Nominees for 2013 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards announced

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      In the first year without the Vancouver Playhouse in the running, the Arts Club Theatre Company and Bard on the Beach dominated the large-theatre category in nominations for the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards announced May 21.

      The Arts Club earned 27 nominations, with its show Master Class taking the most, at six. Bard on the Beach garnered 14 nods, with its Merry Wives of Windsor receiving seven.

      The small-theatre category was much more spread out, with nominations split among 20 troupes. Pi Theatre’s Terminus scored eight, with all three of its actors receiving nods: John Emmet Tracy, Pippa Mackie, and Leanna Brodie. Virtual Stage also nabbed eight, with seven for its Broken Sex Doll and The Zombie Syndrome receiving one. The Arts Club vied here as well, with seven nominations spread between the shows The Santaland Diaries, The Unplugging, and How Has My Love Affected You?.

      Andrew McNee (Boeing-Boeing), Andrew Wheeler (Clybourne Park), Ashley Wright (Merry Wives), Gaelan Beatty (Xanadu), and Scott Bellis (King John) are all battling it out for the large-theatre category’s award for an actor in a lead role. For actress in the same category, Deborah Williams (Clybourne Park), Gina Chiarelli (Master Class), and Kerry Sandomirsky (Haunted) are all nominated.

      For small theatre, the contenders in the male category are Benjamin Elliott (Broken Sex Doll), Haig Sutherland (The Secret Mask), Jay Brazeau (The Secret Mask), John Emmet Tracy (Terminus), and John Murphy (Eternal Hydra). In the women’s category, it’s Emma Slipp (Three Sisters), Erla Faye Forsyth (How to Write a New Book for the Bible), Julie McIsaac (Mother Teresa Is Dead), Leanna Brodie (Terminus), and Pippa Mackie (Terminus).

      Directing nominations went to David Mackay (Boeing-Boeing), Dean Paul Gibson (Xanadu), Janet Wright (Clybourne Park), Johnna Wright (The Merry Wives of Windsor), and Meg Roe (Master Class) in the large-theatre area, and to Andy Thompson (Broken Sex Doll), Chelsea Haberlin (Mojo), Craig Holzschuh (Porc-Epic), and Pam Johnson (The Secret Mask) in the small-theatre category.

      Under the theatre-for-young-audiences umbrella, Where the Wild Things Are by Presentation House Theatre (in association with Manitoba Theatre for Young People) earned five nominations. Carousel Theatre for Young People took seven, including four for Cat in the Hat. Théâtre la Seizième’s Statu Quo followed with four nominations.

      Find the list of all the nominations below.

      The 31st annual ceremony, with awards in these and other categories, including the Georgia Straight Patron of the Arts Award and the Critics Choice Innovation Award, happens on June 24 at the Commodore Ballroom. The Vancouver TheatreSports League produces and directs the evening.

      At the same time, the Jessies are planning big changes to the way they categorize theatre companies for the awards, starting at next year’s event. Small theatre troupes will be defined as having an operating budget of $350,000 or less, and large theatre companies as having over $350,000—a change that means organizations like Rumble and Pacific Theatre will fall into the large-theatre category, and small theatre will encompass little co-ops and one-time producers. (The old guidelines had the dividing line between large and small theatre set as a $150,000 production budget and a house with 200 seats.) The new guidelines tie into changes in Canadian Actors’ Equity Association policy, which has gotten rid of references to the former Equity Co-op and recognizes productions created under the new Artists Collective Policy.

      In addition, the Jessies will add two new categories: best production of a musical for both large and small categories.

       

      LARGE THEATRE

      Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role - Large Theatre

      Andrew McNee—Boeing-Boeing—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Andrew Wheeler—Clybourne Park—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Ashley Wright—The Merry Wives of Windsor—Bard on the Beach

      Gaelan Beatty—Xanadu—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Scott Bellis—King John—Bard on the Beach

       

      Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role - Large Theatre

      Deborah Williams—Clybourne Park—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Gina Chiarelli—Master Class—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Kerry Sandomirsky—Haunted—Touchstone Theatre Production

       

      Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Large Theatre

      Chris Cochrane—She Stoops to Conquer—Arts Club Theatre Company

      David Marr—The Merry Wives of Windsor—Bard on the Beach

      Ian Butcher—Macbeth—Bard on the Beach

      Kayvon Kelly—The Taming of the Shrew—Bard on the Beach

      Robert Moloney—Clybourne Park—Arts Club Theatre Company

       

      Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Large Theatre

      Beatrice Zeilinger—Xanadu—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Colleen Wheeler—Boeing-Boeing—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Georgina Beaty—My Turquoise Years—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Lauren Bowler—High Society—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Nicola Lipman—Boeing-Boeing—Arts Club Theatre Company

       

      Outstanding Lighting Design - Large Theatre

      Gerald King—Macbeth—Bard on the Beach

      Gerald King—Xanadu—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Gerald King—The Taming of the Shrew—Bard on the Beach

