Maltz Jupiter's ME AND MY GIRL, Zoetic Stage's AFTER and More Top 41st Annual Carbonell Award Nominations

An old-fashioned, splashy musical about a working-class Londoner who discovers he's nobility and a world premiere play about the consequences of bullying received the most nominations in the musical and play categories when the nominations were announced for the 41st annual Carbonell Awards, which honors excellence in theater in South Florida.

Me and My Girl, produced by Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, led the musical category with 10 nominations. After, produced by Zoetic Stage in Miami, led the play category with 8 nominations. Nineteen of South Florida's theaters earned nominations for a variety of shows produced during 2016. Maltz Jupiter Theatere in Palm Beach County earned the most nominations of any theater with 18. Zoetic Stage and GableStage, both in Miami-Dade County, earned 13 nominations each. Slow Burn Theatre Company in Fort Lauderdale earned 12 nominations, the most of any theater in Broward County. Nominations were spread over 36 shows from theaters stretching from Coral Gables north to Jupiter.

Palm Beach County theaters and Miami-Dade County theaters tied with a total of 39 nominations for each county, while Broward County theaters earned 22 nominations.

The awards will be handed out at the Carbonell Awards ceremony, which will be held Monday, April 3, 2017 at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

Nine performers and designers have double the reason to be happy with the nominations this year. Jeni Hacker was nominated as Best Actress, Musical for Passion as well as Best Supporting Actress, Play, for After, both at Zoetic Stage. Laura Hodos is nominated as Best Actress, Musical, for The Will Rogers Follies at Maltz Jupiter Theatre as well as for Best Supporting Actress, Musical, for 1776 at Palm Beach Dramaworks. Matt Loehr garnered a pair of Best Actor, Musical, nominations for his performances in Me and My Girl and The Will Rogers Follies, both at Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Michael McKeever received a Best New Work nomination and a Best Supporting Actor, Play, nomination for his world premiere at Zoetic Stage, After. Stuart Meltzer is nominated for Best Director in both the play and musical categories for Passion and After, both at Zoetic Stage. Patrick Fitzwater earned a Best Director, Musical, nomination for Spring Awakening and a Best Choreography nomination for Heathers, both at Slow Burn Theatre Company. Caryl Fantel received two nominations for Best Musical Direction of Slow Burn Theatre Company's The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Passion at Zoetic Stage. Gail Baldoni received two nominations for Best Costume Design for Me and My Girl and The Will Rogers Follies, while Marty Mets earned two Best Sound Design nominations for Frost/Nixon and Me and My Girl, all at Maltz Jupiter Theatre.

"South Florida boasts a thriving theater scene which continually raises the standard of excellence that the Carbonell Awards seeks to recognize and reward," said Don Walters, president of the Carbonell Awards Board of Directors. "Look at the Carbonell nominees for Best Production of a Play---that category alone shows the diversity of theater being produced regularly in South Florida, from classics of American theater to experimental work, as well as a world premiere play. And there are six nominees in that category, which means our judges simply could not winnow their selections to the standard five and exemplifies the enormous amount of excellent work being produced here in our tri-county area."

The ceremony will take place Monday, April 3 in the Amaturo Theater, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets for Nominees and Groups will be available starting January 28 through March 6th. Visit CarbonellAwards.org and click the TICKETS link for full details. Single tickets priced at $25 plus service fee will go on sale to the public on March 13 and can be purchased at the Broward Center's Box Office by calling 954-462-0222 or visiting www.browardcenter.org. Day of show tickets will be available for $30 plus service fee.

The Carbonell Awards is a not-for-profit organization and is funded by tax-deductible donations and award sponsorships. This season's sponsors include South Florida Cultural Consortium, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Rita and Jerry Cohen, Kerry and Scott Shiller, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, Mary Ellen and Michael Peyton, Tony Finstrom and the South Florida Theatre League. Opportunities to sponsor an award category and appear on stage to announce the winner are still available. Email carbonellhotline@gmail.com for more information.

A complete list of the 2016 nominations and a breakdown of nominations by county, theater and production follows.

