Winners Announced for Atlanta's 2016 Suzi Awards

The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. announced winners for the 2015-2016 Atlanta professional theatrical season last night, November 7, 2016, at the 12th annual awards ceremony held at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts and Community Center. The ceremony was directed by Suehyla El-Attar and hosted by Gina Rickicki and Topher Payne. Presenters included Kevin Gillese, Richard Garner, Mark Kendall, Tara Ochs, Brenda Porter, Rob Cleveland, and Rachel May, with a special appearance by area apprentices.

The evening featured live performances from the Musicals nominated in the Outstanding Production-Musical category: Born For This: The BeBe Winans Story(ALLIANCE THEATRE), Miss Saigon (Serenbe Playhouse), In the Heights (Aurora Theatre and Theatrical Outfit), The Light in the Piazza (Theatrical Outfit) and The Toxic Avenger (Horizon Theatre).

There were five special awards announced at the ceremony. They and their recipients are: The 2016 Gene Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award, given to Lane Carlock and Brian Kurlander for their play, Moxie, produced by Theatrical Outfit;

The 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to the family of Pete Shinn, designer and mentor, who passed away in July of this year;

The 2016 Callboard Award, which recognizes work by theatre professionals in production areas not included in the categories of the Suzi Performance Awards such as stage managers, technicians, front of house and patron staff, or others, voted upon exclusively by Suzi members. It was awarded to Cindy Kearns, Production Stage Manager, nominated by Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse;

The 2016 Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Season was awarded to Theatrical Outfit, for the second year in a row.

As for the Suzi Awards by the numbers, the ALLIANCE THEATRE took home the most awards, eight (8) total, while Aurora Theatre was next in total awards with seven (7). Serenbe Playhouse scored six (6) awards, and Horizon Theatre and Theatrical Outfit tied with three (3) each. Stage Door Players won two (2) awards, and 7 Stages, Actor's Express and the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse each took home one (1) award. A full list of winners is attached.

For further information on the awards process, becoming a Member of the Suzi Bass Awards, or taking out business or congratulation ads in the Awards Event Program, please go to www.SuziAwards.org or email info@suziawards.org.

2015-2016 Suzi Bass Award Winners List

PLAY

Outstanding Production of a Play

The City of Conversation - Horizon Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Play

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

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

Mary Lynn Owen* for Wit - Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

Kenny Raskin for I'm Not Rappaport - Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play

Rachel Frawley for The Crucible - The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

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

Outstanding Ensemble of a Play

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

Outstanding Costume Design of a Play

DeeDee Chmielewski for The Revolutionists - 7 Stages

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Play

Michael Gend for A Steady Rain - ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play

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

Outstanding Sound Design of a Play

Elisheba Ittoop for Ethel - ALLIANCE THEATRE

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MUSICAL

Outstanding Production of a Musical

Miss Saigon - Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Director of a Musical

Brian Clowdus for Miss Saigon - Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Musical Direction

Chris Brent Davis for Miss Saigon - Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Choreography

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

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

Niki Badua for Miss Saigon - Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical

Kevin Harry for Sweeney Todd - Actor's Express

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Leslie Bellair for The Toxic Avenger - Horizon Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Chase Peacock* for Miss Saigon - Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical

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

Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical

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

Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical

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

Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical

Adam Howarth for Miss Saigon - Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding World Premiere Production

Let Nothing You Dismay, by Topher Payne, presented at Stage Door Players

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THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

Outstanding Production - Theatre for Young Audiences

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Original Work - Theatre for Young Audiences

A Bucket of Blessings - ALLIANCE THEATRE

Outstanding Design - Theatre for Young Audiences (tie)

Pancakes, Pancakes! - ALLIANCE THEATRE

Set Design-Kat Conley; Costume Design-Jeff Cone; Lighting Design-Ken Yunker; Sound Design-Clay Benning; Projection Design-Mike Tutaj

Outstanding Direction - Theatre for Young Audiences

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - ALLIANCE THEATRE

Director-Rosemary Newcott; Movement Choreographer-Jen MacQueen

Outstanding Performance - Theatre for Young Audiences (tie)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - ALLIANCE THEATRE

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

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SPECIAL AWARDS

2016 Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award

Moxie, by Lane Carlock and Brian Kurlander, produced by Theatrical Outfit

2016 Lifetime Achievement Award

Pete Shinn, artist, mentor

2016 Callboard Award

Cindy Kearns, Production Stage Manager, Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse

2016 Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Season

Theatrical Outfit

Wins by Theatre

ALLIANCE THEATRE -- 8

Aurora Theatre - 7

Serenbe Playhouse - 6

Horizon - 3

Theatrical Outfit - 3

Stage Door Players - 2

Actor's Express - 1

Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse - 1

7 Stages - 1

Wins by Production

Miss Saigon -- 6

In the Heights - 3

I'm Not Rappaport -- 3

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - 3

Let Nothing You Dismay -- 2

The Toxic Avenger -- 2

A Bucket of Blessings -- 1

A Steady Rain -- 1

Ethel -- 1

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest -- 1

Pancakes, Pancakes! -- 1

Sweeney Todd -- 1

The City of Conversation -- 1

The Crucible -- 1

The Revolutionists -- 1

Wit - 1

Any errors or omissions in this release are the fault of the author, not the organization.

Please send corrections to Jenny@KICKstrategy.com

Photo: Suzi Awards Facebook

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