Angela Konrad, Chair of the SAMC Theatre program at Trinity Western University, has been nominated for the Jessie Award for outstanding direction of Glass City Theatre鈥檚 production of Jesus Hopped the 鈥楢鈥� Train. The show received four additional nods, including outstanding production, at the nominations party on May 24.

 鈥淭his show was a gift every step of the way,鈥� Konrad says.

鈥淎nd apparently, it鈥檚 a gift that keeps on giving. It really is an honour to be nominated, particularly in a season of terrific theatre.鈥�

 Rounding out the list of nominations were Itai Erdal for lighting design and, for actor in a leading role, two nominations for Carl Kennedy and Rob Olguin. 

Olguin, a TWU alumnus, recently joined the faculty as an acting instructor. He is also the founding artistic producer of Glass City Theatre, a company he started with fellow TWU alumnus Michael Wipf.

 鈥淪tarting this company was a way to get my feet wet in the Vancouver theatre scene, having recently moved back here from Seattle,鈥� Olguin said. 

鈥淭he response to the show was fantastic and the production ... has exceeded my expectations. I鈥檓 very grateful.鈥�

 In other nominations honouring TWU artists, alumna Kaylee Harwood garnered one for her role as Mayzie La Bird in Seussical, The Musical with Carousel Theatre. 

 Harwood won two Jessies last year; one for ensemble performance in

A Year with Frog and Toad (Carousel) and one for most promising newcomer. She is currently starring as Guenevere in Camelot at the renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

 TWU鈥檚 longest-serving Theatre faculty member, Ron Reed, was honoured in his role as artistic director of Pacific Theatre. That company earned a unique nomination in the catch-all 鈥渟ignificant artistic achievement鈥� category for 鈥渃uration and execution of an outstanding season of theatre.鈥� 

This season garnered Pacific Theatre, along with guest companies on their stage, a remarkable 21 nominations.

Pacific Theatre gave Konrad her first encounter with the Jessies.  In 2007, she took home the statue for outstanding direction of Grace, which also won for best production, and received nominations for all four actors.   

The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards celebrate and promote outstanding achievement in the Vancouver professional theatre community. This year鈥檚 awards ceremony will take place at the Commodore Ballroom on Monday, June 20. Tickets are $25.50, available through Ticketmaster.