For the Star Journal

The School District of Rhinelander Drama Department has received several Jerry Award nominations for their recent production of Matilda.

The Jerry Awards program is for musical theater in Wisconsin schools. Schools enter to have judges come to their performances and critique them on a rubric. The judges collectively discuss what they saw and nominate individuals and groups for awards. The Matilda performances had

three sets of two judges. Winners of awards are invited to go to the state-level presentation in Madison in the spring. If the play wins “Outstanding Musical,” the Drama Department will be invited to perform a song at that presentation. Also, one female and one male from Wisconsin get to move on to the “Jimmy” awards in New York.

“We’re really proud of all these nominations,” said co-director Kristin Higgins. “This is the third year we’ve entered the program and the first time we’ve been nominated for Outstanding Musical. During Newsies, we won Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Stage Management.”

The SDR production of “Mama Mia!” was also entered in the program.

The Jerry Award nominations for Matilda are as follows:

Overall production award nominations
• Outstanding Musical
• Outstanding Ensemble
• Outstanding Orchestra
• Outstanding Overall Design

Performer award nominations (listed by type of role, performer name, role)
• Lead – Wyatt Leonard – Mr. Wormwood
• Lead – Julia Gerdes – Matilda
• Lead – Mallory Myers – Miss Honey
• Lead – Adam Myers – Trunchbull
• Lead – Katalina LaDean – Mrs. Wormwood
• Supporting – Eric Berger – Michael Wormwood

• Supporting – Reagan Hartman – Mrs. Phelps
• Supporting – Macy Myers – Lavendar

Production team nominations
• Outstanding Direction – Kristin Higgins and Roddy MacMillan
• Outstanding Musical Direction – Desire Duwe, Mary Peterson, and Jacob Kulba
• Outstanding Choreography – Marshall DeLonay
• Outstanding Scenic Design – Steve Richardson and Neil Rumney
• Outstanding Lighting Design – Riley Zarm
• Outstanding Costume Design – Cindy White
• Outstanding Sound Design – Neil Rumney and Eleanor Steffen
• Outstanding Stage Crew