To honour Vancouver's vibrant artistic community during this challenging time, the 2020 Jessie Theatre Award Nominations were announced virtually, for the first time, on Monday, June 8th, hosted by the mother daughter duo Amanda Sum (seen this season in Chicken Girl and East Van Panto) and Linda Leung.
"The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards are first and foremost a celebration of theatre," stated Sandra Herd, President, The Jessie Richardson Award Society. "The performances and productions of this past season left us sometimes breathless, humbled, transformed but always entertained. Sadly, some productions were untimely interrupted, and others left unsung. But nonetheless we enthusiastically celebrate the accomplishments of this past season as we look optimistically forward to the future and the inevitable return of our beloved live theatre!"
The 38th Annual Jessie Awards represents excellence in large and small venues alike, with a total of 53 theatrical productions. The nominations exemplify a wide variety of diversity, creativity, imagination, and skill brought to life on the stage. Every year the cultural vastness and abundance of talented artists continues to expand our boundaries and insights into other viewpoints, cultures and experiences touching individuals, our city and beyond.
The awards are divided into three categories: Large Theatre, Small Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences along with other special awards. Here are some of the highlights of the nominations.
Large Theatre Category had a total of twenty three innovative and varied productions nominated. Kuroko by Vancouver Asian Canadian atre is the big winner scoring a total of nine nominations including Outstanding Production, Amiel Gladstone for Outstanding Direction, Lou Ticzon for Supporting Role, Outstanding Original Script by Tetsuro Shigematsu, the Critics' Choice Innovation Award, and double nominee Christine Reimer for her Costume Design in Kuroko (and Noises Off). Arts Club atre Company received a total of 12 nominations for four productions, with Noises Off receiving 8 nods that include Outstanding Production and Scott Bellis for Outstanding Direction. In addition, the Arts Club atre Company partnered with other theatre companies for five productions acquiring another 11 nominations, of those, Matilda, in partnership with Citadel atre and Royal Manitoba atre Centre and A Thousand Splendid Suns, in partnership with Royal Manitoba atre Centre, each nabbed three nominations, Cost of Living, (in partnership with Citadel atre) received two, and Cipher (in partnership with Vertigo atre) received two, and Wedding Party (in partnership with Prairie atre Exchange) received one for the performance of Todd Thomson.
On the Beach Shakespeare Festival collected a total of 12 nominations for its unique and bold productions. Coriolanus garnered 5 of those, including Moya O'Connell for her Outstanding Lead Performance, All's Well That Ends Well followed with four nods that include a Critics' Choice Innovation Award and Charlie Gallant acknowledged for his dynamic performance in Shakespeare in Love (he was also nominated for Noises Off).
Pacific Theatre's remarkable production of Best of Enemies earned 7 of its 9 nominations with incredible performances by actors Robert Salvador and Celia Aloma in lead roles and Anthony Santiago and Rebecca deBoer in supporting roles. In the other Pacific Theatre productions Erla Faye Forsyth was nominated for her performance in The Cake and Anita Wittenberg for Mother of the Maid.
Inheritance: A Pick-The-Path Experience by Alley Theatre and Touchstone Theatre (in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre and Community Partnership with Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre) received three nods: Darrell Dennis for his performance, Outstanding Production and Significant Artistic Achievement. Savage Society's Skyborn: A Land Reclamation Odyssey's was acknowledged for Significant Artistic Achievement and Itai Erdal for Lighting Design.
Other companies who received a nomination are Firehall Arts Centre's two productions - House and Home's lead actor Sebastien Archibald and Talking Sex on Sunday, for Outstanding Production of a Musical. Two additional companies were garnering a nod were Théâtre la Seizième (in partnership with Théâtre DuBunker and le Collectif Nous Sommes ici (Quebec) Le NoShow Vancouver for Outstanding Audience Engagement Through the Use of Technology and the musical, Holiday at the Elbow Room Café for Outstanding Production by Zee Zee Theatre & The Cultch.
Small atre Category had a total of 20 productions nominated that spread across the board. Here are just a few highlighted. This category was tied with two shows each receiving eight nominations. One is the period piece, Sea by Slamming Door Artist Collective. Actors selected were Genevieve Fleming, Stephen Aberle, and Elizabeth Kirkland, along with Celeste English for Set Design and Sandy Margaret for Set Design. other show is Search Party's inaugural production of the tragic farce, Father. Actors Kevin McNulty and Jillian Fargey performances were recognized along with the creative team.
Ensemble Theatre Company received a total of 8 nominations for three productions that include the delicious and vivacious production of Superior Donuts leading with five nominations noting performances by David Nykl and Chris Francisque; Born Yesterday actor Paul Herbert and Alexis Kellum-Creer were acknowledged for their performances along with Darcey Johnson's role in The Drawer Boy.
