BWW Reviews: The 33rd Annual Elliot Norton Awards

The 2015 Elliot Norton Awards

Presented by the Boston Theater Critics' Association at Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, on Monday, May 11, 2015

Master of Ceremonies, Joyce Kulhawik; Ceremony Pianist, David McGrory

Selection Committee: Joyce Kulhawik, Nick Dussault, Carolyn Clay, Don Aucoin, Jared Bowen, Terry Byrne, Iris Fanger, Kilian Melloy, Robert Nesti, Ed Siegel

Staff: Producing Director, Lisa Rafferty; Public Relations, Kathy Rochefort/Rochefort & Associates; Projection, Video and Web Designer, Joey Frangieh; Projection Operator, Seaghan McKay; Voice-over recordist, Edward Young; Program, Rita A. Fucillo, New Venture Media Group LLC; Stage Manager, Kim Waller; Production Staff: Ashlyn Frank, Andrew Lemieux, Corinne Mason, Sophie Rich, Jonathan Sikora, Bill Stiles

Gaiety ruled at the 33rd Annual Elliot Norton Awards ceremony at Boston's Citi Performing Arts Shubert Theatre on Monday night as the Boston Theater Critics' Association presented its coveted prizes to outstanding actors, directors, designers, and ensembles in 25 categories. Ryan Landry, the longtime impresario of the Gold Dust Orphans, received the Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence, and comedian-actress-jazz musician Lea DeLaria was the Guest of Honor, with additional special citations awarded to Rob Orchard as Executive Director of ArtsEmerson: The World on Stage, and Kay Bourne, retired arts editor/reporter of The Bay State Banner. A post-ceremony reception followed in the grand lobby of the Citi Wang Theatre.

Joyce Kulhawik, President of the BTCA, served as emcee of the evening, introducing a parade of presenters which included her fellow critics, Boston's Chief of Arts and Culture Julie Burros, winners of last year's awards in some categories, and a surprise appearance by the doppelgänger of a certain Democratic presidential candidate. The audience was treated to performances by the casts of each of the four shows nominated for Outstanding Musical Production (Gold Dust Orphans, Moonbox Productions, A.R.T., Lyric Stage Company), and DeLaria displayed her considerable vocal chops with a scat-filled rendition of "Taking a Chance on Love" with the fabulous piano accompaniment of Joshua Richter.

Covering the period from April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015, the Elliot Norton Awards honor local as well as visiting productions, and separate some categories into large, midsize, and small/fringe companies. American Repertory Theater (large) took home bragging rights with seven wins, while Lyric Stage (midsize) garnered four, three of which came courtesy of Spiro Veloudos' acclaimed staging of Into the Woods. Aimee Doherty repeated as the choice in the category of Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress as the Witch, and for her role in SpeakEasy Stage Company's Far From Heaven. Other companies with multiple prizes included Actors' Shakespeare Project, The Poets' Theatre, Company One, and the Huntington Theatre. Victor L. Shopov took home Outstanding Actor, Small or Fringe Theater, for the Zeitgeist Stage Company's powerful Bent, giving him the sweep of local awards on the heels of April's IRNE win.

After all of the production numbers wrapped up and all of the winners were announced, Terry Byrne did the honors with a glowing recap of the career of the inimitable Landry. Her critical coverage of his work spans decades and her remarks were infused with the joy, awe, and respect that are inspired by Landry and his troupe when they work their magic in the Ramrod Center for the Performing Arts in the basement of the Machine Nightclub. Despite the deafening roar of approval when he was introduced, and all of the hooting and hollering that interrupted him, Landry was humble and visibly emotional while making his acceptance speech. It may have been one of the best ever delivered by a Sustained Excellence prizewinner, and it was an accurate reflection of the real meaning of the award for Landry. He has been accepted.

Below is a list of the winners in each category:

Outstanding Visiting Production

"Bedlam's Saint Joan" (Bedlam, presented by Underground Railway Theater)

Outstanding Production by a Large Resident Theater

"The Shape She Makes" (American Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Production by a Midsize Theater

"God's Ear" (Actors' Shakespeare Project)

Outstanding Production by a Small Theater

"Albatross" (Mike Seiden and The Poets' Theatre)

Outstanding Production by a Fringe Theater

"Stupid F***ing Bird" (Apollinaire Theatre Company)

Outstanding Actor, Large Theater

Tom Nelis, "The Tempest" (American Repertory Theater in association with The Smith Center for the Performing Arts)

Outstanding Actress, Large Theater

Finnerty Steeves, "The Shape She Makes" (American Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Actor, Midsize Theater

Nael Nacer, "Intimate Apparel" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)

Outstanding Actress, Midsize Theater

Tamara Hickey, "God's Ear" (Actors' Shakespeare Project)

Outstanding Actor, Small or Fringe Theater

Victor L. Shopov, "Bent" (Zeitgeist Stage Company)

Outstanding Actress, Small or Fringe Theater

Lee Mikeska Gardner, "Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight" (Nora Theatre Company)

Outstanding Musical Production

"Into the Woods" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)

Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor

Steven Bargonetti, "Father Comes Home From The Wars" (American Repertory Theater and The Public Theater)

Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress

Aimee Doherty, "Into the Woods" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston) and "Far From Heaven" (SpeakEasy Stage Company)

Outstanding Director, Large Theater

Teller and Aaron Posner, "The Tempest" (American Repertory Theater in association with The Smith Center for the Performing Arts)

Outstanding Director, Midsize Production

Spiro Veloudos, "Into the Woods" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)

Outstanding Director, Small or Fringe Theater

Natsu Onoda Power, "Astro Boy and the God of Comics" (Company One)

Outstanding New Script

"Father Comes Home From The Wars," by Suzan-Lori Parks (American Repertory Theater and The Public Theater)

Outstanding Solo Performance

Benjamin Evett, "Albatross" (Mike Seiden and The Poets' Theatre)

Outstanding Choreography

*Susan Misner, "The Shape She Makes" (American Repertory Theater)

Outstanding Design, Large Theater

"The Second Girl": Scenic and costume design by Santo Loquasto, Lighting by James F. Ingalls, Sound by Ben Emerson (Huntington Theatre Company)

Outstanding Design, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater

"Astro Boy and the God of Comics": Scenic design by Natsu Onoda Power, Projections by Jared Mezzocchi, Lighting by Justin Paice, Costumes by Tyler Kinney, Sound by Kelsey Jarboe, Props by Megan F. Kinneen (Company One)

Outstanding Ensemble, Large Theater

"The Colored Museum" (Huntington Theatre Company)

Outstanding Ensemble, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater

"Bedlam's Saint Joan" (Bedlam, presented by Underground Railway Theater)

Photo credit: Michael von Redlich/MvR Photography (Ryan Landry)

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