Theatre earns BroadwayWorld Award for region’s top play

It's a Wonderful Life cast

The Hanover Theatre Department’s presentation of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” earned the BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards honor as the region’s top play in 2024-25.

BroadwayWorld’s regional awards salute the year’s best productions and include more than 100 cities across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, Central America and South America. To qualify, productions must have been staged between Oct. 1, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025. Nominations in 17 categories were solicited from critics and patrons. Online voting was held in December. Winners were announced in January.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” was staged Dec. 6-8, 2024, in The Other Place. Gabriel Vanover, associate professor of theatre and department chair, directed the reimagined American holiday classic, which was adapted by Joe Landry from Philip Van Doren Stern’s famed tale, “The Greatest Gift.” The 14-student cast earned a nomination for best ensemble and nominations were also received for best performer, supporting performer, direction, costume design, scenic design, lighting design and sound design.

Hanover’s theatre department was nominated as the best local theatre company and, in all, totaled 32 BroadwayWorld Louisville Award nominations. “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” and “The Cottage,” a screwball comedy presented Feb. 14-16, 2025, each amassed 13 nominations. “Extreme Exposure: Solo Characters in the Spotlight,” a collection of one-person performances staged April 4-6, 2025, tallied five nominations.

Vanover picked up four nominations, including best direction and best sound design for “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “The Cottage.” Kevin Havlin, technical director, totaled eight nominations for best scenic design, best lighting design and best sound design for a play or musical. Costume designer Leigh Anne Crandall received three nominations for best costume design for a play or musical.

BroadwayWorld is the largest theatre site on the internet, covering all aspects of entertainment from live theatre and concerts to television, film and streaming. The site, offered in 12 languages, has more than six million monthly visitors.

BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards nominations

Best Local Theatre Company – Louisville, Ky., Region

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”

WINNER – Best Play

Best Ensemble

Best Performer in a Play: Tanner Brown ’25

Best Performer in a Play: Emmy Mills ’28

Best Supporting Performer in a Play: Colton Auxier ’26

Best Supporting Performer in a Play: Xandra Ellegood ’27

Best Supporting Performer in a Play: Raj Sharma ’25

Best Supporting Performer in a Play: Lana Wooley ’26

Best Scenic Design for a Play or Musical: Kevin Havlin

Best Costume Design for a Play or Musical: Leigh Anne Crandall

Best Sound Design for a Play or Musical: Gabriel Vanover and Kevin Havlin

Best Lighting Design for a Play or Musical: Kevin Havlin

Best Direction of a Play: Gabriel Vanover

“The Cottage”

Best Play

Best Ensemble

Best Performer in a Play: Tanner Brown ’25

Best Performer in a Play: Lio Wilkerson ’27

Best Performer in a Play: Lana Wooley ’26

Best Supporting Performer in a Play: Colton Auxier ’26

Best Supporting Performer in a Play: Xandra Ellegood ’27

Best Supporting Performer in a Play: Raj Sharma ’25

Best Scenic Design for a Play or Musical: Kevin Havlin

Best Costume Design for a Play or Musical: Leigh Anne Crandall

Best Sound Design for a Play or Musical: Gabriel Vanover

Best Lighting Design for a Play or Musical: Kevin Havlin

Best Direction of a Play: Gabriel Vanover

“Extreme Exposure: Solo Characters in the Spotlight”

Best Ensemble

Best Scenic Design for a Play or Musical: Kevin Havlin

Best Costume Design for a Play or Musical: Leigh Anne Crandall

Best Sound Design for a Play or Musical: Kevin Havlin

Best Lighting Design for a Play or Musical: Kevin Havlin

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