Suzi Bass Awards Announce 2016 Nominees

The Suzi Bass Awards revealed nominations for the 2015-2016 Atlanta professional theatre season on Monday evening, September 12, to patrons and industry artists. The Suzi Nomination Party was generously hosted by the ALLIANCE THEATRE, at 6:30pm in The Circle Room, on the third floor, 1280 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia, 30309.

The nominations were announced by interns and apprentices from member theatres around the city.

The 12th Annual Suzi Bass Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016. Members of the media are invited to cover the event. Release with details and invitation forthcoming. Tickets to the general public will be on sale soon. The evening includes awards, performances, and a reception with nibbles and a cash bar.

NOMINEES BY THE NUMBERS

The ALLIANCE THEATRE, producing on two stages, led the Suzi nomination tally with forty (40) nominations. Aurora Theatre took second place with thirty-two (32) nominations. Serenbe Playhouse ranks third with twenty-two (22) nominations, and Horizon Theatre and Theatrical Outfit tied for fourth with sixteen (16) nominations. Musical productions were the first four leaders in terms of "by show" nominations: Miss Saigon, Serenbe Playhouse, leads with thirteen (13); The Toxic Avenger, Horizon Theatre, is in second place with twelve (12); In the Heights, Aurora Theatre and Theatrical Outfit, is in third place with eleven (11); and Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story tied for fourth place with straight play, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, both by ALLIANCE THEATRE, with nine (9).

Even with multiple nominations going to the above, a wide distribution of Atlanta area theatres was recognized, with multiple nominations also going to Actor's Express (7); Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre (7); Stage Door Players (5); Center for the Puppetry Arts (4); The Legacy Theatre (3); and the The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse (2). Catalyst Arts Atlanta, Gypsy Theatre Company, and Synchronicity Theatre garnered one nomination, each.

The Suzi Bass Awards were founded in 2003 by Gene-Gabriel Moore and a small group of industry professionals to celebrate outstanding work in Live Theatre and the artists who produce it. This season, The Suzi Bass Awards volunteer judges choose nominees and recipients in twenty-eight performance categories. In addition, the annual Spirit of Suzi Award honors a person or organization for their long-time dedication to Atlanta theatre; the Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award recognizes Atlanta's talented local playwrights through special notice of a recently produced play; the Audience Choice Award recognizes one theatre's entire season through voting by the general public; and the Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual or group with long-time volunteer contributions to a particular theatre.

THE NOMINEES

Outstanding Production - Play

The City of Conversation at Horizon Theatre

Ethel at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Of Mice and Men at Serenbe Playhouse

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Wit at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Direction - Play

Justin Anderson for The City of Conversation at Horizon Theatre

Susan V. Booth for Disgraced at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Susan V. Booth for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

David de Vries* for I'm Not Rappaport at Aurora Theatre

Jenny Lord for Of Mice and Men at Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Lead Actress - Play

Terry Burrell* for Ethel at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Carolyn Cook* for Blackberry Winter at Actor's Express and Out of Hand Theater

Devon Hales for I And You at Aurora Theatre

Tess Malis Kincaid* for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Mary Lynn Owen* for Wit at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor - Play

Rob Cleveland* for I'm Not Rappaport at Aurora Theatre

Rob Demery for Fetch Clay, Make Man at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre

Neal Ghant* for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Kenny Raskin for I'm Not Rappaport at Aurora Theatre

Brad Raymond* for Fetch Clay, Make Man at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actress - Play

Julee Cerda for Smart People at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre

Carolyn Cook* for The City of Conversation at Horizon Theatre

Danielle Deadwyler* for Smart People at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre

Danielle Deadwyler* for Fetch Clay, Make Man at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre

Rachel Frawley The Crucible at The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Actor - Play

Andrew Benator* for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Louis Gregory for Sotto Voce at Aurora Theatre

Joe Knezevich* for Smart People at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre

Eric Mendenhall* One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Ali Sohaili* for Disgraced at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Ensemble Cast - Play

The cast of Equivocation at The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse (Jeff Watkins*, Elizabeth Diane Wells*, CLark Taylor, Robin Bloodworth*, Matt Felton, Nicholas Faircloth)

The cast of Let Nothing You Dismay at Stage Door Players (Bryan Brendle, Amanda Cucher, Mark Gray, Shelly McCook, Doyle Reynolds, Gina Rickicki, Emily Sams, Ben Silver)

The cast of Moxie at Theatrical Outfit (Joy Bhowmick, Chiara Bulkin, Carolyn Cook*, Danielle Deadwyler*, David de Vries*, Rial Ellsworth, Laura Fong, Bobby Labartino*, Tony Larkin, Royce Mann, Jaden Robinson, Maria Rodriguez-Sager)

