The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. announced nominations for the 2010-2011 Atlanta professional theatrical season this evening to an enthusiastic crowd of patrons and theatre industry artists. The Suzi Nomination Party, which rotates venues, was hosted this year by Fabrefaction Theatre, one of the newest participating theatres in the Suzi ranks. The spacious lobby allowed guests to enjoy drinks, hors d’ouevres and the chance to congratulate their colleagues. Guest announcers Betty Hart, Suehyla El-Attar, and Anthony Rodriquez joined Suzi Awards Executive Director Deadra Moore in sharing the list of Nominees while playfully riffing on the 2010/2011 Atlanta theatre season.
Nationally-recognized artists working in Atlanta were among this year’s nominees. 2008 Tony Winner Andy Blankenbuehler’s production of Bring It On: the Musical pulled in eight (8) nominations for the Alliance Theatre, including Production-Musical and World Premiere, as the show prepares to head out on its national tour leading to a Broadway engagement. Tony Nominee Debbie Allen received a nod for her choreography of Twist, the Atlanta incarnation of a new musical version of Dickens’ Oliver Twist. Two-time Tony winner Judith Ivey’s directing nomination was one of six (6) for the Alliance Theatre’s production of the Kendeda Playwriting Competition-winning, Carapace, including Production-Play and World Premiere.
Atlanta resident artists fared well in all categories. Leslie Bellair received three acting nominations for her work in three different shows. Jeff McKerley received two acting nods for two productions and was nominated again this season for his choreography of the Atlanta Lyric Theatre’s production of The Mikado. Scenic Designers Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay and Sound Designer Thom Jenkins also garnered three nominations each, for different productions.
Although the Alliance Theatre lead the nomination tally race with a total of thirty (30), Atlanta Lyric Theatre received twenty-one (21) in the Music Theatre categories and Horizon Theatre pulled in nineteen (19) total nominations. Aurora Theatre received sixteen (16) nominations across the play, musical, and design categories. Even with large groups of nominations going to the above, a wide distribution of Atlanta area theatres were recognized, with nominations also going to Actor’s Express, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare, Theatre in the Square, Theatrical Outfit, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre and Serenbe Playhouse.
Deadra Moore, Executive Director of The Suzi Awards, Inc. recognized the internationally acclaimed Center for Puppetry Arts as the recipient of the 2011 Spirit of Suzi Award. The Center for Puppetry Arts reaches more than 500,000 people annually through live performances, Distance Learning, Create-A-Puppet Workshops and other educational programs, off-site exhibits around Atlanta, and the Museum’s permanent collection and special exhibits. The recipient of the Spirit of Suzi Award is always a person or organization that best demonstrates the qualities of Suzi Bass herself, including a dedication to professionalism and to Atlanta as cultural destination with a thriving theatre community. Past recipients have included nationally-recognized director Kenny Leon, Atlanta actress and AEA Liaison Karen Howell, Kim Patrick Bitz, Jerry’s Habima Theatre, teacher and actress Carol Mitchell leon and award-winning local director Rosemary Newcott.
The Final Ballot voting for the Suzi Awards begins this week and culminates in the presentation of Suzi star statues at the 7th Annual Suzi Awards Ceremony on Monday, November 7, 2011 at the Conant Center of Oglethorpe University. Again this season, Members of the Suzi Awards may also vote the final ballot, and the results of Member voting will be tallied in as a percentage of the panel judge votes. The Suzi Awards, Inc. is a member non-profit organization, and anyone may join by paying annual dues of $25. In addition to the Suzi Performance Awards, the organization presents the Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award to an Atlanta playwright, the Spirit of Suzi Award, the Volunteer of the Year Award, and the publicly-voted Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Season.
For further information on the awards process, becoming a Member of the Suzi Bass Awards, or taking business or congratulation ads in the Awards Event Program, please go to http://www.suziawards.org/ or email info@suziawards.org.
