The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) announced the nominees for the 37th Annual Elliot Norton Awards, with winners being announced on Monday, May 20 at 7pm at the Huntington Avenue Theatre.
“Our theater community is on fire!" Joyce Kulhawik, President of the BTCA, stated. "This year’s nominees represent the most diverse group of artists we’ve ever honored. This continues to be a time of social and political upheaval, with women and people of color at the forefront. The result? Many Boston theater artists have responded with work that provokes conversation, and re-focuses our gaze on cutting-edge issues and creative solutions. The Boston Theater Critics Association has recognized those contributions and sifted through the full bounty of offerings to celebrate the entire community-- on one stage, on one glorious night!”
The "Man in the Ring," earned four nominations, including two Outstanding Actor, Large Theater nods for John Douglas Thompson and Kyle Vincent Terry. Sara Porkalob received an Outstanding Solo Performance nomination for her role in "Dragon Cycle: Dragon Lady and Dragon Mama." Musicals "Jagged Little Pill" and "Once," each received nominations in Outstanding Musical Production, Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress, Outstanding Choreography, and Outstanding Musical Direction. The full list of nominations is below.
Melinda Lopez will receive this year's Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence, and a Special Citation will also be awarded to Zeitgeist Stage Company, which will be concluding its 18-year residency in Boston at the end of this season.
Actress Faye Dunaway will join the ceremony as the Guest of Honor, and a scholarship, supported by a matching grant from Broadway In Boston will be awarded to allow resource-limited high schools to participate in Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild's annual High School Festival.
Tickets are $35, and (until May 10) you can get $10 off using the promo code NORTIES10. Tickets are available at the Boston Theatre Scene Box Office, by calling 617-933-8600, and at bostontheatrescene.com.
The awards for outstanding visiting productions, actor and actress were also announced:
Outstanding Visiting Production
“Measure for Measure,” Cheek by Jowl and Pushkin Theatre Moscow, presented by ArtsEmerson
Outstanding Visiting Musical Production
“Hamilton,” presented by Broadway In Boston
Outstanding Visiting Performer
Vaishnavi Sharma, “Bedlam’s Pygmalion,” presented by Underground Railway Theater
Outstanding Visiting Musical Performers
Nicholas Christopher, “Hamilton,” presented by Broadway In Boston
Ani Djirdjirian, “Spamilton,” presented by the Huntington Theatre Company
Here is the full list of nominations for the 37th Annual Elliot Norton Awards:
Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence
Melinda Lopez
Outstanding Production, Large Theater
“Richard III,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
“Man in the Ring,” Huntington Theatre Company
“Birdy,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Outstanding Production, Midsize Theater
“The Wolves,” Lyric Stage Company of Boston
“Between Riverside and Crazy,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
“Equivocation,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project
“The Little Foxes,” Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Outstanding Production, Small or Fringe Theater
“The Audacity: Women Speak,” Sleeping Weazel
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Apollinaire Theatre Company
“Love! Valour! Compassion!,” Zeitgeist Stage Company
Outstanding Musical Production
“The Black Clown,” American Repertory Theater
“Once,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
“Jagged Little Pill,” American Repertory Theater
Outstanding Actor, Large Theater
Faran Tahir, “Richard III,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
John Douglas Thompson, “Man in the Ring,” Huntington Theatre Company
Kyle Vincent Terry, “Man in the Ring,” Huntington Theatre Company
Outstanding Actress, Large Theater
Marianna Bassham, “Romeo and Juliet,” Huntington Theatre Company
Nancy E. Carroll, “Romeo and Juliet,” Huntington Theatre Company
Jordan Boatman, “The Niceties,” Huntington Theatre Company
Outstanding Actor, Midsize Theater
Nael Nacer, “Macbeth” and “Equivocation,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project
Remo Airaldi, “The Little Foxes,” Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Tyrees Allen, “Between Riverside and Crazy,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Outstanding Actress, Midsize Theater
