Oamaru will tonight host Otago and Southland's answer to the Oscars.
The third-annual Ostas (the Otago Southland Theatre Awards) has attracted more than 200 people for the biggest night in musical theatre in the region.
The black tie awards evening, being held at St Kevin's College, recognises performance and production excellence among members of the Musical Theatre New Zealand Zone 5 region.
Organiser Doug Kamo said the Ostas represented the only moment in the calendar year that members of all of the societies in Otago and Southland came together.
"We've got people travelling from Invercargill through to Queenstown - basically right throughout the region.''
Collectively, non-profit theatrical societies contributed a "huge'' amount of economic benefit to their communities, he said.
"What we actually achieve by showcasing and presenting high-end musical theatre within our respective towns or cities ... [is to] generate a lot of income for those areas.''
After a record number of qualifying regional productions in 2015, almost 100 nominees are up for awards.
Musical Theatre Oamaru president Dan Lewis said the society was "delighted'' to be hosting the Ostas, which would be an opportunity to promote the district, as well as the standard of performing arts.
"North Otago hospitality will be in fine form, we'll make sure that everybody has a good time - it's shaping up to be a really good night.''
Hosting the event would also be a fitting way to begin the society's 60th anniversary.
Musical Theatre Oamaru has also been nominated for awards in 12 of the 16 categories for its 2015 production of The Addams Family musical.
Win or lose, it was an honour to be nominated, especially up against the likes of Invercargill Musical Theatre and Musical Theatre Dunedin's respective productions of Phantom of the Opera, Mr Lewis said.
"But it's actually about showcasing local amateur theatre and it's bringing like-minded people together and enjoying each other's company - and at the end of it, that's what it's about.''
