It is the purpose of THE CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS to recognize outstanding Cleveland area productions, performers, directors and others who were involved in those offerings during the 2012 year. Awards are considered for those theatres which the members review and the categories agreed upon by the members of the organization. (For a listing of these theatres go to: clevelandtheaterawards.com)
Best Musical Production: SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts/with BaldwinWallace University Music Theater Program
Finalists:
BLOODY, BLOODY Andrew Jackson, Beck Center for the Arts
AVENUE Q, Cain Park
Best Non-musical Production: THE NORMAL HEART, Ensemble Theatre
Finalists:
THE WHIPPING MAN, Cleveland Play House
IN THE NEXT ROOM, Cleveland Play House
PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre
Best Actor in a Musical: Jesse Markowitz, AVENUE Q, Cain Park
Finalists:
Dan Folino, BLOODY, BLOODY Andrew Jackson, Center for the
Arts
Zach Adkins, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the
Arts/with Baldwin Wallace University Music Theater Program
Best Actor in a Non-musical: Brian Zoldessy, THE NORMAL HEART, Ensemble Theatre
Finalists:
Russell Jones, THE WHIPPING MAN, Cleveland Play House
Tom Woodward, BRIGHT NEW BOISE, Dobama Theater
Dana Hart, STANDING ON CEREMONY, Cleveland Public Theatre
Patrick Ciamacco, OF MICE AND MEN, Blank Canvas Theatre
Finalists:
Kyra Kennedy, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts
Kayce Cummings, SOUND OF MUSIC, Porthouse Theatre
Kelvette Beacham, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, Mercury Summer
Stock
Kelvette Beacham, ALL SHOOK UP, Mercury Summer Stock
Best Actress in a Non-musical: Laura Perrotta, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, Beck Center for the Arts
Finalists:
Liz Conway, PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre
Dorothy Silver, 4000 MILES, Dobama Theater
Dorothy Silver, THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN, Beck Center for the Arts
Best Director of a Musical: Victoria Bussert, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center for the Arts/with Baldwin Wallace University Music Theater Program
Finalists:
Russ Borski, AVENUE Q, Cain Park
Scott Spence, BLOODY BLOODY Andrew Jackson, Beck Center for the Arts
Victoria Bussert, LIZZIE BORDEN, PlayhouseSquare/Baldwin Wallace University Music
Theater Program
Theater Program
Best Director of a Non-musical: Sarah May, THE NORMAL HEART, Ensemble Theatre
Finalists:
Giovanna Sardelli, THE WHIPPING MAN, Cleveland Play House
Martin Friedman, PROOF, Lakeland Civic Theatre
Joel Hammer, MIDDLETOWN, Dobama Theatre
Raymond Bobgan, AKARUI, Cleveland Public Theatre
Patrick Ciamacco, NEXT FALL, Blank Canvas Theatre
Best Choreographer: Gregory Daniels, SPRING AWAKENING, Beck Center
Finalists:
Martin Céspedes, ANNIE, Beck Center
Martin Céspedes, BLOODY, BLOODY Andrew Jackson, Beck Center for the
Arts
Martin Céspedes, LEGALLY BLONDE, Beck Center for the Arts
Martin Céspedes, XANADU, Beck Center for the Arts
Best National Touring Production: ANYTHING GOES, PlayhouseSquare
Finalists:
MEMPHIS, PlayhouseSquare
Best Regional Touring Production:* ONE NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin, Cleveland Play
House
Finalists:
RED, Cleveland Play House
THE IMAGINARY INVALID, Great Lakes Theatre
THE MOUSETRAP, Great Lakes Theatre
*(a production that performed in any other city in addition to Cleveland but was sponsored by a local Cleveland producing theatre)
SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS:
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Reuben and Dorothy Silver for outstanding contributions to the Cleveland theatre scene for producing, acting, directing and theatre education
Outstanding Body of Work, 2012:
Martin Céspedes, choreographer
Groundbreaking New Theater:
Blank Canvas Theatre and its founder, artistic director, and actor
Outstanding Commitment to Multi-dimensional Theater Production and Education:
Cleveland Public Theatre and Executive Artistic Director
Raymond Bobgan
Members of the CCC are: Bob Abelman (News Herald, Chagrin Valley Times), Roy Berko (CoolCleveland.com, ArtsAmerica.com, BroadwayWorld.com, royberko.info), Kerry Clawson (Akron-Beacon Journal), Fran Heller (Cleveland Jewish News), Christine Howey (Cleveland Scene, raveandpan.blogspot.com), Kory (New102.com and CBS Radio Cleveland), Marjorie Preston (marjoriepreston.com/brava), Andrea Simakis (The Plain Dealer), Art Thomas (West Life).
For additional information about the CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE, including reviewing summaries, links to members' full reviews, and details about the CCC Speaker's Bureau, go to: clevelandtheaterreviews.com