Patrick Street Production's dark and comic one man musical cabaret, Herringbone, nabbed 5 nominations. Peter Jorgensen and Luisa Jojic who alternated performances in the lead role were both nominated for their performances, Kayla Dunbar for Direction, Sean Bayntun for Musical Direction and was also selected for Outstanding Production of a Musical. Another nomination for Outstanding Musical is Raincity Theatre's production of Sondheim's Company that earned 4 nods with the entire cast nominated for Significant Artistic Achievement and Chris Adams for his direction.
There were 4 companies that each received 3 nominations. They include a unique production by rice & beans theatre (in partnership with Playwrights Theatre Centre) Chicken Girl, along with a nod for Outstanding Original Script, Lungs by Saint FiFi Collective's, Deep into Darkness by Third Wheel Productions, and Anna Bella Eema by Sol Theatre Collective. were an additional nine theatre company productions in this category that received nominations, all of which are included in the complete list of nominations included below.
In the Theatre for Young Audiences category, Carousel Theatre for Young People garnered four nominations for their production of Bad Hats Theatre's Peter Pan with both Marlene Ginader and Kelli Ogmundson acknowledged for their performances. Chelsea Rose earned a nomination for her performance in Th'owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish by Axis Theatre Company, also included was Jay Havens for Set Design and a nod for both Outstanding Production and Significant Artistic Achievement. Green Thumb Theatre received two nominations - Scott Button for Outstanding Performance in New Canadian Kid and Paige Fraser in What If. Additional companies who received nominations for Outstanding Production were Love You Forever and More Munsch by Beach House Theatre and Iron Peggy by Vancouver International Children's Festival and Boca del Lupo.
There will also be a number of additional awards and prizes presented at the award ceremony. The list includes: the Vancouver Now Representation and Inclusion Award, the Patron of the Arts Award, the Mary Phillips Prize, the Ray Michal Prize for Emerging Director, the Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, the John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award, the Critics' Choice Innovation Award, and the GVPTA Career Achievement Award.
This year The Art Left will be producing the first ever livestream Jessie Awards from the Firehall Arts Centre on Monday, June 29th from 7 - 9pm. The Art Left is a Vancouver creative group who have established a reputation for producing high quality content for artists and creative professionals. Live streaming is the newest service they have added to their repertoire and they are excited to offer this medium as a way to tell stories, foster community, and amplify the voices of artists and innovators
See the complete list of nominees below. For further information visit www.jessieawards.com
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Darrell Dennis |
Inheritance: A Pick-The-Path Experience |
Alley Theatre and Touchstone Theatre (in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre and Community Partnership with Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre) |
Noises Off |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
|
Shakespeare in Love |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
|
Robert Salvador |
Best of Enemies |
Pacific Theatre |
Todd Thomson |
The Wedding Party |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Prairie Theatre Exchange) |
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Celia Aloma |
Best of Enemies |
Pacific Theatre |
Deena Aziz |
A Thousand Splendid Suns |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) |
Erla Faye Forsyth |
The Cake |
Pacific Theatre |
Moya O'Connell |
Coriolanus |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
Anita Wittenberg |
Mother of the Maid |
Pacific Theatre |
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Sebastien Archibald |
House and Home |
Firehall Arts Centre |
Andrew McNee |
Noises Off |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
Best of Enemies |
Pacific Theatre |
|
Lou Ticzon |
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
John Ullyatt |
Matilda |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Citadel Theatre & Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) |
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Rebecca deBoer |
Best of Enemies |
Pacific Theatre |
Tess Degenstein |
Noises Off |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
Veenesh Dubois |
All's Well That Ends Well |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
Emma Slipp |
Noises Off |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
Colleen Wheeler |
Coriolanus |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Alan Brodie |
Coriolanus |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
Itai Erdal |
Skyborn: A Land Reclamation Odyssey |
Savage Society (presented by The Cultch) |
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
|
Parjad Sharifi |
Cipher |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Vertigo Theatre) |
Robert Wierzel & Andrew F. Griffin |
A Thousand Splendid Suns |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) |
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Drew Facey |
Cost of Living |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Citadel Theatre) |
Noises Off |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
|