The cast of Of Mice and Men at Serenbe Playhouse (Erik Poger Abrahamsen, Bryan Brendle, Brad Brinkley, Blake Burgess, JoNathan Horne, Daniel Parvis, Michael Rudko*, Daviorr Snipes*)

The cast of Stupid F**king Bird at Actor's Express (Lane Carlock, EVan Cleaver*, Matt Felton, Stephanie Friedman, Theo Harness*, Robert Lee Hindsman, Rhyn Saver*)

Outstanding Costume Design - Play

Jim Alford for Let Nothing You Dismay at Stage Door Players

Jordan Jaked Carrier for The City of Conversation at Horizon Theatre

DeeDee Chmielewski for The Revolutionists at 7 Stages

Suzanne Holtkamp for Moonlight and Magnolias at Gypsy Theatre

Linda Roethke for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Lighting Design - Play

KEVIN FRAZIER for Wit at Aurora Theatre

Joe Futral for Smart People at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre

Michael Gend for A Steady Rain at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Joseph P. Monaghan III for Of Mice and Men at Serenbe Playhouse

Ken Yunker for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Scenic Design - Play

Joel Coady & Barrett Doyle for The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek at Catalyst Arts Atlanta

Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay for I'm Not Rappaport at Aurora Theatre

Lee Maples for I and You at Aurora Theatre

Todd Rosenthal for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Gary Varner for Freud's Last Session at The Legacy Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design - Play

Rial Ellsworth for Let Nothing You Dismay at Stage Door Players

Elisheba Ittoop for Ethel at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Haddon Kime for The Thrush and The Woodpecker at Actor's Express

Haddon Kime for Blackberry Winter at Actor's Express and Out of Hand Theater

John Zalewski for A Steady Rain at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Production - Musical

Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

The Light in the Piazza at Theatrical Outfit

Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Outstanding Direction - Musical

Justin Anderson for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Justin Anderson for Into the Woods at Aurora Theatre

Brian Clowdus for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Richard Garner for The LIght in the Piazza at Theatrical Outfit

Heidi Cline McKerley for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Outstanding Musical Direction

S. Renee Clark for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Chris Brent Davis for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Steven Jamail for Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Ann-Carol Pence for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Ann-Carol Pence for Into the Woods at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Choreography

Ricardo Aponte for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Bubba Carr for Carousel at Serenbe Playhouse

Bubba Carr for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Heidi Cline McKerley & Jeff McKerley for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Bethany Smith for Mary Poppins at The Legacy Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actress - Musical

Niki Badua for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Deborah Bowman* for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Actor's Express

Diany Rodriguez* for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Julissa Sabino* for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Savannah Sprinkle for Mary Poppins at The Legacy Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor - Musical

Nick Arapoglou* as for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Eymard Cabling* for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Kevin Harry for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Actor's Express

Diego Klock Perez* for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Tim Quartier* for The Light in the Piazza at Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical

Leslie Belair for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Courtney Chapelle for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Jessica De Maria for Kiss Me, Kate at Stage Door Players

Kiandra Richardson for Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Diany Rodriguez* for Into the Woods at Aurora Theatre

Kirsten Wyatt* for Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical

Chase Peacock* for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Brad Raymond* for Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Chris Sizemore* for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Michael Stiggers* for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theater

Austin Tijerina for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theater

Outstanding Costume Design - Musical

Isabel Curley Clay & Moriah Curley -Clay for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Courtney Flores for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

William Ivey Long for Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Elizabeth Rasmusson for Into the Woods at Aurora Theatre

Alan Yeong for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Lighting Design - Musical

Maria Cristina Fusté for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Adam Howarth for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Mary Parker for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Mary Parker for Into the Woods at Aurora Theatre

Dianne Ferry Williams for Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Scenic Design - Musical

Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Adam Koch for Carousel at Serenbe Playhouse

Adam Koch for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Shannon Robert for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Jason Sherwood for Into the Woods at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Sound Design - Musical

Rob Brooksher for The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre

Adam Howarth for Miss Saigon at Serenbe Playhouse

Daniel Pope for Into the Woods at Aurora Theatre

Jesse Stevens for Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Daniel Terry for In the Heights at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding World Premiere

Let Nothing You Dismay at Stage Door Players

Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Blackberry Winter at Actor's Express and Out of Hand Theater

Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Troy Davis Project at Synchronicity Theatre

Moxie at Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Original Production - Theatre for Young Audiences - NEW CATEGORY

Beauty and the Beast at Center for Puppetry Arts

A Bucket of Blessings at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Pancakes, Pancakes! at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Tell Me My Dream at ALLIANCE THEATRE

The Tortoise, the Hare & Other Aesop's Fables at Center for Puppetry Arts

Outstanding Production - Theatre for Young Audiences

A Bucket of Blessings at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Goldilocks & the Three Bears at Aurora Theatre