      Itai Erdal—She Stoops to Conquer—Arts Club Theatre Company

      John Webber—Master Class—Arts Club Theatre Company

       

      Outstanding Set Design - Large Theatre

      Alison Green—My Turquoise Years—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Amir Ofek—Boeing-Boeing—Arts Club Theatre Company

      David Roberts—She Stoops to Conquer—Arts Club Theatre Company

      John Webber—Master Class—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Pam Johnson—The Merry Wives of Windsor—Bard on the Beach

       

      Outstanding Costume Design - Large Theatre

      Drew Facey—The Merry Wives of Windsor—Bard on the Beach

      Mara Gottler—The Taming of the Shrew—Bard on the Beach

      Rebekka Sorensen—She Stoops to Conquer—Arts Club Theatre Company

       

      Outstanding Direction - Large Theatre

      David Mackay—Boeing-Boeing—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Dean Paul Gibson—Xanadu—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Janet Wright—Clybourne Park—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Johnna Wright—The Merry Wives of Windsor—Bard on the Beach

      Meg Roe—Master Class—Arts Club Theatre Company

       

      Outstanding Production - Large Theatre

      Clybourne Park—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Master Class—Arts Club Theatre Company

      The Merry Wives of Windsor—Bard on the Beach

       

      Significant Artistic Achievement - Large Theatre

      Benjamin Elliott—Bard on the Beach—The Merry Wives of Windsor—Outstanding Musical Direction

      Corwin Ferguson—Arts Club Theatre Company—Master Class—Outstanding Projection Design

      Murray Price—Bard on the Beach—Macbeth—Outstanding Sound or Original Composition

      Ron Samworth—Theatre Conspiracy—Extraction—Outstanding Sound or Original Composition

       

      SMALL THEATRE

      Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role – Small Theatre

      Benjamin Elliott—Broken Sex Doll—The Virtual Stage

      Haig Sutherland—The Secret Mask—Presentation House Theatre

      Jay Brazeau—The Secret Mask—Presentation House Theatre

      John Emmet Tracy—Terminus—Pi Theatre

      John Murphy—Eternal Hydra—Touchstone Theatre

       

      Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role – Small Theatre

      Emma Slipp—Three Sisters—The Only Child Collective

      Erla Faye Forsyth—How to Write a New Book for the Bible—Pacific Theatre

      Julie McIsaac—Mother Teresa is Dead—Bleeding Heart Collective

      Leanna Brodie—Terminus—Pi Theatre

      Pippa Mackie—Terminus—Pi Theatre

       

      Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Small Theatre

      Brett Harris—Mojo—ITSAZOO Productions

      Chris Lam—100 Saints You Should Know—Pacific Theatre

      Joey Lespérance—Porc-Épic—Théâtre La Seizième

      Kayvon Kelly—Mother Teresa is Dead—Bleeding Heart Collective

      Sean Harris Oliver—Unstuck—Screaming Weenie Productions

       

      Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role – Small Theatre

      Alison Kelly—The Secret Mask—Presentation House Theatre

      France Perras—Porc-Épic—Théâtre La Seizième

      Josette Jorge—Play with Monsters—Solo Collective Theatre

      Karin Konoval—Play with Monsters—Solo Collective Theatre

      Marsha Regis—Race—RACE Equity Co-op

       

      Outstanding Lighting Design – Small Theatre

      Alan Brodie—Terminus—Pi Theatre

      Itai Erdal—Broken Sex Doll—The Virtual Stage

      John Webber—Molière's Don Juan—Blackbird Theatre

      Jonathan Ryder—Initiation Trilogy—Electric Company

      Ted Roberts—The Santaland Diaries—Arts Club Theatre Company

       

      Outstanding Set Design – Small Theatre

      Christopher David Gauthier—Cold Comfort—Yogurt Theatre

      David Roberts—Terminus—Pi Theatre

      Lauchlin Johnston—God and the Indian—Fire Hall Arts Centre

      Naomi Sider—How Has My Love Affected You?—Arts Club Theatre Company in association with Neworld Theatre

      Pam Johnson—Shelter from the Storm—Touchstone Theatre

       

      Outstanding Costume Design – Small Theatre

      Carmen Alatorre—Terminus—Pi Theatre

      Drew Facey—Broken Sex Doll—The Virtual Stage

      Jessie van Rijn—Ordinary Days—Relephant Theatre Co-op

      Mara Gottler—Three Sisters—The Only Child Collective

      Sydney Cavanagh—The Santaland Diaries—Arts Club Theatre Company

       

      Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition – Small Theatre

      Alison Jenkins—The Unplugging—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Anton Lipovetsky—Broken Sex Doll—The Virtual Stage

      David Mesiha—Terminus—Pi Theatre

      James Coomber—Mother Teresa is Dead—Bleeding Heart Collective

      Malcolm Dow—Play with Monsters—Solo Collective Theatre

       

