The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards spread the love tonight.

The early news at Vancouver's own version of the Tony Awards, held at the Commodore Ballroom tonight, is that prizes in both the large- and small-theatre categories were fairly evenly spread.

Amid the bigger winners, the Arts Club Theatre Company saw its Angels in America: Millennium Approaches win the nod for outstanding production, with Damien Atkins named Outstanding Actor in Lead Role, and Torquil Campbell and Alessandro Juliani getting the nod for Outstanding Sound. 

Bard on the Beach garnered three awards for its innovative rendition of Pericles last summer, with Lois Anderson winning for her Outstanding Direction, along with costume designer Carmen Alatorre and lighting designer John Webber. 

Touchstone Theatare's Brothel #9  also nabbed three Jessies, with Adele Noronha for a Lead Actress, Laara Sadiq for her performance in a Supporting Role, and Drew Facey for his Set Design.  Diwali Fest’s Rohit Chokhani won for his Outstanding Work in Expanding the Diversification of Vancouver Theatre through Excellence in Festival Programming.

In the small-theatre category, Reelwheels earned three awards for Creeps: Outstanding Production; Significant Artistic Achievement for the ensemble of Paul Beckett, David Bloom, Genevieve Fleming, Brett Harris, David A. Kaye, Aaron Roderick, and Adam Grant Warren; and Lauchlin Johnston for Set Design.

Alexandra Lainfiesta took honours for her work in Green Lake along with Rachel Peake for Outstanding Direction in this Solo Collective production. 

Fight with a Stick's Revolutions won the Georgia Straight Critic's Choice Innovation Award.

Please see the entire list of award recipients below. And watch for full coverage of the awards at Straight.com tomorrow. 

LARGE THEATRE AWARDS

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role: Damien Atkins, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Arts Club Theatre Company,

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role: Adele Noronha, Brothel #9, Touchstone Theatre,

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Valin Shinyei, Billy Elliot: The Musical, Arts Club Theatre Company,

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Laara Sadiq, Brothel #9, Touchstone Theatre,

Outstanding Lighting Design: John Webber, Pericles, Bard on the Beach

Outstanding Set Design: Drew Facey, Brothel #9, Touchstone Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design: Carmen Alatorre, Pericles, Bard on the Beach

Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition: Torquil Campbell and Alessandro Juliani, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Arts Club Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction: Lois Anderson, Pericles, Bard on the Beach

Outstanding Production: Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Arts Club Theatre Company

Significant Artistic Achievement: Rohit Chokhani, Diwali Fest, Outstanding Work in Expanding the Diversification of Vancouver Theatre through Excellence in Festival Programming

SMALL THEATRE

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role: Kyle Jespersen, The Fighting Season, Bleeding Heart Theatre

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role: Alexandra Lainfiesta, Green Lake, Solo Collective

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Ashley O`Connell, Flare Path, The Slamming Door Artist Collective

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Yoshié Bancroft, Ithaka, dream of passion productions & Excavation Theatre

Outstanding Lighting Design: Itai Erdal, O’wet/Lost Lagoon, Alley Theatre

Outstanding Set Design: Lauchlin Johnston, Creeps, Realwheels Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design: Carmen Alatorre, Walt Whitman’s Secret, the frank theatre company

Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition: Troy Slocum, The Pipeline Project, ITSAZOO Productions and Savage Society in association with Neworld Theatre & the Gateway Theatre

Outstanding Direction: Rachel Peake, Green Lake, Solo Collective

Outstanding Production of a Play: Creeps, Realwheels Theatre

Significant Artistic Achievement: Paul Beckett, David Bloom, Genevieve Fleming, Brett Harris, David A. Kaye, Aaron Roderick and Adam Grant Warren, Creeps, Realwheels Theatre, Outstanding Ensemble Performance

THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

Outstanding Performance: Randi Edmundson and Jess Amy Shead, Freddie in the Neighbourhood, The Little Onion Puppet Company

Outstanding Design: Frank Radar and Barbara Clayden, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, Axis Theatre Company

Outstanding Artistic Creation: Chris McGregor, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, Axis Theatre Company

Outstanding Production: Freddie in the Neighbourhood, The Little Onion Puppet Company

Significant Artistic Achievement: Baking Time, Presentation House Theatre, Outstanding Audience Engagement,

OTHER

Outstanding Original Script: The Piano Teacher, Dorothy Dittrich, Arts Club Theatre Company

Georgia Straight Critic’s Choice Innovation Award: Revolutions, Fight with a Stick

Vancouver NOW Representation and Inclusion Award: Chris Gatchalian, for producing an extraordinary 2016-17 Season that included Q2Q, the first queer theatre conference in Canada, which embraced intersections of queerness and cultural diversity with vision and integrity.

Additional awards presented were:
• Patron of the Arts Award: Bryan Searle and Patrice Savoie
• Mary Phillips Prize for Behind-the-Scenes Achievement: Angie Descalzi
• Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer: Olivia Hutt
• John Moffat & Larry Lillo Prize: Valerie Sing Turner
• GVPTA Career Achievement Award: Marsha Sibthorpe
• Sydney Risk Prize: Quelemia Sparrow
• Colin Campbell Award for Excellence in Technical Theatre: Sarah Marchant
• Ray Michal Prize for Most Promising New Director: Jamie King