Big Deal Productions honored at awards program

Each year, Broadway World Chicago presents awards honoring theater productions around the Chicago area in both equity and non-equity categories.

Finalists and winners in acting, production and design categories are nominated by the local theater community. After the initial round of nominations, finalists are selected based on the number of votes cast.

The Buffalo Grove Park District's Big Deal Productions received eight nominations, which were all chosen as finalists in six different categories.

Finalists included:

Best Actor in a Play (Resident Non-Equity): Tim Walsh, "Noises Off"

Best Actress in a Play (Resident Non-Equity): Rosa Nevin, "Steel Magnolias" and Elizabeth Rude, "Noises Off"

Best Direction of a Play (Resident Non-Equity): Debra Goldman, "Noises Off"

Best Lighting Design (Resident Non-Equity): Alec Kinastowksi, "Catch Me If You Can"

Best Revival of a Play (Resident Non-Equity): "Noises Off" and "Steel Magnolias"

Best Sound Design (Resident Non-Equity): Mike Patrick, "Catch Me If You Can"

Big Deal Productions came away with two wins. Debra Goldman won in the category of Best Direction of a Play (Resident Non-Equity) and "Noises Off," produced by Jessi Hersman, won for Best Revival of a Play (Resident Non-Equity).

"We are honored that the community is embracing the arts. Winning these awards is encouraging validation that we are doing a good job at choosing material, production teams, and working with actors to create experiences that are meaningful and fun for our audiences.

"'Noises Off' taking home Best Revival and Best Director is something that I and the entire Buffalo Grove Park District are very proud of. We are so lucky to work with the people we do on each of these shows. We want to say thank you to everyone who voted, and hope you'll join us for our next production," said "Noises Off" producer and Buffalo Grove Park District Recreation Supervisor Jessi Hersman.

Big Deal Productions' next show is their young adult theater performance of "Les Misérables" March 10,11, 12, 18 and 19 at the Buffalo Grove Park District Community Arts Center, 225 McHenry Road, in Buffalo Grove.

For information, visit bigdealproductions.org.