Announcing The 2016-17 META Recipients

Montreal's English theatre community gathered in celebration at the beautiful and historic Rialto Theatre on Monday October 23rd for the 5th annual METAs Ceremony, honouring excellence in Montreal English theatre for the 2016-2017 Season.

The night focused on the dynamism of the Montreal English theatre community and the Herculean act of making theatre on a whole; from script to stage. The event featured 4 hilarious and gregarious hosts, emerging artists David Noel and Michelle Rambharose paired alongside established actors Danette MacKay and Matthew Kabwe. Guests were serenaded by the musical stylings of Nick Carpenter and The METAfive, a band of actor-musicians. The evening was scripted by collaborators Danielle Desormeaux and Stefanie Buxton with assistance from Erin Lindsay, and was directed by Luciana Burcheri.

Awards were presented onstage by a range of theatre professionals from all disciplines, including recipients from previous years. Some of this year's presenters were: Amy Blackmore (Artistic Director of the Montreal Fringe Festival), Ann-Marie Macdonald (award-winning writer and playwright), David Usher (musician), Gideon Arthurs (CEO of NTS) and Eda Holmes (the new Artistic Director of Centaur Theatre).

The Emerging Artist Award was honoured in two categories this year: Actor and Production (sponsored this year by the National Theatre School of Canada) was given to Dakota Jamal Wellman his performances in Instant and Water Weight (Geordie Productions) and Much Ado About Nothing (Repercussion Theatre). The Outstanding Contribution to Theatre Award was granted to Sixtrum Percussion Ensemble for their live musical performance in Angélique, (Black Theatre Workshop & Tableau D'Hôte Theatre).

Notable recipients include Leslie Baker (The Bakery & La Manufacture) for Fuck You! You f-ing Perv with 3 awards---Outstanding Lead Performance Actress, Outstanding Sound Design and Composition and Outstanding Independent Production -- and Sophie El-Assaad, an emerging artist who was the recipient of both the Outstanding Emerging Artist Production Award for her work on Much Ado About Nothing, (Repercussion Theatre) and Tragic Queens, (CABAL Theatre) and the META for Outstanding Costume Design for Tragic Queens, (CABAL Theatre). Angélique, (Black Theatre Workshop & Tableau D'Hôte Theatre) was the recipient of the META for Outstanding PACT Production. My Name is Asher Lev, (Segal Centre for Performing Arts) was the recipient of 3 awards: Outstanding Supporting Actress, Outstanding Set Design and Outstanding Supporting Performance, Actor.

In addition to the juried awards, two Honorary Awards were bestowed.

The Unsung Hero of the Theatre (UHOT) Award - which celebrates an individual working behind the scenes - was given to Segal Centre for Performing Arts' Associate Producer, Paul Brian Imperial.

This year's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Award (presented in partnership with the Conseil des Arts de Montréal) went to the MAI, (Montreal, arts interculturels). Selected by a special panel from nominations submitted by the community, the MAI was celebrated for its mentorship in the community, which has acted as a catalyst for many Montreal English theatre creations along with its diverse, high calibre artistic programming.

Over the course of the 2016-17 theatre season, a jury of 22 theatre professionals from varied disciplines assessed 31 professional productions across 16 categories. An additional 12 productions were evaluated by a separate jury for the Community Theatre Award, for a total of 43 productions overall.

The METAs are among the few regional awards that include quarterly meetings wherein jury members share their experiences and expertise, thus elevating the level of critical discourse and fostering a community of shared appreciation. Award recipients are determined by secret ballot, tabulated by an independent auditor, Amelia Facciola of Ponzo, Facciola, Quaglieri CA CPA.

The METAs Committee is thrilled to announce the list of 2016-17 META recipients.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to our Ceremony sponsor, Caisse de la Culture for their invaluable generosity.

(Recipients highlighted in Red Font)

And the META goes to...

Outstanding Lead Performance - Actor

• Quincy Armorer - Much Ado About Nothing (Repercussion Theatre)

• Alessandro Costantini - Prom Queen (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)

• Christo Graham - Million Dollar Quartet (Segal Centre for Performing Arts)

• Jon Lachlan Stewart - Big Shot (Surreal SoReal Theatre)

• Jean Marchand - You Will Remember Me (Centaur Theatre Company)

Outstanding Lead Performance - Actress

• Leslie Baker - Fuck You! You f-ing Perv! (The Bakery & La Manufacture)

• Jenny Brizard - Angélique (Black Theatre Workshop & Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)

• Nicola Cavendish - Bakersfield Mist (Centaur Theatre Company, in association with The Arts Club)

• Holly Gauthier-Frankel - Much Ado About Nothing (Repercussion Theatre)

• Catherine Lemieux - Chlorine (creature/creature)

Outstanding Supporting Performance - Actor

• Chip Chuipka - Much Ado About Nothing (Repercussion Theatre)

• Karl Graboshas - Angélique (Black Theatre Workshop & Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)

• Tristan D. Lalla - Angélique (Black Theatre Workshop & Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)

• Olivier Lamarche - Angélique (Black Theatre Workshop & Tableau D'Hôte Theatre)

• Alex Poch-Goldin - My Name Is Asher Lev (Segal Centre for Performing Arts & Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre)

Outstanding Supporting Performance - Actress

Sponsored by Canadian Actors' Equity Association

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