfield included) to be considered. Productions who met all eligibility requirements before the deadline were considered eligible for a 2012 NAACP Theater Award.

About The NAACP Theater Awards:

The NAACP Theater Awards is presented by Board Of The Directors of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Branch. Ron Hasson is Branch President and Tia Boyd is the Executive Producer for the NAACP Theater Awards Show. The prestigious star-studded gala is produced for the purpose of honoring thespians among the best in the field of entertainment. The branch also celebrates a four-day theater festival, which provides a platform for thespians to express their craft and share their contributions with an audience of their peers, the community and other individuals who celebrate live theater in Los Angeles.

22ND NAACP THEATER AWARDS - NOMINATIONS BY CATEGORY

Best Director - Equity

Blues for An Alabama Sky - Sheldon Epps

A Raisin In The Sun - Phylicia Rashad

The Old Settler - Caryn Desai

Best Director - Local

12' X 9' - Fred Thomas, Jr.

All My Sons - Cameron Watson

The Motor Trade - Jeff Murray

Best Director of a Musical - Equity

Twist - Debbie Allen

Having It All - Richard Israel

Fela! - Bill T. Jones

Best Director of a Musical - Local

Chicago - Anne Gesling

Rockin' In The Ages - Bill Reid

Parade - Ben Lupejkis

Best Ensemble Cast - Equity

Blues for An Alabama Sky

Bring It On

Best Ensemble Cast - Local

12' X 9'

All My Sons

Shoe Story

Best Choreography - Equity

Twist - Debbie Allen

Bring It On - Andy Blakenbuehler

Fela! - Bill T. Jones

Best Choreography - Local

Rockin' In The Ages - Raquel Brussolo

Chicago - Krystal Combs

Dreams In Variations - Steven Nielson & Stephanie Simpson

Best Costumes - Equity

Blues for An Alabama Sky - Karen Perry

Twist - ESosa

Bring It On - Andrea Lauer

Best Costumes - Local

Rockin' In The Ages - Liz Perralta

Chicago - Rodney Munoz

Dreams In Variations - Rachel Weir

Best Lead Female - Equity

The Old Settler - Karen Malina White

Having It All - Jennifer Leigh Warren

Twist - Tamyra Gray Best Lead Female - Local

Sunday Morning - Kinnik Sky

The Interlopers - Diarra Kilpatrick

The Bluest Eye - Sola Bamis

Best Lead Male - Equity

Twist - Alaman Diadhiou

Fela! - Sahr Ngaujah

Superior Donuts - Edi Gathegi

Best Lead Male - Local

The Motor Trade - Alex Morris

Treat Yourself Like Cary Grant - Kim Estes

Sunday Morning - Gichi Gamba

Best Lighting - Equity

Superior Donuts - Daniel Ionazzi

The 1940s Radio Hour - James L. Moody

To Kill A Mockingbird - J. Kent Inacy

Best Lighting - Local

Sunday Morning - Joe Morrison

12' X 9' - Emmanuel Rumph

Hattie…What I need You To Know! - Sammie Wayne

Best Music Director - Equity

Bring It On - Dave Pepin

The 1940s Radio Hour - Linda Kerns

Fela! - Aaron Johnson

Best Music Director - Local

Rockin' In The Ages - Mark Rodriguez

Chicago - Anne Gesling

PARADE - Catherine Rahm

Best One Person Show - Equity

The Night Watcher - Charlayne Woodard

The 1940s Radio Hour - Kimi Walker

Best One Person Show - Local

BabyGirl - Kaypri

Hattie…What I Need You To Know - Vickilyn Reynolds

Oh, Yes She did - Sandy Brown

Best Playwright - Equity

Blues for An Alabama Sky - Pearl Cleage

Superior Donuts - Tracy Letts

The Night Watcher - Charlayne Woodard

Best Playwright - Local

12' X 9' - Fred Thomas, Jr.

The Motor Trade - Norm Foster

Sunday Morning - Kinnik Sky Best Producer - Equity

Twist - Pasadena Playhouse, TAM Producing Partners. Michelle Seward, Dror Soref, Willette Murphy Klausner, Gary Goddard and Forbes Candlish

A Raisin In The sun - Wren T. Brown

Fela! - Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Shawn "Jay Z" Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith

Best Producer - Local

All My Sons - Joseph Stern

12' X 9' - Fred Thomas, Jr and Don B. Welch

Treat Yourself Like Cary Grant - Russell Boast & Dave Fofi

Best Set Design - Equity

Blues For An Alabama Sky - John LaCorelli

Superior Donuts - John Arnone

Bring It On - David Korins

Best Set Design - Local

12' X 9' - Fred Thomas, Jr.

Bridge - David Svengalis

Pity The Proud Ones - Miguel Montalvo

Best Sound - Equity

Bring It On - Brian Ronan

Superior Donuts - Richard Woodbury

The 1940s Radio Hour - Fritz Davis

Best Sound - Local

12' X 9' - Emmanuel Rumph

All My Sons - Steven Cahill

Pity the Proud Ones - Kimberly M. Wilson

Best Supporting Female - Equity

The Old Settler - Tarina Pouncy

Fela! - Melanie Marshall

Bonded - Toyin Moses

Best Supporting Female - Local

Sunday Morning - Kaira Akita

Sunday Morning - Rhonda Morman

The Bluest eye - Danika Butler

Best Supporting Male - Equity

Twist - Cleavant Derricks

Bonded - Ric B. Anthony

A Raisin In The Sun - Brandon David Brown

Best Supporting Male - Local

Sunday Morning - Juhahn Jones

Bash'd - DJ Jedi

Nobody Walks Like My Daddy - Dale Fielder