Powerhouse earns 20 semi-finalist nominations at NH Theatre Awards

LACONIA — Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, the resident theater company of the Colonial Theatre, has received 20 semi-finalist nods at the NH Theatre Alliance’s annual Theatre Awards for the 2025 season.  Powerhouse entered two productions into this year’s competition, May’s production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and October’s production of “The Diary of Anne Frank.”

To participate in the awards process, a theater company has to provide at least one trained adjudicator for each show submitted who will go see other entered shows throughout the state during the year.  Each show has six adjudicators attend the show and then submit their scores to the NHTA organization which oversees the adjudication process and produces the end of season awards show each year.  There are shows entered across three divisions; professional, community, and youth.  Powerhouse participates in the community theater division where no performers are compensated for their participation.

“Hunchback” was recognized in almost every category in the community musical division: Rachel Hunton as Esmeralda and Kyle Sidders as Quasimodo in a leading role category; Alex Hunton as Phoebus, Jakob Stone as Frollo, and Adam Beauparlant as Clopin in a supporting role category; Tyler Soucy for lighting design; Samantha Tutasi for set design; Gay Bean and Heather Vitale for costume design; Laura Iwaskiewicz and Jillian Spring for music direction; Meg King for choreography; Bryan Halperin and Meg King for direction; and best production of a community musical.  Powerhouse has won the community musical award two years in a row with “Captains Courageous the Musical” and “Tuck Everlasting.”

“Anne Frank” was Powerhouse’s first entry into the play category after only entering musicals the prior two years.  This production is well represented in the semi-finalist lists as well, with Maci Johnson as Anne and Jakob Stone as Otto in the leading role category.  Tamara McGonagle as Mrs. Van Daan and Kenny Aber as Mr. Van Daan are in the supporting category.  Lighting designer Tyler Soucy and set designer Samantha Tutasi were both recognized in their categories.  Bryan Halperin is also a semi-finalist in the play director category and the production is up for best production of a community play.

Halperin is no stranger to the NHTAs as he has won the best director award eight prior times including the past two years for Powerhouse.  Johnson was a winner in the leading performer in a musical category last year for playing Winnie Foster in “Tuck Everlasting.”

“While Powerhouse produces theater to challenge and inspire our participants and share stories and connect with our community, it is still nice to be recognized for consistently producing quality productions in New Hampshire. Win or lose, we are extremely proud of all the productions in our 2025 season and grateful for all those who participated onstage, behind the scenes and by attending,” said Halperin.

This year’s winners will be announced on Saturday, Jan. 31, at the annual NHTA Awards Show at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. For more information, visit powerhousenh.org.