Creighton’s Performing and Visual Arts Department received 14 nominations for the 2009 Omaha Entertainment Awards. Ten of the nominations were for last year’s musical, “West Side Story.” The cast and crew behind the production were recognized with nominations ranging from lighting and costume design to best actor and actress.

“The recognition is huge, and the fact that we got nominated for so many awards is helpful,” Stephen Sheftz, Creighton music coordinator, said. “It is very helpful with the new musical theater major because ‘West Side Story’ was our first theatrical presence with all of the majors.”

Patrick Roddy of the Creighton Dance Department won the award for Best Choreographer and David Catherall won the Best Featured Dancer award for his performance in WSS.

Roddy said he was not expecting the award, but said he thinks that it will bring some well-deserved recognition to the cast and dancers involved in WSS. He also said the nominations themselves give credit to the hard work of the students and everyone involved in the show.

“I was very very pleased. Not many college productions got nominations, and winning for both me and David Catherall was an added bonus,” Roddy said.

Members from the WSS cast performed the selection “Tonight” at the Sunday performance. Sheftz said he chose it because it would showcase the students’ talents.

“It was great. We got news coverage and everything,” Sheftz said. “They aired over half the song on the news that evening so a much wider audience than we reached before got to see what our students put together.”

Maria Becvar, Arts & Sciences junior, nominated for Best Actress for her role of Maria, said that it was great to get the cast together one last time.

“All the wonderful memories from my show experience continued wheeling through my head in that moment,” Becvar said. “I think the entire cast would agree no award could possibly compare to all the friendships we made in those three months of rehearsals.”