Best of 2015 BWW Rhode Island – Critics' Picks: As Selected by Your Local Reviewers
By: Veronica Bruscini Dec. 31, 2015
by Robert Barossi, Veronica Bruscini, Larry O'Brien and Andria Tieman
Rhode Island's theater community had much to celebrate in 2015. Outstanding productions graced stages from the East Bay to South County, up-and-coming theatrical companies left their mark on the arts scene, and excellent concerts and dance events made for some of the best performances of the year.
2015 also marked the passing of one of the Rhode Island's most beloved actresses, Trinity Repertory Company's Barbara Meek, whose remarkable talents and gracious spirit will be dearly missed.
Best Play
Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
Fefu and Her Friends - OUT LOUD Theatre
The House of Blue Leaves - The Gamm
Julius Caesar - Trinity Repertory Company
Richard III - Counter-Productions Theatre Company
A Streetcar Named Desire - The Gamm
Best Musical
Gypsy - Ocean State Theatre Company
It's a Wonderful Life - Ocean State Theatre Company
The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Next to Normal - The Wilbury Group
Best Director - Play
Tyler Dobrowsky - Julius Caesar - Trinity Repertory Company
Tony Estrella - A Streetcar Named Desire - The Gamm
Kira Hawkridge - Rhinoceros - OUT LOUD Theatre
Brant Pope - Vincent - Starry Night Theatre Company at AS220
Terry Shea - Richard III - Counter-Productions Theatre Company
Fred Sullivan, Jr. - The House of Blue Leaves - The Gamm
Mark Torres - Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
Best Director - Musical
Wendy Overly - Next to Normal - The Wilbury Group
Charles Repole - My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Billy Sprague, Jr. - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
Amiee Turner - It's a Wonderful Life - Ocean State Theatre Company
Best Actor, Leading Role - Play
Damron Russel Armstrong - The Meeting - Ocean State Theatre Company
Jed Hancock Brainerd - Marie Antoinette - The Gamm
James Briggs - Vincent - Starry Night Theatre Company at AS220
Kevin Broccoli - Buyer and Cellar - 2nd Story Theatre
Russell Garrett - Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
Anthony Goes - A Streetcar Named Desire - The Gamm
Michael Puppi - Richard III - Counter-Productions Theatre Company
Stephen Thorne - Julius Caesar - Trinity Repertory Company
Joe Wilson, Jr. - Julius Caesar - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Actor, Leading Role - Musical
Kevin Cirone - It's a Wonderful Life - Ocean State Theatre Company
Austin Colby - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
James Fernandes - Next to Normal - The Wilbury Group
Charles Shaughnessy - My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Best Actress, Leading Role - Play
Marianna Bassham - A Streetcar Named Desire - The Gamm
Mia Ellis - The Glass Menagerie - Trinity Repertory Company
Minita Gandhi - Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
Jeanine Kane - The House of Blue Leaves - The Gamm
Anne Scurria - Julius Caesar - Trinity Repertory Company
Katherine Skoretz - Jane Eyre - OUT LOUD Theatre
Best Actress, Leading Role - Musical
Erika Amato - Into the Woods - Ocean State Theatre Company
Katie Anne Clark - The Addams Family - Ocean State Theatre Company
Kerry Conte - My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Adrienne Eller - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
Keisha Gilles - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
Melissa McKamie - It's a Wonderful Life - Ocean State Theatre Company
Sarah Pothier - Into the Woods - Ocean State Theatre Company
Amiee Turner - Gypsy - Ocean State Theatre Company
Best Actor, Supporting Role - Play
Joshua Christensen - Rhinoceros - OUT LOUD Theatre
Ted Clement - Richard III - Counter-Productions Theatre Company
Jonathan Fisher - Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
David Groccia - Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
Matt Jones - Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
Brian McEleney - A Christmas Carol - Trinity Repertory Company
Fred Sullivan, Jr. - Julius Caesar - Trinity Repertory Company
Stephen Thorne - A Flea in Her Ear - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Actor, Supporting Role - Musical
Jef Canter - It's a Wonderful Life - Ocean State Theatre Company