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Carbonell Award Nominations, 2016:

Best New Work (play or musical)

After, Michael McKeever, Zoetic Stage

Middletown, Dan Clancy, West Boca Theatre Company

Three Sisters of Weehawken, Deborah Zoe Laufer, Theatre Lab

Unlikely Heroes, Charles Gluck, Family Pool Productions

Best Production of a Play

After, Zoetic Stage

Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Hand to God, GableStage

Long Day's Journey Into Night, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre

The Royale, GableStage

Best Director/Play

Joseph Adler, The Royale, GableStage

J. Barry Lewis, Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Stuart Meltzer, After, Zoetic Stage

Nicole Stodard, Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre

Paul Tei, The Flick, Mad Cat Theatre

Best Actor/Play (cannot be for a role in a cast nominated for Best Ensemble)

Aygemang Clay, The Royale, GableStage

Chris Crawford, Buyer and Cellar, Actors' Playhouse

Peter Galman, A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Thinking Cap Theatre

John Jellison, Frost/ Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Wesley Slade, Hand to God, GableStage

Best Actress/Play (cannot be for a role in a cast nominated for Best Ensemble)

Rita Joe, The Submission, Island City Stage

Margery Lowe, Hand to God, GableStage

Mia Matthews, After, Zoetic Stage

Elizabeth Price, Reborning, The Theatre at Arts Garage

Avery Sommers, The Devil's Music, The Theatre at Arts Garage

Best Supporting Actor/Play

Alex Alvarez, Stalking the Bogeyman, GableStage

Kristian Bikic, Hand to God, GableStage

Michael McKeever, After, Zoetic Stage

Tom Wahl, After, Zoetic Stage

Conor Walton, The Normal Heart, Outré Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actress/Play

Elizabeth Dimon, Three Sisters of Weehawken, Theatre Lab

Christina Groom, Perfect Arrangement, Island City Stage

Jeni Hacker, After, Zoetic Stage

Shein Mompremier, The Royale, GableStage

Lourelene Snedeker, It's Only a Play, GableStage

Best Production of a Musical

1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Passion, Zoetic Stage

Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Best Director/Musical

Clive Cholerton, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks

James Brennan, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Michel Hausman, The Golem of Havana, Miami New Drama

Patrick Fitzwater, Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Stuart Meltzer, Passion, Zoetic Stage

Best Actor/Musical (cannot be for a role in a cast nominated for Best Ensemble)

Gary Cadwallader, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Bobby Cassell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Matt Loehr, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Matt Loehr, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Nicholas Richberg, Passion, Zoetic Stage

Best Actress/Musical (cannot be for a role in a cast nominated for Best Ensemble)

Jeni Hacker, Passion, Zoetic Stage

Laura Hodos, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Julie Kleiner, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Stephanny Noria, Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Jenna Pastuszek, Evita, Broward Stage Door Company

Best Supporting Actor/Musical

Matthew Korinko, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Chaz Mena, The Golem of Havana, Miami New Drama

Dominique Scott, Million Dollar Quartet, Actors' Playhouse

Dominic Servidio, Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Christian Vandepas, A Minister's Wife, GableStage

Best Supporting Actress/Musical

Laura Hodos, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Isabelle McCalla, West Side Story, Actors' Playhouse

Jessica Brooke Sanford, Sister Act, The Wick Theatre

Leah Sessa, Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Mary Stout, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Musical Direction/Musical

Eric Alsford, West Side Story, Actors' Playhouse

Craig D. Ames, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Caryl Fantel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Caryl Fantel, Passion, Zoetic Stage

Helen Gregory, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Choreography/Musical

Patrick Fitzwater, Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Ron Hutchins, West Side Story, Actors' Playhouse

Dan Knechtges, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Kelly Shook, I Love a Piano, The Wick Theatre

Shea Sullivan, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Scenic Design/play or musical

Michael Amico, The Night of the Iguana, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Jodi Dellaventura, The Nether, Area Stage

Paul Tate De Poo III, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Michael McClain, After, Zoetic Stage

Sean McClelland, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Best Lighting Design/play or musical

Paul Black, The Night of the Iguana, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Jeff Quinn, The Royale, GableStage

Eric Nelson, Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre

Giancarlo Rodaz, The Nether, Area Stage

Donald Edmund Thomas, Long Day's Journey Into Night, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Best Costume Design/play or musical

Gail Baldoni, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Gail Baldoni, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Peter A. Lovello, Perfect Arrangement, Island City Stage

Brian O'Keefe, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Rick Peña, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Best Sound Design/play or musical

Matt Corey, The Night of the Iguana, Palm Beach Dramaworks

David Hart, Perfect Arrangement, Island City Stage

Marty Mets, Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Marty Mets, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Shaun Mitchell, Million Dollar Quartet, Actors' Playhouse

