On Aug. 25, the Motif Magazine Theater Awards were presented at a ceremony held at Fête in Providence. Since 2006, Motif Magazine has recognized excellence in local theater at many different levels, including Professional (Equity), Semi-Professional (Non-Equity) and Community. This year’s awards included productions that were presented between July 2013 and June 2014. Ocean State Theatre Company has been recognized with a total of six awards – four of which were for their critically acclaimed production of “Les Misérables.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been acknowledged with so many awards for our first full season here in Warwick,” said Producing Artistic Director Amiee Turner. “We were honored with Production of the Year last year for “RENT” and to receive Production of the Year for “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” this year is truly exciting. For an emerging organization like OSTC to be embraced so quickly by a community that offers so much great theatre inspires us to keep going.”

The Motif Magazine Theater Awards are determined by the publication’s readership, who are encouraged to vote for their favorites, specifically the performances and productions that moved, astonished or touched them.

Ocean State Theatre Company’s awards were presented to:

 Amiee Turner for Direction for Les Misérables

Fred Scheff for Male in a Musical for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables”

Alyssa Gorgone for Female in a Musical for her portrayal of Eponine in “Les Misérables”

Karen Gail Kessler for Supporting Female for her portrayal of Mrs. Frank in “The Diary of Anne Frank”

“Les Misérables” was also recognized as the Musical of the Year and OSTC’s production of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” was honored as the Professional Production of the Year. In addition, Ocean State Theatre Company had nominations for Male Lead (Fred Sullivan Jr. in “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”) and Costume Design (Brian Horton for “42nd Street.”)

Ocean State Theatre Company’s upcoming season includes Lerner & Loewe’s abso-bloomin’-lutely perfect musical, “My Fair Lady,” the classic murder mystery thriller, “Dial M for Murder,” Jeff Stetson’s compelling play, “The Meeting,” Jason Robert Brown’s musical masterpiece, “The Last Five Years,” the door-slamming farce, “Lend Me a Tenor” and Stephen Sondheim’s charming musical, “Into the Woods.”

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC) is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre whose mission is to preserve and pass on the tradition of live, professional theatre – including the American musical – and to pursue avenues of enrichment and education for the benefit of the state of Rhode Island and the surrounding region through the theatre arts. OSTC, which re-opened and ran the historic Theatre By The Sea in Matunuck from 2007-2012 and began producing shows in Warwick in 2012, is an IRS designated not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

 Motif Magazine is dedicated to the arts and entertainment in Rhode Island and surrounding areas and to bringing readers alternative local news about subjects of all kinds. Motif was founded in 2004 to help bring to light some of the amazing music, arts and culture happening around Rhode Island that was escaping coverage by the media. Motif is a free publication, supported in its mission by generous advertisers and distributed monthly to over 1,000 locations throughout Rhode Island.

Fête is New England’s boutique live music venue dedicated to providing innovative music programming to an audience as diverse as New England itself. Fête’s mission is to rejuvenate the relationship between music and revelry; create a haven where both artists and audiences engage in a unique and gratifying cultural experience; and actively participate in the revitalization of Olneyville, a unique and historic Providence neighborhood.