Octavia Chavez-Richmond, “Between Riverside and Crazy,” Speakeasy Stage Company
Amanda Collins, “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,” Merrimack Repertory Theatre
Amelia Broome, “The Little Foxes,” Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Outstanding Actor, Small or Fringe Theater
Jeremiah Kissel, “Cyrano,” Gloucester Stage Company
Brooks Reeves, “Love! Valour! Compassion!,” Zeitgeist Stage Company
Ken Baltin, “My Station in Life,” Gloucester Stage Company
Outstanding Actress, Small or Fringe Theater
Jennifer Rohn, “Dark Room,” Bridge Repertory Theater
Juliet Bowler, “Not Medea,” Flat Earth Theatre
Khloe Alice Lin, “Our Dear Dead Drug Lord,” Off the Grid Theatre
Liz Adams, “Noir Hamlet,” Centastage
Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor
Davóne Tines, “The Black Clown,” American Repertory Theater
Phil Tayler, “Cabaret,” Moonbox Productions
Davron S. Monroe, “Breath & Imagination,” The Front Porch Arts Collective and Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress
Lauren Patten, “Jagged Little Pill,” American Repertory Theater
Elizabeth Stanley, “Jagged Little Pill,” American Repertory Theater
Mackenzie Lesser-Roy, “Once,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Outstanding Director, Large Theater
Bryn Boice, “Universe Rushing Apart: Blue Kettle and Here We Go,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Michael Greif, “Man in the Ring,” Huntington Theatre Company
Steven Maler, “Birdy,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Outstanding Director, Midsize Theater
Tiffany Nichole Greene, “Between Riverside and Crazy,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Paul Melone, “Once,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
A. Nora Long, “The Wolves,” Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Outstanding Director, Small or Fringe Theater
David J. Miller, “Love! Valour! Compassion!,” Zeitgeist Stage Company
Olivia D’Ambrosio, “Dark Room,” Bridge Repertory Theater
Kiki Samko, “Nightmare on Elf Street,” Gold Dust Orphans
Outstanding Design, Large or Visiting Theater
“The Black Clown,” American Repertory Theater: Scenic and costume design by Carlos Soto, lighting by John Torres, sound by Kai Harada
“The End of TV,” by Manual Cinema, presented by ArtsEmerson: Sound design by Kyle Vegter, puppets by Lizi Breit with associate puppet designer and storyboard artist Drew Dir, costumes by Mieka Van Der Ploeg, lighting by Claire Chrzan with associate Shelbi Arndt, masks by Julia Vanarsdale Miller
“Moulin Rouge!,” presented by Ambassador Theatre Group: Scenic design by Derek McLane, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Justin Townsend, sound by Peter Hylenski
Outstanding Design, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater
“Brokelahomo!” and “Nightmare on Elf Street,” Gold Dust Orphans: sets by Windsor Newton, costumes by Scott Martino
“The Little Foxes,” Lyric Stage Company of Boston: Scenic design by Janie E. Howland, costumes by Gail Astrid Buckley, lighting by Karen Perlow, sound by Dewey Dellay
“Dark Room,” Bridge Repertory Theater: Scenic design by Ryan Bates, costumes by Chelsea Kerl, lighting by Stephen Petrilli, sound design and original compositions by Elizabeth Cahill, properties by Esme Allen
Outstanding Ensemble
“Love! Valour! Compassion!,” Zeitgeist Stage Company
“All My Sons,” Praxis Stage
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Apollinaire Theatre Company
“Small Mouth Sounds,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Outstanding Solo Performance
Liza Jessie Peterson, “The Peculiar Patriot,” the National Black Theatre and Hi-Arts production, presented by ArtsEmerson
Jade Wheeler, “Who is Eartha Mae?,” Bridge Repertory Theater
Sara Porkalob, “Dragon Cycle: Dragon Lady and Dragon Mama,” American Repertory Theater
Outstanding New Script
“The Tragic Ecstasy of Girlhood,” by Kira Rockwell, presented by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
“Noir Hamlet,” by John Minigan, presented by Centastage
“Dragon Mama,” by Sara Porkalob, presented by American Repertory Theater
Outstanding Choreography
Ilyse Robbins, “Once,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Sonya Tayeh, “Moulin Rouge!,” presented by Ambassador Theatre Group
Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, “Jagged Little Pill,” American Repertory Theater
Outstanding Musical Direction
Bryan Perri , “Jagged Little Pill,” American Repertory Theater
Steven Ladd Jones, “Once,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Dan Rodriguez, “Cabaret,” Moonbox Productions
