2025-2026 Pietzsch Awards Ceremony and Nominees List
Cary Players is delighted to announce the Pietzsch Award Nominees from our 2025-2026 Season. This award, named in memory of Wilson Pietzsch, recognizes cast, crew and volunteers who went the extra mile to help produce excellence on stage or behind the scenes, make others feel welcome and to support community theatre.
Winners will be announced at a Volunteer Appreciation Event on Saturday, April 18th at 4:00pm at the Cary Arts Center. We welcome everyone to attend to learn more about our upcoming season and acknowledge volunteers both on the stage and behind the scenes. To attend, please RSVP here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844ADA92DA4FFC70-63009719-avolunteer#/
Without further ado, the nominees are:
Outstanding Actor in a Cameo Role (2 awards)
Chelsea Collar – Nina (Sonia Flew)
Bob Grannan – Sheriff (The Trip to Bountiful)
Art Jolin – Houston Ticket Taker Two (The Trip to Bountiful)
Clare Sherk – Little Death (The Addams Family)
Liz Waddell – Moon (The Addams Family)
Krystal Nicole Watts - Thelma (The Trip to Bountiful)
Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role (2 awards)
Mairym Azcona – Sonia (Sonia Flew)
Martin Balaguer – Daniel/Orfeo (Brigadoon)
Nicole Barone – Wednesday Addams (The Addams Family)
Briana Bauer - Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)
Seth A. Blum - Sherlock Holmes (A Sherlock Carol)
Gabriel Cortez – Gomez Addams (The Addams Family)
Louise Farmer – Carrie Watts (The Trip to Bountiful)
Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role (3 awards)
John DuVall – Ebeneezer Scrooge (A Sherlock Carol)
Alexandra Finazzo – Actor 2 (A Sherlock Carol)
David Holt – Actor 1 (A Sherlock Carol)
Abbie Martschenko - Jessie Mae Watts (The Trip to Bountiful)
Kelly McDaniel – Actor 4 (A Sherlock Carol)
Nicole Montijo – Young Sonia (Sonia Flew)
Nunna Noe – Alice Beinecke (The Addams Family)
Melanie Payne – Pilar (Sonia Flew)
Tim Poliquin – Actor 3 (A Sherlock Carol)
Olivia Roe – Fester (The Addams Family)
Outstanding Designer or Production Team Leader (3 awards)
Paula Andrews – Props Master (The Addams Family)
Sarah Gendron - Stage Manager (The Addams Family/The Trip to Bountiful)
Jack Kaufmann - Sound Engineer (All 4 Shows)
Rebecca Bossen McHugh - Dialect Coach (A Sherlock Carol)
Kevin McIntire - Set Designer & Master Carpenter (A Sherlock Carol)
Davyous Melvin - Sound Design (Sonia Flew)
Ryann Hooves Norris - Lighting Designer (The Addams Family)
Lauren Polak – Costume Designer (The Addams Family)
Joel Soren - Set Designer and Master Carpenter (The Trip to Bountiful)
Miyuki Su - Scenic Artist (A Sherlock Carol)
Steve Whetzel – Fight Choreographer (The Addams Family/A Sherlock Carol/The Trip to Bountiful)
Randi Winter - Choreographer (The Addams Family)
Outstanding Production Team Volunteer (3 awards)
Daniel Chadwick - Photography (All 4 Shows)
Barbara Corbin - Light Board Operator (The Addams Family/A Sherlock Carol/The Trip to Bountiful)
Tom Hartrick – Front of House Assistance (All 4 Shows)
James Howard - Set and Paint Crew (The Addams Family/A Sherlock Carol/The Trip to Bountiful)
Naveen Kumar - Fly Rail (Sonia Flew)
Sarah Preston - Assistant Choreographer (The Addams Family)
Toni Schloss - Production Assistant (The Addams Family)
Jeff Shoup - Set and Paint Crew (All 4 Shows)
Jeri Summer – Volunteer Coordinator (All 4 Shows)
Chloe Veeder – Microphone Assistant (The Addams Family/The Trip to Bountiful/Sonia Flew)
Outstanding Director (2 awards)
Katherine Anderson – Musical Director (The Addams Family)
Alex Lewis – Assistant Director (The Addams Family)
Amelia Lumpkin – Director (Sonia Flew)
Carol Machuca – Assistant Director (Sonia Flew)
Mike McGee – Director (A Sherlock Carol)
Jaret Preston – Director (The Addams Family)
Jennifer Salama – Assistant Director (The Trip to Bountiful)
Nicholas Taylor – Assistant Director (A Sherlock Carol)
Mark Arthur Zumbach – Director (The Trip to Bountiful)
Best Show
The Addams Family
A Sherlock Carol
The Trip to Bountiful
Sonia Flew