Bill E. Dietrich - My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Nkrumah Gatling - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
Phoenyx Williams - Passing Strange - The Wilbury Group
Best Actress, Supporting Role - Play
Paige Barry - Fefu and Her Friends - OUT LOUD Theatre
Karen Carpenter - A Streetcar Named Desire - The Gamm
Rachel Dulude - The House of Blue Leaves - The Gamm
Rachael Warren - Julius Caesar - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Actress, Supporting Role - Musical
Julia Bartoletti - Next to Normal - The Wilbury Group
Shannon Hartman - Passing Strange - The Wilbury Group
Kayla Tomas - The Addams Family - Ocean State Theatre Company
Best Ensemble Cast - Play
American Strippers - Epic Theatre Company
Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
The Boys of St. Matthew's Present Tartuffe - Epic Theatre Company
The House of Blue Leaves - The Gamm
Lend Me a Tenor - Ocean State Theater Company
Middletown - Trinity Repertory Company
Rhinoceros - OUT LOUD Theatre
Richard III - Counter-Productions Theatre Company
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - The Wilbury Group
Best Ensemble Cast - Musical
It's a Wonderful Life - Ocean State Theatre Company
The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Next to Normal - The Wilbury Group
Best Choreography
Russell Garrett - Gypsy - Ocean State Theatre Company
Ronald Lewis - American Strippers - Epic Theatre Company
Michael Lichtefeld - My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Billy Sprague, Jr. - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
Best Costumes
Kurt Alger - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
Tracy Christensen - The Heidi Chronicles - Trinity Repertory Company
Kathleen Edwards - My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Brian Horton - Gypsy - Ocean State Theatre Company
Brian Horton - Into the Woods - Ocean State Theatre Company
Dina Perez - Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
Marilyn Salvatore - Marie Antoinette - The Gamm
Best Scenic Design
Nate Bertone - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
James Briggs - Vincent - Starry Night Theatre Company at AS220
Amanda R. Hall - Lend Me a Tenor - Ocean State Theatre Company
Katryne Hecht - It's a Wonderful Life - Ocean State Theatre Company
Jessica Hill - A Streetcar Named Desire - The Gamm
Michael P. Kramer - My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Patrick Lynch - A Flea in Her Ear - Trinity Repertory Company
Patrick Lynch - The Rant - The Gamm
Michael E. Martineau - Around the World in 80 Days - Ocean State Theatre Company
Deb O - Middletown - Trinity Repertory Company
Best Lighting Design
Bailey Costa - The Little Mermaid - Theatre by the Sea
Josh Epstein - Middletown - Trinity Repertory Company
David Roy - The Rant - The Gamm
David A. Sexton - Into the Woods - Ocean State Theatre Company
David A. Sexton - It's a Wonderful Life - Ocean State Theatre Company
Gerritt Turner - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - The Wilbury Group
Tracy Lynn Wertheimer - Vincent - Starry Night Theatre Company at AS220
Best Sound Design
James Briggs - Vincent - Starry Night Theatre Company at AS220
Charles Coes - My Fair Lady - Theatre by the Sea
Terry Shea - Next to Normal - The Wilbury Group
Best Touring Production
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - Providence Performing Arts Center
Motown: The Musical - Providence Performing Arts Center
Vincent - Starry Night Theatre Company at AS220
Special Mentions
Best Concert/Musical Performance:
Chris Botti - Rhode Island Center for Performing Arts at The Park Theatre
Chicago - Providence Performing Arts Center
Josh Groban, The Stages Tour - Providence Performing Arts Center
Handel's Messiah - The Providence Singers/Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra
Diana Krall - Providence Performing Arts Center
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - Providence Performing Arts Center
Best Dance Performance:
Up Close on Hope: Soledad and Scheherazade - Festival Ballet Providence
Up Close on Hope: Bach Suites and Apollo - Festival Ballet Providence
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Pictured: Middletown at Trinity Repertory Company
PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Turek
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