Tuesday, August 28, 2012

2012 RTCC Award Nominees

For Immediate Release


Theater awards to celebrate Children and the Arts
5th annual “Artsies” brings local celebs to the November Theatre on October 14

Richmond, VA – Echoing the theme of this year’s Minds Wide Open celebration, the Fifth Annual Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC) Awards will celebrate “Children and the Arts” with a special performance by students from the School for the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC) and special recognition of SPARC’s founder, Jeri Culter-Voltz. The RTCC event – also known as “the Artsies” – will recognize excellence in locally produced professional theater during the 2011-12 season at a black-tie awards gala to be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 14 at the newly refurbished November Theatre downtown.

“Jeri’s legacy lives on in the exceptional talent of these kids,” says David Timberline, a theatre critic for Style Weekly magazine and chair of the “Artsies” gala. “With their appearance, plus the usual exciting performances by Best Musical nominees, it’s clear that this event just gets better and better.” Master of Ceremonies for the event will be WRIC news anchor Juan Conde.

“I’m particularly excited about the wide range of presenters for this year’s gala,” says Timberline. “Everybody from VMFA director Alex Nyerges to Nutzy the Squirrel will present awards.” Timberline’s son, R. Cooper Timberline, a former SPARC student who will be appearing as young Clark Kent in next year’s Superman reboot, “Man of Steel,” will also be a presenter.

Two special awards have already been announced in addition to Cutler-Voltz’s recognition as recipient of this year’s Liz Marks Memorial Award for Ongoing Contribution to Richmond Area Theater (Cutler-Voltz died in 1998). Kevin Inouye will receive an award for Outstanding Achievement in Fight Choreography for his work on Richmond Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and director Tom Width from Swift Creek Mill Theatre will be recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Stage Magic for a career of inventive integration of magic into his productions.

Gala attendees will be allowed to vote on a “People’s Choice” award for Best Production of the Year, their votes entering them in a drawing for a prize package including a night at the luxury bed-and-breakfast Maury Place on Monument, dinner at the Franklin Inn, tickets to a show at Richmond Triangle Players, and two sessions at Massages by Kiara.

All proceeds from the awards ceremony will go to the Richmond Theatre Artists Fund established to help those in the Richmond theatre community who fall on hard of times due to illness, injury, or extenuating circumstances. In addition to Timberline, members of the RTCC are Rich Griset (Style Weekly magazine), Susan Haubenstock (Richmond Times-Dispatch), Liz Jewett (Richmond.com), Julinda Lewis (Richmond Times-Dispatch), Matthew Miller (GayRVA.com/Richmond Times-Dispatch), John Porter (WCVE-FM), and Joan Tupponce (One Woman’s View). Jen Maciulewicz (GayRVA.com) has been added as a provisional member.

Formal attire is encouraged for the awards ceremony, which is open to the public. Tickets for the event are $15 and can be purchased from the Virginia Repertory box office by calling 282-2620.

This year’s nominations are listed below.

Best Musical
Dessa Rose, Richmond CenterStage / Firehouse Theatre Project
The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Richmond Triangle Players
My Fair Lady, Virginia Repertory Theatre
The Rocky Horror Show, Firehouse Theatre Project
Spring Awakening, Virginia Repertory Theatre

Best Direction - Musical
Chase Kniffen, Seussical the Musical (Virginia Repertory Theatre)
Chase Kniffen, Spring Awakening
Bruce Miller, My Fair Lady
Steve Perigard, A Year with Frog and Toad (Virginia Repertory Theatre)
Jase Smith, The Rocky Horror Show

Best Actor - Musical
Oliver Houser, Spring Awakening
Joe Inscoe, My Fair Lady
John Mincks, Spring Awakening
Fernando Rivadeneira, Musical of Musicals
Terence Sullivan, The Rocky Horror Show

Best Actress - Musical
Stacey Cabaj, My Fair Lady
Desiree Roots Centeio, Dessa Rose
Jacquie O'Connor, Musical of Musicals
Ali Thibodeau, Spring Awakening
Debra Wagoner, Always...Patsy Cline (Virginia Repertory Theatre)

Best Supporting Actor - Musical
Nick Aliff, The Rocky Horror Show
Richard Chan, Spring Awakening
Ben Houghton, My Fair Lady
Jason Marks, My Fair Lady
Durron Tyre, Dessa Rose

Best Supporting Actress - Musical
Christie Jackson, Spring Awakening
Lauren Leinhaas-Cook, My Fair Lady
Terri Moore, Always...Patsy Cline
Susan Sanford, Seussical
Susan Sanford, Spring Awakening

Best Musical Direction
Sandy Dacus, Spring Awakening
Paul Deiss, A Year with Frog and Toad
Kim Fox, Musical of Musicals
Leilani Giles, The Rocky Horror Show
Ben Houghton, My Fair Lady

Best Choreography
Starrene Foster, Spring Awakening
Maggie Marlin, The Rocky Horror Show
Leslie Owens-Harrington, My Fair Lady

Best Play
August: Osage County, Cadence Theatre / Virginia Repertory Theatre
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Firehouse Theatre Project
Kimberly Akimbo, Cadence Theatre / Virginia Repertory Theatre
The Liar, Henley Street Theatre
The Tragedy of Macbeth, Richmond Shakespeare

