PHOTO PROVIDED Millbrook Playhouse’s production of Clue received nominations for Best Direction of a Play, Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Costume Design and Best Performer in a Play in the 2025 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards.

PHOTO PROVIDED
Community Theatre League also earned significant recognition in the 2025 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards, with its production of RENT receiving 10 nominations.

Two Central Pennsylvania theater companies are being recognized on a regional stage, as Millbrook Playhouse and Community Theatre League have received nominations in the 2025 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards.

Millbrook Playhouse earned an impressive 24 nominations, celebrating a season marked by strong performances, creative direction and community support. The nominations span a wide range of categories, reflecting the quality of work produced at the historic theater.

Among the honors, Millbrook Playhouse received nominations for Best Musical for Rooms, Grease and Honky Tonk Angels, as well as Best Play and Best Ensemble for Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.

The season’s programming for younger audiences was also recognized, with Tuck Everlasting nominated for Best Theatre for Young Audience.

The creative teams behind the productions were also highlighted. Zack Steele (Clue) and Lawrence Lesher (Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors) were nominated for Best Direction of a Play, while Timothy Gage (Tuck Everlasting) and David Leidholdt (Rooms) received nominations for Best Direction of a Musical. Jessica Bostock was recognized for Best Choreography for Grease, and Mo Ortbal earned a nomination for Best Musical Director for Tuck Everlasting.

Designers were well represented among the nominations, with Cade Sikora (Clue) and Sarah Bidini (Honky Tonk Angels) nominated for Best Scenic Design, Carson Hambuchen (Clue) and Ericka Conklin (Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors) for Best Lighting Design and Bailey Hammett (Honky Tonk Angels) and Lainey Bodenburg (Clue) for Best Costume Design.

Several performers received individual recognition, including Kali Evonne (Grease), Nolan McGrath (Tuck Everlasting), Jay’na Johnson (Grease) and Jackson Pavlik (Clue), who were nominated for Best Performer in a Musical or Play. Seth Geyer (Tuck Everlasting) earned a nomination for Best Supporting Performer in a Musical. Millbrook Playhouse is also in the running for Favorite Local Theatre.

“Outside of major metropolitan areas are where the majority of audiences are, and where the majority of actors work,” said Pavlik. “A robust regional theatre is a robust theatre, period. It’s nice (and vital) that the work of regional actors across the country is recognized.”

Community Theatre League also earned significant recognition in the 2025 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards, with its production of RENT receiving 10 nominations, along with a nomination for Favorite Local Theatre.

The production of RENT was nominated for both Best Musical and Best Ensemble, reflecting the strength of the cast and the emotional impact the show had on audiences. Members of the creative team were also honored, including Missy Black for Best Costume Design, Jordan Miller for Best Lighting Design, Marisa Hickey for Best Music Direction & Orchestra Performance, and Seth Sponhouse for both Best Direction of a Musical and Best Scenic Design.

Performers from RENT were recognized with nominations for Best Performer in a Musical going to Seth Confer, Rubie Natal and Timothy Hippensteel.

“These nominations are a testament to the extraordinary team that brought RENT to life at CTL,” said Seth Sponhouse, executive artistic director of Community Theatre League. “Every nomination belongs to the cast, crew, designers, musicians and volunteers who poured their hearts into telling this story. From design to direction to performance, everyone gave more than 525,600 minutes of passion to this project.”

“Thank you to our audiences for embracing RENT so powerfully,” Sponhouse added. “Your support helped lift this show to heights we never imagined. Every person who stepped into the theater became part of this story, and these nominations reflect that shared connection. I couldn’t be prouder.”

The BroadwayWorld Awards are determined by public vote, giving theatergoers the opportunity to support their favorite productions, performers and creative teams. Voting is currently open at www.broadwayworld.com/central-pa/awards and will continue through 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025.

Together, the nominations for Millbrook Playhouse and Community Theatre League highlight the depth of talent and creativity found throughout Central Pennsylvania and underscore the vital role local theaters play in bringing stories, music and community together.