The Northeastern Pennsylvania Theatrical Alliance held the 29th Annual NEPTA Awards ceremony on April 18 at the Holiday Inn, Dunmore.

The annual event highlights and honors the best of the best in community theater in Northeast Pennsylvania from the previous year. NEPTA representatives voted on members’ productions from 2025.

Part of NEPTA’s mission is to raise funds to award scholarships to graduating area high school seniors entering the performance arts or the education of the performing arts.

Adam Randis was the host for the event, and NEPTA president Paul J. Gallo of Diva Productions gave opening remarks. FlashMilk (Dane Bower and Michael Wawrzynek) performed an innovative opening for the show, assisted by Adam Randis.

NEPTA member organizations that were nominated, received awards, or took part in the ceremony included: Actors Circle, Diva Productions and Imagine NEPA of Lackawanna County; Drama in Motion Performance Works Factory Theatre of Schuylkill and Luzerne County; Endless Mountains Theatre Company of Susquehanna County; Gaslight Theatre, Little Theatre of Wilkes- Barre, Music Box Theatre, Neuremberg Community Players and Pennsylvania Theater of Performing Arts of Luzerne County; and Shawnee Playhouse of Monroe County. Members at Large and among the presenters were Regina Lanzo and Claudia Stuart. Marty Courtney, also a member at large, was not present for the event.

The 2025 NEPTA Award recipients from Luzerne County are:

PTPA: “The Play That Goes Wrong” for Best Comedy, Best Director of a Comedy, Adam Randis; Best Musical Director, Michele Millington; Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy, Tim Solarek; Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Shelby Wolfe; and Best Set Design, T.R. Laputka and Adam Randis.

LTWB: “The Pillowman” for Best Lead Actor in a Drama, Scott Colin Woolnough; Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, Seth Golden; Best Actor in a One-Act, Cairan R. Burke.

Music Box: “Jekyll and Hyde” for Best Sound, Michael Wawrzynek; Best Youth Actress (Age 12 and under), Olivia Wesley in “Annie”; Best Youth Actor (Age 12 and under), Jack Engle in “Merrily We Roll Along; “Beetlejuice Jr.” for Best Ancillary Teen (13-18).

Gaslight: “Sunday in the Park With George” for Best Musical; Best Director of a Musical, Dave Reynolds; Best Lead Actor in a Musical, Ryan Cook; Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Kristen Long; Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Michael Wawrzynek; Best Costume Design, Autumn Galka; Best Lighting Design, Jonathan Vojtko.

The 2025 NEPTA Award recipients from Lackawanna County are:

Actors Circle: Best Director of a One Act, Cairan R. Burke; Cathy Rist Strauch was given the NEPTA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her timeless efforts in promoting community theater in the region, and it was presented to her by Mark Fryer, AC’s immediate past president, and a NEPTA nominee.

Diva Productions: “Mothers and Sons” for Best Drama; Best Director of a Drama, David Hunisch; and Best Lead Actress, Poshi Walker; Best Supporting Actress in a Drama, Melissa Urich in “The Judas Sheep”; Best Lead Actor in a Comedy, Sam Falbo in “Incorruptible”: “A Crooked Line” received Best One Act, Marnie Azzarelli as Best Actress in a One Act, the late Michael Pavese for Best Writing of an Original One Act.

Imagine NEPA: “Urinetown” for Best Choreographer, Christina Sohns-Williams; Best Teen Actress (13-18), Tierney Joyce; and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Kelly Jean Graham; For “Junie B. Jones” Best Set by Youth/Teens, Best Youth Production (74% of principals age 12 or younger), Best Ancillary Youth Ensemble (13-18), and Best Youth Productions (12 and under); Creed Gorham received Best Teen Actor (13-18) in “Ride the Cyclone.”

The 2025 NEPTA Award recipients from Susquehanna County are:

Endless Mountains Theatre Company: Best Lead Actress in a Comedy, April Holgate.