Best Direction – Play
Anna Johnson, Kimberly Akimbo
Steve Perigard, Scorched Earth (Virginia Repertory Theatre)
Jan Powell, Macbeth
Rusty Wilson, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Keri Wormald, August: Osage County

Best Actor – Play
Ryan Bechard, Macbeth
KeiLyn Jones, Yellowman (Henley Street Theatre)
Matthew Mitchell, The Liar
Chris O'Neill, Next Fall (Richmond Triangle Players)
Alan Sader, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Best Actress – Play
Katrinah Carol Lewis, You Don't Know Me (Firehouse Theatre Project)
Melissa Johnston Price, August: Osage County
Laine Satterfield, Cat on Hot Tin Roof
Zoe V. Speas, Macbeth
Irene Ziegler, Kimberly Akimbo

Best Supporting Actor – Play
Richard Koch, Kimberly Akimbo
Andrew Mitakides, Macbeth
Matthew Mitchell, Kimberly Akimbo
Matthew Mitchell, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music (Virginia Rep)
Adrian Rieder, In the Next Room or the vibrator play (Cadence Theatre / Virginia Rep)

Best Supporting Actress – Play
Lorri Lindberg, Suddenly, Last Summer (Richmond Triangle Players)
Katie McCall, August: Osage County
Carolyn Meade, August: Osage County
Jill Bari Steinberg, Kimberly Akimbo
Jody Smith Strickler, August: Osage County

The Ernie McClintock Best Ensemble Award
God of Carnage, Virginia Repertory Theatre
The Liar, Henley Street Theatre
The Musical of Musicals, Richmond Triangle Players
Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Sycamore Rouge
Stupid Kids, Richmond Triangle Players

Best Locally-Developed New Work
Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, Virginia Repertory Theatre
Brew, Stage B Theatre Company
Joe Jackson's Night & Day, Richmond Triangle Players
Scorched Earth, Virginia Repertory Theatre
Trojans, TheatreLAB

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design
Maura Lynch Cravey, Blithe Spirit (Swift Creek Mill Theatre)
Sue Griffin, My Fair Lady
Kate Parthemos, Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Terry Snyder, A Year with Frog and Toad
Holly Sullivan, The Rocky Horror Show

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design
Andrew Bonniwell, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Joe Doran & Andrew Bonniwell, Lord of the Flies (Henley Street)
Joe Doran, The 39 Steps (Swift Creek Mill Theatre)
Lynne Hartman, Spring Awakening
Michael Jarrett, Musical of Musicals

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design
Brian Barker, In the Next Room
Brian Barker, Spring Awakening
Phil Hayes, August: Osage County
Terrie Powers, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music
Mercedes Schaum, A Year with Frog and Toad

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Buddy Bishop, Home Fires (Chamberlayne Actors Theatre)
Paul Deiss, The 39 Steps
Paul Deiss, It's A Wonderful Life (Swift Creek Mill Theatre)
James Ricks, Lord of the Flies
Jesse Senechal, Kimberly Akimbo

Outstanding Achievement in Fight Choreography
Kevin Inouye, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Outstanding Achievement in Stage Magic
Tom Width (numerous productions)

Liz Marks Memorial Award for Ongoing Contribution to Richmond Area Theater
Jeri Cutler-Voltz

11 comments:

joepabst said...

Congrats to all the nominees! And to everyone in the very rich Richmond Theatre Community -- kudos for all your hard work!

elise said...

Congratulations, everyone!

Stephen Smithers said...

Congrats to all nominees!
I was hoping the design categories would finally be separated into Musical and Straight Play categories as it is like comparing apples and oranges, but oh well! It's still going to be a great time!

Chris Hester said...

I am so thankful to be part of this community. A special thanks to the RTCC crew for starting this celebration and promoting theater talent in Richmond. While folks may not always agree with reviews, I think everyone will agree that this event is special and would not be in place without each of your input, consideration, and diligence.

Dave T said...

Stephen,
That issue was actually brought up during the process this year but too late to change what we were already doing. Next season, the plan will be to consider the technical awards separately.
FYI!

clanomincks@cs.com said...

Congrats to my dear boys-Adam for "Picasso at Lapin Agile" and John for "Spring Awakening"-love you forever-Dave-the correct spelling of the name of the costumer for "Picasso" is Kate Parthemos-love her much too!And thank you so much for recognizing the finest director,magician and human being I know,Tom Width.

emily j. cole said...

But what everyone REALLY wants to know is.... will Puppet John Porter make a cameo this year???

Congrats to all!

Becca K. said...

I am not positive, but I believe there was only one lighting designer for "Lord of the Flies." I think Andrew was the assistant designer. You should check with Henley Street to be sure, but that may be a mistake.

Unknown said...

Becca - Although Joe Doran did original (and amazing) design for LOF, he was also doing 39 Steps at the same time. Andrew and Joe had to work together to put up the show and then Andrew stepped in and took over the show during tech week - including necessary re-design and changes as would normally happen during that week. Therefore we felt it was right that they share this nomination. - Jacquie

Tommy said...

Congrats everyone! Also, the actual title for Stage B's show is "Brew: Locally Grown Stories From the Richmond Coffee Community."

Janet said...

Curious to know what criteria went into the Best Locally Developed New Work category, and how those were selected.