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Pancakes, Pancakes! at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Tell Me My Dream at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Direction - Theatre for Young Audiences

A Bucket of Blessings at ALLIANCE THEATRE, Director - Rosemary Newcott

Charlotte's Web at Serenbe Playhouse, Director - Ryan Oliveti, Music Director - Chris Brent Davis, Movement - Bubba Carr

Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Aurora Theatre, Director - Justin Anderson, Music Director - Ann-Carol Pence, Choreographer - Jen MacQueen

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at ALLIANCE THEATRE, Director - Rosemary Newcott, Movement Choreographer - Jen MacQueen

Pancakes, Pancakes! at ALLIANCE THEATRE, Director - David de Vries*

Outstanding Design - Theatre for Young Audiences

Charlotte's Web at Serenbe Playhouse, Costume Design - Jamie Bullins, Props Design - Stephanie Polhemus

Goldilocks and the Three Bears at Aurora Theatre, Set & Costume Design - Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay, Sound Design - Thom Jenkins, Lighting Design - KEVIN FRAZIER, Props Design - Peter Smeal

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at ALLIANCE THEATRE, Set Design - Kat Conley, Costume Design - Sydney Roberts, Lighting Design - Pete Shinn, Sound Design - Clay Benning

The Little Pirate Mermaid at Center for Puppetry Arts, Puppet Design - Jason Hines, Set Design - Rochelle Barker, Sound Design - Gregory Montague and Mimi Epstein, Lighting Design - Liz Lee, Shadow Film Design - Jason Hines

Pancakes, Pancakes! at ALLIANCE THEATRE, Set Design - Kat Conley, Costume Design - Jeff Cone, Lighting Design - Ken Yunker, Sound Design - Clay Benning, Projection Design - Mike Tutaj

Tim Tesla and the Terrific Time Machine at Aurora Theatre, Set & Costume Design - Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay, Lighting Design - Mary Parker, Sound Design - Thom Jenkins, Props Design - Ryan Bradburn

Outstanding Performance - Theatre for Young Audiences

Charlotte's Web at Serenbe Playhouse

Erik Poger Abrahamsen, Bretteney Beverly, Anna Caudle, Montgomery Davis, Hao Feng, Terrence Smith

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Jeremy Aggers, Lauren Boyd, Ashley Chasteen, Alexandra Ficken, Jelani Jones, Enoch King, Tess Malis Kincaid, Patrick Wade, Markell Williams

Pancakes, Pancakes! at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Matt Alea, Molly Coyne, Rob Lawhon, Adam Washington

Tell Me My Dream at ALLIANCE THEATRE

Isake Akanke, Jeremiah Parker Hobbs, Stephen Ruffin, Avery Sharpe, Daviorr Snipes*, Vallea E. Woodbury

The Tortoise, the Hare & Other Aesop's Fables at Center for Puppetry Arts

Jake Krokovsky, Kristin Storla

THE TALLY BREAKDOWN

Noms by Theatre

ALLIANCE THEATRE - 40
Aurora Theatre - 32
Serenbe Playhouse - 22
Horizon Theatre - 16
Theatrical Outfit - 16
Actor's Express - 7
Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre - 7
Stage Door Players - 5
Center for Puppetry Arts - 4
The Legacy Theatre - 3
The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse - 2

7 Stages - 1
Catalyst Arts Atlanta - 1
Gypsy Theatre Company - 1
Synchronicity Theatre - 1

Noms by Show

Miss Saigon - 13

The Toxic Avenger - 12

In the Heights - 11

Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story - 9

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - 9

Into the Woods - 7

Pancakes, Pancakes! - 5

The City of Conversation - 4

I'm Not Rappaport - 4

Let Nothing You Dismay - 4

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - 4

Of Mice and Men - 4

Smart People - 4

Blackberry Winter - 3

A Bucket of Blessings - 3

Charlotte's Web - 3

Ethel - 3

Fetch Clay, Make Man - 3

Goldilocks & the Three Bears - 3

The Light in the Piazza - 3

Tell Me My Dream - 3

Wit - 3

Carousel - 2

Disgraced - 2

I and You - 2

Mary Poppins - 2

Moxie - 2

A Steady Rain - 2

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - 2

The Tortoise, the Hare & Other Aesop's Fables - 2

Beauty and the Beast - 1

Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Troy Davis Project - 1

The Crucible - 1

Equivocation - 1

Freud's Last Session - 1

Kiss Me, Kate - 1

The Little Pirate Mermaid - 1

Moonlight and Magnolias - 1

The Revolutionists - 1

Sotto Voce - 1

Stupid F**king Bird - 1

The Thrush and the Woodpecker -1

Tim Tesla and the Terrific Time Machine - 1

The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek - 1

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