2010 – 2011 Suzi Awards Nominees
Production Play
| August: Osage County | Alliance Theatre |
| Carapace | Alliance Theatre |
| Superior Donuts | Horizon Theatre |
| The Little Foxes | Theatre in the Square |
| The Nacirema Society… | Alliance Theatre |
Director Play
| Fred Chappell | The Little Foxes | Theatre in the Square |
| Freddie Ashley | Becky Shaw | Actor’s Express |
| Jeff Adler | Superior Donuts | Horizon Theatre |
| Judith Ivey | Carapace | Alliance Theatre |
| Susan V. Booth | August: Osage County | Alliance Theatre |
Lead Actress Play
| Bethany Anne Lind | Carapace | Alliance Theatre |
| Brenda Bynum | August: Osage County | Alliance Theatre |
| Jessica Phelps West | The Little Foxes | Theatre in the Square |
| Tess Malis Kincaid | August: Osage County | Alliance Theatre |
| Veronika Duerr | Becky Shaw | Actor’s Express |
Lead Actor Play
| Afemo Omilami | Broke-ology | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| Andrew Benator | Becky Shaw | Actor’s Express |
| David de Vries | Carapace | Alliance Theatre |
| Eric J. Little | Superior Donuts | Horizon Theatre |
| Tom Key | The Young Man From Atlanta | Theatrical Outfit |
Featured Actress Play
| Andrea Frye | The Nacirema Society… | Alliance Theatre |
| Carolyn Cook | August: Osage County | Alliance Theatre |
| Carolyn Cook | Noises Off | Georgia Shakespeare |
| Mary Lynn Owen | The Little Foxes | Theatre in the Square |
| Nita Hardy | Superior Donuts | Horizon Theatre |
Featured Actor Play
| Christopher Corporandy | The Judas Kiss | Actor’s Express |
| Eric J. Little | Broke-ology | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| Jimi Kocina | Fat Pig | Aurora Theatre |
| Neal A. Ghant | The Tempest | Georgia Shakespeare |
| Richard Garner | August: Osage County | Alliance Theatre |
Ensemble Play
| Broadsword | Actor’s Express |
| Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Aurora Theatre |
| Over the River and Through the Woods | Aurora Theatre |
| Stealing Dixie | Theatre in the Square |
| The Colored Museum | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
Costume Design Play
| Alan Yeong | The Little Foxes | Theatre in the Square |
| Elizabeth Rasmusson | Red, White and Tuna | Theatre in the Square |
| Leslie Taylor | The Tempest | Georgia Shakespeare |
| Linda Patterson | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Aurora Theatre |
| Susan E. Mickey | The Nacirema Society… | Alliance Theatre |
Lighting Design Play
| James M. Helms | The Circumference of a Squirrel | Aurora Theatre |
| John Ambrosone | Carapace | Alliance Theatre |
| Ken Yunker | August: Osage County | Alliance Theatre |
| Mike Post | The Odyssey: A Journey Home | Georgia Shakespeare |
| Rob Dillard | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Aurora Theatre |
Scenic Design Play
| Dale Brubaker | Stealing Dixie | Theatre in the Square |
| Elaine Williams | The Little Foxes | Theatre in the Square |
| Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay | Superior Donuts | Horizon Theatre |
| Kat Conley | The Odyssey: A Journey Home | Georgia Shakespeare |
| Leslie Taylor | August: Osage County | Alliance Theatre |
Sound Design Play
| Bobby Johnston | The Colored Museum | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| Clay Benning | The Odyssey: A Journey Home | Georgia Shakespeare |
| Thom Jenkins | Stealing Dixie | Theatre in the Square |
| Thom Jenkins | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Aurora Theatre |
| Thom Jenkins | The 39 Steps | Theatre in the Square |
Musical Production
| Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Bring It On: The Musical | Alliance Theatre |
| Gut Bucket Blues | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company |
| Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
Director Musical
| Alan Kilpatrick | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Andy Blankenbuehler | Bring It On: The Musical | Alliance Theatre |
| David H. Bell | Gut Bucket Blues | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| Heidi Cline McKerley | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Heidi Cline McKerley | The Mikado | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
Lead Actress Musical
| Adrienne Reynolds | Gut Bucket Blues | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| Caitlin Smith | Leader of the Pack | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Felicia Boswell | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Leslie Bellair | Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
