MPA's staging of 'Peter Pan' earns 5 nods for Elly Awards

Modesto Performing Arts has been nominated for five Elly Awards from the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance for its September 2007 staging of "Peter Pan." The nominations are for direction, lighting design and set design (Paul Tischer), leading actress (Heather Hernandez) and best costume design (Gini Vyborney).

Winners will be announced Sept. 28 at the Crest Theatre.

Sixty-seven theaters submitted 255 shows for judging. Representatives from SARTA attended at least one performance of each entered show to decide on nominations and winners. Professional companies -- including Sacramento Theatre Company, California Musical Theatre (producer of Music Circus and the Broadway Series) -- do not compete. For more information, visit www.sarta.com.

MPA previously won Elly Awards for its 2005 staging of "Scarlet Pimpernel" and 2004 staging of "42nd Street."