The 2018 CAT Awards nominations. catawards.com.au.
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Musicals loomed large in the nominations for the 24th CAT Awards (formerly the Canberra Area Theatre Awards) announced this week.
Heathers the Musical (Dramatic Productions), based on the cult 1989 black comedy, led the field with 18 nominations and Shrek (Free-Rain) came equal second with 12. A third Canberra company, Canberra Repertory Society, also received 12 nominations, for its production of the comedy One Man Two Guvnors.
Fifty-six companies - 22 in the ACT and 34 in NSW - took part in the awards, which were formed to celebrate achievements in amateur theatre in the past year. The nominations were announced on Monday night at Theatre 3 in Acton.
Convenor and co-founder Coralie Wood said, "Schools, university students and what we call 'big people’s theatre' have all participated with some companies doing only one show, others such as Canberra Repertory performing six shows for the year."
The season featured 81 productions - 37 musicals, 29 plays, 12 variety shows and three dance productions - of which 46 were adult productions and 36 were youth shows.
Canberra Repertory Society received 37 nominations across five productions, Free-Rain Theatre Company 20 nominations across two productions, and Dramatic Productions 18 nominations for its production of Heathers the Musical, which was performed for the first time in CAT history.
In the school or youth category, Daramalan College (11 nominations across two productions) came a close second to Oxley College, Bowral (12 nominations across two productions).
Wood said some shows had multiple productions during the season - the musicals The Addams Family (four), The Little Mermaid and Shrek and the play The Crucible (two each) being the most frequently performed.
Wood said at least three of the 21 judges saw each production.
"The CAT Awards will be adding four more judges to their busy schedule in 2019, leading up to the 25th year."
The winners will be announced at the awards night at Llewellyn Hall on Saturday, February 23 at 6pm. More information and bookings: catawards.com.au.