| Mary Nye Bennett | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
Lead Actor Musical
| Jeff McKerley | The Mikado | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Justin Tanner | Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
| Maxim Gukhman | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Nick Arapoglou | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Stanley Allyn Owen | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
Featured Actress Musical
| Amber Iman | Gut Bucket Blues | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| Ingrid Cole | The Music Man | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Jill Hames | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Leslie Bellair | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Ryann Redmond | Bring It On: The Musical | Alliance Theatre |
Featured Actor Musical
| Adam Carl Peyton | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Glenn Rainey | The Music Man | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| J.C. Long | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Jeff McKerley | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Jeremy Wood | Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
Ensemble Musical
| Forbidden Broadway:Greatest Hits Vol. 1 | Georgia Ensemble Theatre |
| Ordinary Days | Serenbe Playhouse |
| See What I Wanna See | Actor’s Express |
| The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | Georgia Ensemble Theatre |
| Travelin’ Black | Theatrical Outfit |
Music Direction
| Ann-Carol Pence | Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
| B.J. Brown | 42nd Street | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Jmichael | Gut Bucket Blues | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| S. Renee Clark | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Wesley Morgan | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
Choreography
| Andy Blankenbuehler | Bring It On: The Musical | Alliance Theatre |
| Debbie Allen | Twist | Alliance Theatre |
| Jeff McKerley | The Mikado | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Jen MacQueen | Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
| Karen Hebert | 42nd Street | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
Costume Design Musical
| Andrea Lauer | Bring It On:The Musical | Alliance Theatre |
| Anna Jenny | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Emilio Sosa | Twist | Alliance Theatre |
| Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay | The Mikado | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Lindsey G. Paris & Clint Horne | Leader of the Pack | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
Lighting Design Musical
| Bradley Bergeron | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Jason Lyons | Bring It On: The Musical | Alliance Theatre |
| Mary Parker | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Rick Belzer | Twist | Alliance Theatre |
| Thom Beaulieu | Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
Scenic Design Musical
| Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
| Seamus M. Bourne | Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
| Thane Molnar | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Todd Rosenthal | Twist | Alliance Theatre |
| Tommy Cox | The Mikado | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
Sound Design Musical
| Bobby Johnston | Rent | Atlanta Lyric Theatre |
| Brian Ronan | Bring It On: The Musical | Alliance Theatre |
| Daniel Terry | Singin’ in the Rain | Aurora Theatre |
| Kay Richardson | Gut Bucket Blues | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| Keith Allen Bergeron | Avenue Q | Horizon Theatre |
World Premiere
| Bring It On: The Musical | Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda & Tom Kitt, Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda & Amanda Green, Libretto by Jeff Whitty |
Alliance Theatre |
| Carapace | by David Mitchell Robinson | Alliance Theatre |
| Gut Bucket Blues | by David H. Bell | Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Co. |
| Night Blooms | by Margaret Baldwin | Horizon Theatre |
| The Nacirema Society… | by Pearl Cleage | Alliance Theatre |
Total Nominations by Theatre
Actor’s Express – 6
Alliance Theatre – 30
Atlanta Lyric Theatre – 21
Aurora Theatre – 16
Georgia Ensemble Theatre – 2
Georgia Shakespeare – 6
Horizon Theatre – 19
Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company – 11
Serenbe Playhouse – 1
Theatre in the Square – 11
Theatrical Outfit – 2
