The Communication and Media Studies division of Cornerstone University has recently been presented with the honor of six Grand Award nominations. Of these six selections, three students and two staff members have been nominated for their involvement in “The Turn of the Screw” and/or “Seussical the Musical.”

For 13 years, The Grand Awards has stood as an annual celebration to honor and recognize the contributions that many local theater groups, universities and other organizations have made over the year.

“It’s a lot like the Tony Awards,” said Jennifer Hunter, associate professor and director of theater. “Everyone gets dressed up, and there are a number of performances throughout the evening.”

Volunteers from the theater community in Grand Rapids act as judges for the Grand Awards. They visit the productions put on by local universities and colleges throughout the year, then assess the performances.

They then make decisions on who to nominate based on their observations.

“These volunteers are like a secret entity here in Grand Rapids, because you never know who they are,”

Hunter said.

CU senior and theater major CJ Namenye has been nominated for outstanding lead actress for her performance in “The Turn of the Screw.” Namenye played a governess who is naïve about the world around her and believes the best about people upon meeting them. However, as the play progresses, she soon comes to realize that her world isn’t as perfect and good as she presumed.

CJ Namenye, left, and Adam Miller act during CU's production of "The Turn of the Screw." Both Namenye and Miller are up for Grand Awards, and the play itself was nominated for the "Best Production Award."

“The interesting thing about this play is that even though there are about five characters, there are only two people cast in the show,” Namenye said. “I played the Governess and Adam Miller played the other four characters. None of them are easy to portray. It’s a very challenging play.”

Adam Miller, another senior theater major at CU, also received the nomination of outstanding lead actor for his performance in “The Turn of the Screw.”

“It blew me away at first,” Miller said. “I kind of had a feeling that ‘Turn of the Screw’ would get a nomination, because after the show, one of the judges actually came up to me and told me I did a good job.”

Namenye was also quite blown away by her nomination.

“I was completely overwhelmed when I heard that I had received a nomination,” she said. “I felt like I was

floating on my back in a very quiet pool; weightless, still, and able to hear my own breath. I am completely honored. I put a lot of work into this role and I feel very humbled that I have been chosen to be recognized this way again.”

“The Turn of the Screw” has also been nominated for outstanding production. Hunter, who personally directed the performance, is rather ecstatic about this piece of news.

“It was hard, because the students had been in New York for a J-term class, so we literally had two weeks to

put it all together,” Hunter said. “The fact that we had such little time and could still put on such a quality show was extremely pleasing.”

Three nominations were also received for the CU production of “Seussical the Musical,” one of these being that of adjunct professor Sherry Lee Allen. Allen was selected for outstanding director of a production.

As the director, Allen had to work closely with the students, design team and staff to create the masterpiece that allowed her to receive her nomination.

“What’s exciting about [Seussical] is there were so many musical numbers, and it was a non-stop animated

storytelling through the wonderful, imaginative characters of Dr. Seuss,” Allen said.

Adam Miller and junior Kyle Juresich, a vocal education and theater major, were both nominated for outstanding lead actor in “Seussical.” Miller played “Horton the elephant” and Juresich played “The Cat in the Hat.”

Kyle Juresich plays the part of The Cat in the Hat during CU's performance of "Seussical." Juresich has been nominated for a Grand Award. (Photo by Tamara Jackson)

“It was just a really over the top, out-there role,” Juresich said. “I also got to tap-dance in the musical, which has always been a lifelong dream of mine.”

Hunter is proud of her students and the achievements they have made.

“We have some amazingly talented students here at Cornerstone,” she said. “I’m so proud to see them develop through their years here.”

The Grand Awards will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, at the performing arts center of Aquinas College.