More than 150 members of the Sonoma and Napa County theater communities gathered at The California in Santa Rosa on Sunday, Sept. 28 for the 2025 Norbay Theater Awards.
The awards, which began in 2015 as the Marquee Theater Journalist Association Awards, returned after a five year pandemic-induced hiatus to celebrate outstanding work in the 2024-2025 season.
Originally limited to Sonoma County productions, the reboot of the awards (with the support of the North Bay Bohemian) expanded award qualification to Napa County theater companies.
MTJA members include Weeklys contributors Harry Duke, Caitlin Strom-Martin and Beulah Vega; Marin Independent Journal theater critic Barry Willis; and former Marinscope Community Newspapers theater critic Cari Lynn Pace.
The evening began with the presentation of the Outstanding Collegiate Production Award to the Napa Valley College production of a musical version of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
Awards for outstanding technical work then followed, with Donnie Frank being recognized for their Outstanding Costume Design for the 6th Street Playhouse production of The Pirates of Penzance. Eddy Hansen’s work on the Spreckels Theatre Company production of Mary Shelley’s Body was recognized for Outstanding Lighting Design. Mercury Theater’s Jared Emerson-Johnson’s audio work for Meet Me at Dawn was recognized for its Outstanding Sound Design. Barry Martin, Gary Green and Kade Morrill shared the award for Outstanding Scenic Design for Lucky Penny’s Other Desert Cities.
Rob Broadhurst received the Outstanding Musical Direction Award for Lucky Penny’s The Real Housewives of Napa Valley while Karen Miles’ work on Spreckel’s Beautiful: The Carol King Musical received the Outstanding Choreography Award.
Performance and production awards were divided by genre. For drama, the Outstanding Supporting Performance Award was presented to Max Geide for his work in Lucky Penny’s Other Desert Cities. Chris Johnston was named Outstanding Lead for his work on the Cloverdale Performing Arts Center production of 1984. Mercury Theatre’s Meet Me at Dawn was named the Outstanding Drama Production.
For comedy, Laura Downing-Lee’s work on Left Edge Theatre’s POTUS received the Outstanding Supporting Performance Award, while Jenny Veilleux was named Outstanding Lead for Sonoma Arts Live’s Rumors. Also, 6th Street Playhouse’s The Importance of Being Earnest was named the Outstanding Comedic Production.
For musicals, Daniela Innocenti-Beem gave the Outstanding Supporting Performance in Sonoma Arts Live’s Little Women. The Outstanding Lead was Elliot Davis in the Raven Players’ The Bridges of Madison County. And 6th Street’s The Pirates of Penzance was named the Outstanding Musical Production.
A complete listing of nominees and recipients and event photos is at northbaystageandscreen.com.
