At the 33rd Annual ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence Celebration, Zao Theatre was honored to receive 11 ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence. The event was held Oct. 2 in the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Virginia G. Piper Theater.

Zao Theatre’s home venue is at Centerstage Church, 6338 S. Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon.

What are the ariZoni Theatre Awards of Excellence? They are annual theatrical awards given out by the ariZoni Theatre Association to promote the visibility, cooperation and growth of theatre in the Valley of the Sun and are dedicated to recognizing excellence in theatrical performances, as well as individuals who produce exceptional work in all aspects of theatre.

This annual event is an opportunity to celebrate the great work done by member theaters for the show season completed on June 30. There are currently 30 member theaters annually producing more than 75 youth productions, over 50 adult musicals, 75 plus adult plays, with 100 Adjudicators, each averaging 25 years of theatrical experience. When you compare the odds with new shows produced on Broadway each year, it’s easier to win a Tony Award than it is to win an ariZoni Award.

The highest honor a community theatre can receive is the coveted best Overall Production from a panel of their peers. Zao Theatre’s awarding winning shows for the 2022-23 season were:

• Overall Production — Musical “The Marvelous Wonderettes”
• Overall Production — Play “Frost/Nixon”

Zao is extremely proud of the individual nominees and award recipients for the 2022-23 season:

Frost/Nixon:

• Actor in a Supporting Role-Play: Tyler Galley
• Actor in a Supporting Role-Play: Tom Endicott
• Lighting Design: Sharyn Sheffer
• Scenic Design: Virginia Oliveri, Michael E. Bryce
• Sound Design: John Schoenwolf (winner)
• Actor in a Major Role-Play: Chris Fidler
• Actor in a Major Role-Play: Michael E. Bryce (winner)
• Director- Play: Virginia Olivieri (winner)

Bright Star:

• Actor in a Major Role-Musical: Jordan Giannetti

The Marvelous Wonderettes:

• Lighting Design: Sharyn Sheffer, Michael E. Bryce (winner)
• Scene Design: Michael E. Bryce (winner)
• Musical Direction: Michael E. Bryce (winner)
• Choreography: Laura Christian
• Media Design: Michael E. Bryce
• Actress in a Major Role-Musical: Elizabeth Bridgewater
• Actress in a Major Role-Musical: Gina Kim (winner)
• Actress in a Major Role-Musical: Melissa VanSlyke (winner)
• Director-Musical: Michael E. Bryce (winner)

Congratulations to Zao Theatre, their nominees and award winners.

Tickets are on sale now at zaotheatre.org for Zao’s next award-winning production, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” which opens Nov. 17, playing on Fridays and Saturdays until Dec. 16, 2023.