Best Ensemble Production (play or musical)

The Flick, Mad Cat Theatre Company

It's Only a Play, GableStage

Million Dollar Quartet, Actors' Playhouse

Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre

The World Goes 'Round, MNM Productions

2016 Carbonell Award Nominations, By County:

Miami-Dade 39 nominations

Broward 22 nominations

Palm Beach 39 nominations

2016 Carbonell Award Nominations, By Theater:

Miami-Dade County

13 GableStage

13 Zoetic Stage

7 Actors' Playhouse

2 Area Stage

2 Mad Cat Theatre

2 Miami New Drama

Broward County

12 Slow Burn Theatre Company

5 Thinking Cap Theatre

4 Island City Stage

1 Broward Stage Door

Palm Beach County

18 Maltz Jupiter Theatre

11 Palm Beach Dramaworks

2 Theatre at Arts Garage Arts Garage

2 Theatre Lab

2 The Wick Theatre

1 Family Pool Productions

1 MNM Productions

1 Outré Theatre Company

1 West Boca Theatre

2016 Carbonell Award Nominations, By Production:

10 Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

8 After, Zoetic Stage

6 The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre

6 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks

5 Passion, Zoetic Stage

5 The Royale, GableStage

4 Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

4 Hand to God, GableStage

4 Mud, Thinking Cap Theatre

4 The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

3 Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre

3 Million Dollar Quartet, Actors' Playhouse

3 The Night of the Iguana, Palm Beach Dramaworks

3 Perfect Arrangement, Island City Stage

3 Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company

3 West Side Story, Actors' Playhouse

2 The Flick, Mad Cat Theatre

2 The Golem of Havana, Miami New Drama

2 It's Only a Play, GableStage

2 Long Day's Journey Into Night, Palm Beach Dramaworks

2 The Nether, Area Stage

2 Three Sisters of Weehawken, Theatre Lab

1 A Minister's Wife, GableStage

1 Buyer & Cellar, Actors' Playhouse

1 Evita, Broward Stage Door Theatre

1 The Devil's Music, The Theatre at Arts Garage

1 A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney, Thinking Cap Theatre

1 I Love a Piano, The Wick Theatre

1 Middletown, West Boca Theatre Company

1 The Normal Heart, Outré Theatre Company

1 Reborning, The Theatre at Arts Garage

1 Sister Act, The Wick Theatre

1 Stalking the Boogeyman, GableStage

1 The Submission, Island City Stage

1 Unlikely Heroes, Family Pool Productions

1 The World Goes 'Round, MNM Productions

Double Nominees:

Gail Baldoni

Best Costume Design/play or musical, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Costume Design/play or musical, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Caryl Fantel

Best Musical Direction/Musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Slow Burn Theatre Co.

Best Musical Direction/Musical, Passion, Zoetic Stage

Patrick Fitzwater

Best Choreography/Musical, Heathers, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Best Director/Musical, Spring Awakening, Slow Burn Theatre Company

Jeni Hacker

Best Supporting Actress/Play, After, Zoetic Stage

Best Actress/Musical, Passion, Zoetic Stage

Laura Hodos

Best Actress/Musical, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Supporting Actress/Musical, 1776, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Matt Loehr

Best Actor/Musical, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Actor/Musical, The Will Rogers Follies, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Michael McKeever

Best New Work/play or musical, After, Zoetic Stage

Best Supporting Actor/Play, After, Zoetic Stage

Stuart Meltzer

Best Director/Play, After, Zoetic Stage

Best Director/Musical, Passion, Zoetic Stage

Marty Mets

Best Sound Design/play or musical, Frost/Nixon, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Sound Design/play or musical, Me and My Girl, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

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Along with New York's Drama Desk and Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Carbonell Awards are among the nation's senior regional arts awards and predate others including Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes Awards. The Carbonell Awards fosters the artistic growth of professional theater in South Florida by celebrating the diversity of our theater artists, providing educational scholarships, and building audience appreciation and civic pride by highlighting achievements of our theater community. Named after Manuel Carbonell, an internationally-renowned sculptor, who designed the original solid bronze and marble award in 1976, each season volunteer panelists and judges choose nominees and recipients from hundreds of shows produced on stages throughout the tri-county area. For more information, visit www.carbonellawards.org.

Photo by Jen Vasbinder

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