      Outstanding Direction – Small Theatre

      Andy Thompson—Broken Sex Doll—The Virtual Stage

      Chelsea Haberlin—Mojo—ITSAZOO Productions

      Craig Holzschuh—Porc-Épic—Théâtre La Seizième

      Pam Johnson—The Secret Mask—Presentation House Theatre

       

      Outstanding Production – Small Theatre

      Broken Sex Doll—The Virtual Stage

      Mojo—ITSAZOO Productions

      Porc-Épic—Théâtre La Seizième

      Terminus—Pi Theatre

      Winners and Losers—Theatre Replacement and Neworld Theatre in association with Crow's Theatre

       

      Significant Artistic Achievement – Small Theatre

      Anton Lipovetsky—The Virtual Stage—Broken Sex Doll—Musical Direction

      Colin Decker, Carey Dodge, Tara Cheyenne Friedenburg, Brae Norwiss, Sean Tyson, John Webber, Jay Dodge, Sherry Yoon—Boca Del Lupo—Photog.—Artistic Acheivement in Technical Integration

      Jamie Nesbitt—Arts Club Theatre Company in association with Neworld Theatre—How Has My Love Affected You?—Outstanding Projection Design

      Peter Jotkus and Lucy Pratt-Johnson—Arts Club Theatre Company—The Santaland Diaries—Outstanding Stage Management

      The Virtual Stage Company—The Virtual Stage—The Zombie Syndrome—Logistical and Technical Innovation

       

      THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

      Outstanding Performance – Theatre for Young Audiences

      Curtis Tweedie—Night Light—Green Thumb Theatre

      Graeme McComb—Cranked—Green Thumb Theatre

      Kayla Dunbar, Mack Gordon, Nicol Spinola, Mike Stack, Amanda Testini, Allan Zinyk—The Cat in the Hat—Carousel Theatre

      Raes Calvert and Linda Carson (Ensemble)—Where the Wild Things Are—Presentation House Theatre (in association with Manitoba Theatre for Young People)

      Marie-Claire Marcotte—Statu Quo—Théâtre La Seizième

       

      Outstanding Design – Theatre for Young Audiences

      Barbara Clayden, Al Frisk, Jeff Harrison—Ensemble Design—Arthur: Boy King

      Corwin Ferguson—Video—Statu Quo

      Drew Facey, Gareth Fry, Jeff Harrison, Vicki Mortimer—Ensemble Design—The Cat in the Hat

      Julie Martens—Set Design—Statu Quo

      Linda Leon—Set, Props and Costume Design—Where the Wild Things Are

       

      Outstanding Artistic Creation – Theatre for Young Audiences

      Carole Higgins—Direction—The Cat in the Hat

      Cathy Nosaty—Composition—Where the Wild Things Are

      Craig Holzschuh—Direction—Statu Quo

      Jeff Tymoschuk—Composition—Arthur: Boy King

      Kim Selody—Direction—Where the Wild Things Are

       

      Significant Artistic Achievement – Theatre for Young Audiences

      Darryl Milot—Carousel Theatre—2012/13 Season—Outstanding Costume Construction

      Jordan Watkins—Green Thumb Theatre—Cranked—Outstanding DJ

      Mike Dangeli—Axis Theatre—Raven Meets Monkey King—Outstanding Mask Design and Creation

      —Presentation House Theatre (in association with Manitoba Theatre for Young People)—Where the Wild Things Are—Outstanding Production

      Pamela Jakobs—Carousel Theatre—The Cat in the Hat—Outstanding Sound Operation and Stage Management

       

      Outstanding Original Script

      Aaron Bushkowsky—Play with Monsters—Solo Collective Theatre

      Jan Derbyshire—Turkey in the Woods—Cranberry Sauce Equity Co-op

      Marcus Youssef—How Has My Love Affected You?—Arts Club Theatre Company in association with Neworld Theatre

      Marita Dachsel—Initiation Trilogy—Electric Company Theatre

      Yvette Nolan—The Unplugging—Arts Club Theatre Company

      Comments

      4 Comments

      Janet Baird, Vancouver

      May 22, 2013 at 5:47pm

      Loved Terminus! Couldn't help but notice that the show got 8 Jessie nominations including all of the actors, designers and for best production. The only person missing a nomination was Richard Wolfe the director - major overnight me thinks...

      anonymous

      May 23, 2013 at 11:00am

      Seems to have missed sound design/original composition for large theatres. Was this category not announced?

      Miranda Nelson

      May 23, 2013 at 11:08am

      Hi anonymous,

      I've looked over the info we were given as well as the Jessies' website (http://www.jessies.ca/) and I can't see nominees for that category anywhere! I'll check into it for you.

      Thanks!

      Janet Smith

      May 23, 2013 at 12:08pm

      This from a Jessies spokesperson, anonymous:
      "the category for sound design/composition in large theatre did not have enough nominees to fill the category, so the two nominees were put in the Significant Artistic Achievement category."
      Ed.