Birds and the Bees |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
|
Matilda |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Citadel Theatre & Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) |
|
Sophie Tang |
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Carmen Alatorre |
All's Well That Ends Well |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
Mara Gottler |
Taming of the Shrew |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
Christine Reimer |
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
Christine Reimer |
Noises Off |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
Shakespeare in Love |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN OR ORIGINAL COMPOSITION - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Rick Colhoun |
Best of Enemies |
Pacific Theatre |
Sammie Hatch |
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
Alessandro Juliani |
Coriolanus |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
Alessandro Juliani |
The Great Leap |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
Ruby Singh |
All's Well That Ends Well |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION - LARGE THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Scott Bellis |
Noises Off |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
Cost of Living |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Citadel Theatre) |
|
Ian Farthing |
Best of Enemies |
Pacific Theatre |
Dean Paul Gibson |
Coriolanus |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
Amiel Gladstone |
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION - PLAY - LARGE THEATRE
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
A Thousand Splendid Suns |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) |
Best of Enemies |
Pacific Theatre |
Inheritance: A Pick-The-Path Experience |
Alley Theatre and Touchstone Theatre (in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre and Community Partnership with Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre) |
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
Noises Off |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION - MUSICAL - LARGE THEATRE
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Holiday at the Elbow Room Café |
Zee Zee Theatre & The Cultch |
Matilda |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Citadel Theatre & Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) |
Sound of Music |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
Talking Sex on Sunday |
Firehall Arts Centre |
SIGNIFICANT ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT - LARGE THEATRE
ACHIEVEMENT |
NAME(S) |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Outstanding Innovative and Immersive Storytelling |
Alley Theatre and Touchstone Theatre |
Inheritance: A Pick-The-Path Experience |
Alley Theatre and Touchstone Theatre (in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre and Community Partnership with Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre) |
Outstanding Projection Design |
Chimerik a??a??a?? |
The Great Leap |
Arts Club Theatre Company |
Outstanding Video and Projection Design |
Emily Soussana, Chief Lady Bird, Chrystal Sparrow, & Carrielynn Victor |
Skyborn: A Land Reclamation Odyssey |
Savage Society (presented by The Cultch) |
Outstanding Choreography |
Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg |
Cipher |
Arts Club Theatre Company (in partnership with Vertigo Theatre) |
Outstanding Audience Engagement Through the Use of Technology |
Théâtre la Seizième |
Le NoShow Vancouver |
Théâtre la Seizième (in partnership with Théâtre DuBunker and le Collectif Nous Sommes ici (Québec) |
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Born Yesterday |
Ensemble Theatre Company |
|
Peter Jorgensen |
Herringbone |
Patrick Street Productions |
Kevin McNulty |
The Father |
The Search Party |
David Nykl |
Superior Donuts |
Ensemble Theatre Company |
Alec Santos |
Lungs |
Saint FiFi Collective |
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Lois Anderson |
Anna Bella Eema |
Sol Theatre Collective |
Jillian Fargey |
The Father |
The Search Party |
Genevieve Fleming |
The Sea |
Slamming Door Artist Collective |
Luisa Jojic |
Herringbone |
Patrick Street Productions |
Fei Ren |
Lungs |
Saint FiFi Collective |
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Stephen Aberle |
The Sea |
Slamming Door Artist Collective |
Superior Donuts |
Ensemble Theatre Company |
|
Massimo Frau |
Zastrozzi: The Master of Discipline |
Star & Moon Productions |
Darcey Johnson |
The Drawer Boy |
Ensemble Theatre Company |
Body Awareness |
Mitch and Murray Productions |
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Eileen Barrett |
Escaped Alone |
Western Gold Theatre |
Bethany Brown |
Disgraced |
Vagrant Players Theatre Society |
Alexis Kellum-Creer |
Born Yesterday |
Ensemble Theatre Company |
Elizabeth Kirkland |
The Sea |
Slamming Door Artist Collective |
Adriana Ravalli |
The Great Canadian Porno: The Musical |
Frenzied Millennial Collective |
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Celeste English |
The Sea |
Slamming Door Artist Collective |
Itai Erdal |
The Father |
The Search Party |
Neil Griffith |
Deep into Darkness |
Third Wheel Productions |
Sophie Tang |
Chicken Girl |
rice & beans theatre (in partnership with Playwrights Theatre Centre) |
Escaped Alone |
Western Gold Theatre |
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Shizuka Kai |
Chicken Girl |
rice & beans theatre (in partnership with Playwrights Theatre Centre) |
Amir Ofek |
The Father |
The Search Party |
Sandy Margaret |
The Sea |
Slamming Door Artist Collective |
Ariel Slack |
Superior Donuts |
Ensemble Theatre Company |
John R. Taylor |
Deep into Darkness |
Third Wheel Productions |
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
C.S. Fergusson-Vaux |
Mx |
Lili Robinson (in partnership with Playwrights Theatre Centre) |
Hilary Jardine |
Zastrozzi: The Master of Discipline |
Star & Moon Productions |
Jessica Oostergo |
The Father |
The Search Party |
Cheyenne Mabberley & Chantal Short |
The Sea |
Slamming Door Artist Collective |
Christina Sinosich & Donnie Tejani |
Company |
Raincity Theatre |
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN OR ORIGINAL COMPOSITION - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Owen Belton |
The Father |
The Search Party |
Rick Colhoun |
Frankenstein: Lost in Darkness |
Wireless Wings Radio Ensemble |
Rick Colhoun |
Superior Donuts |
Ensemble Theatre Company |
Angelo Moroni |
Hello |
Theatre Terrific Society |
Joelysa Pankanea |
Anna Bella Eema |
Sol Theatre Collective |
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION - SMALL THEATRE
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Company |
Raincity Theatre |
|
Kayla Dunbar |
Herringbone |
Patrick Street Productions |
Tamara McCarthy |
The Sea |
Slamming Door Artist Collective |
Mindy Parfitt |
The Father |
The Search Party |
Christy Webb |
Lungs |
Saint FiFi Collective |
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION - PLAY - SMALL THEATRE
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Anna Bella Eema |
Sol Theatre Collective |
Superior Donuts |
Ensemble Theatre Company |
The Father |
The Search Party |
The Sea |
Slamming Door Artist Collective |
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION - MUSICAL - SMALL THEATRE
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Company |
Raincity Theatre |
Herringbone |
Patrick Street Productions |
SIGNIFICANT ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT - SMALL THEATRE
ACHIEVEMENT |
NAME(S) |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Outstanding ensemble performance |
Caitlin Clugston, Nick Fontaine, Alex Gullason, Steve Maddock, Jennie Neumann, Madeleine Suddaby, Jennifer Suratos, Lindsay Ann Warnock, Katey Wright |
Company |
Raincity Theatre |
Outstanding transformation of space and audience immersion |
n/a |
Deep into Darkness |
Third Wheel Productions |
Outstanding musical direction |
Sean Bayntun |
Herringbone |
Patrick Street Productions |
Outstanding integrity in casting |
n/a |
Transcripts, Part I: The Women |
Zee Zee Theatre and The Frank Theatre (in partnership with Firehall Arts Centre) |
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE - THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
NAME(S) |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Scott Button |
New Canadian Kid |
Green Thumb Theatre |
Paige Fraser |
What If |
Green Thumb Theatre |
Bad Hats Theatre's Peter Pan |
Carousel Theatre for Young People |
|
Kelli Ogmundson |
Bad Hats Theatre's Peter Pan |
Carousel Theatre for Young People |
Chelsea Rose |
Th'owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish |
OUTSTANDING DESIGN - THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
NAME(S) |
DISCIPLINE |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Jay Dodge |
Video Design |
Iron Peggy |
Vancouver International Children's Festival and Boca del Lupo |
Jay Havens |
Set Design |
Th'owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish |
|
Shizuka Kai |
Set Design |
Bad Hats Theatre's Peter Pan |
Carousel Theatre for Young People |
Shizuka Kai |
Set Design |
Iron Peggy |
Vancouver International Children's Festival and Boca del Lupo |
Kiara Lawson |
Costume Design |
Bad Hats Theatre's Peter Pan |
Carousel Theatre for Young People |
OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CREATION - THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
NAME(S) |
DISCIPLINE |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Ian Harmon |
Direction |
Love you Forever and More Munsch |
Beach House Theatre |
Sherry Yoon |
Direction |
Iron Peggy |
Vancouver International Children's Festival and Boca del Lupo |
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION - THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Love You Forever and More Munsch |
Beach House Theatre |
Iron Peggy |
Vancouver International Children's Festival and Boca del Lupo |
Th'owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish |
SIGNIFICANT ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT - THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
ACHIEVEMENT |
NAME(S) |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Outstanding stage management |
Jillian Perry |
Th'owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish |
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCRIPT
NAME |
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
Jan Derbyshire |
Certified |
|
Derek Chan |
Chicken Girl |
rice & beans theatre (in partnership with Playwrights Theatre Centre) |
Tetsuro Shigematsu |
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
Deborah Vogt |
Big Sister |
Rapid Pitch Productions |
CRITICS' CHOICE INNOVATION AWARD
PRODUCTION |
COMPANY |
All's Well That Ends Well |
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival |
Anywhere But Here |
Electric Company Theatre (in association with Playwrights Theatre Centre) |
Certified |
|
Kuroko |
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre |
Take D Milk, Nah? |
Rumble Theatre and Pandemic Theatre |
Videos