Arts and Culture

2015 Suzi Bass Award nominees announced -- complete list here

Travis Smith and Naima Carter Russell appear in the musical "Memphis," a co-production of Aurora Theatre and Theatrical Outfit that was the top vote getter in Suzi Bass Awards announced Monday night. CONTRIBUTED BY CHRIS BARTELSKI
Travis Smith and Naima Carter Russell appear in the musical "Memphis," a co-production of Aurora Theatre and Theatrical Outfit that was the top vote getter in Suzi Bass Awards announced Monday night. CONTRIBUTED BY CHRIS BARTELSKI
By hpousner
Sept 1, 2015

With 51, the Alliance Theatre led Suzi Bass Award nominations as the finalists for Atlanta's version of the Tonys were announced Monday night.

Theatrical Outfit came in second with 24 nominations, followed by Actor’s Express (21), Aurora Theatre (20) and Serenbe Playhouse (11).

Musical productions held the five top spots in terms of “by show” nominations: "Memphis," a co-production of Aurora Theatre and Theatrical Outfit (where it will open Sept. 10), lead with 13. Alliance Theatre's "Tuck Everlasting" came in second with 12, followed by Serenbe Playhouse’s "Evita" (9); "Rent" at Actor’s Express (8) and "Chasin’ Dem Blues" at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre (7).

Final ballot voting for the Suzi Awards begins this week and will culminate in the presentation of Suzi trophies at the 11th Annual Suzi Awards Ceremony on Nov. 2 at the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center in DeKalb County.

Freddie Ashley and Agnes Lucinda Harty in "The Whale" at Actor's Express. CONTRIBUTED BY BREEANNE CLOWDUS
Freddie Ashley and Agnes Lucinda Harty in "The Whale" at Actor's Express. CONTRIBUTED BY BREEANNE CLOWDUS
2014-2015 Suzi Bass Award Nominees

Outstanding Production of a Play

Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre

Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre

The Elephant Man at Georgia Ensemble Theatre

Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit

The Whale at Actor's Express

Outstanding Direction of a Play

Chris Coleman for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
David Crowe for The Elephant Man at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
David Crowe for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Heidi Cline McKerley for The Whale at Actor's Express
Gary Yates for My Children! My Africa! at Theatrical Outfit
Ann Marie Gideon in the Alliance Theatre production of "Edward Foote" by Atlanta playwright Phillip DePoy. CONTRIBUTED BY GREG MOONEY
Ann Marie Gideon in the Alliance Theatre production of "Edward Foote" by Atlanta playwright Phillip DePoy. CONTRIBUTED BY GREG MOONEY

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play

Cynthia Barker* for Uprising at Horizon Theatre
Danielle Deadwyler* for The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre
Crystal Fox* for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Ann Marie Gideon* for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Park Krausen* for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Actor's Express

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

Freddie Ashley for The Whale at Actor's Express
Terry Guest* for Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet at Actor's Express
Tyrone Mitchell Henderson* for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Jonathan Horne for The Elephant Man at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Eugene Lee* for How I Learned What I Learned at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Carolyn Cook* for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Bethany Anne Lind* for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Deadra Moore* for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Tiffany Porter for The Whale at Actor's Express
Maria Rodriquez-Sager* for My Children! My Africa! at Theatrical Outfit
Joe Knezevich and Tom Key in John Patrick Shanley's "Storefront Church" at Theatrical Outfit. CONTRIBUTED BY BREEANNE CLOWDUS
Joe Knezevich and Tom Key in John Patrick Shanley's "Storefront Church" at Theatrical Outfit. CONTRIBUTED BY BREEANNE CLOWDUS
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Thomas Neal Antwon Ghant* for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Enoch King* for Uprising at Horizon Theatre
Joe Knezevich for Storefront Church at Theatrical Outfit
Doyle Reynolds for Sylvia at Stage Door Players
Dane Troy for My Children! My Africa! at Theatrical Outfit
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Play

Bad Jews at Actor's Express (Galen Crawley*, Rachel DeJulio, Wyatt Fenner*, Louis Gregory)

Clybourne Park at Aurora Theatre (Robin Bloodworth*, Tess Malis Kincaid*, Danielle Deadwyler*, Eric J. Little*, Bobby Labartino, Joe Sykes, Cara Mantella)

The Explorers Club at Aurora Theatre (Courtney Patterson*,Tony Larkin, Chris Kayser*, Chad Martin, George Contini, Al Stilo, Jacob York, Steve Hudson, Tim Whitson)

Pericles, Prince of Tyre at Shakespeare Tavern (Drew Reeves*, Matt Felton, Andrew Houchins*, Chris Schulz, J. Tony Brown*, Troy Willis*, Kevin Roost, Nicholas Faircloth, Miranda Wilson, Kati Grace Brown, Mary Russell, Hayley Platt, Mary Ruth Ralston, Andy Offutt Irwin)

Steel Magnolias at Alliance Theatre (Becky Ann Baker*, Beth Broderick*, David de Vries*, Mary Pat Gleason*, Deirdre Lovejoy*, Sarah Stiles*, Zoë Winters*)

Outstanding Costume Design in a Play

Deyah Brenner for The Whale at Actor's Express
Lex Liang for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Elizabeth Rasmusson for The Explorers Club at Aurora Theatre
Elizabeth Rasmusson for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Erik Teague for Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Actor's Express

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play

Liz Lee for The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre
Rebecca M.K. Makus for Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet at Actor's Express
Mike Post for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit
Seth Reiser for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Diane Ferry Williams for A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design in a Play

D. Martyn Brookwalter for A Christmas Carol at Alliance Theatre
Kat Conley for Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet at Actor's Express
Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay for Clybourne Park at Aurora Theatre
Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay for Detroit at Horizon Theatre
Isabel Curley-Clay & Moriah Curley-Clay for Silent Sky at Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play

Clay Benning for Blues for an Alabama Sky at Alliance Theatre
Clay Benning for Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre
Clay Benning for Native Guard at Alliance Theatre
Thom Jenkins for Uprising at Horizon Theatre
David Wilson for The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre
Anthony David and Maiesha McQueen in "Chasin' Dem Blues" at True Colors Theatre. CONTRIBUTED BY JOSH LAMKIN
Anthony David and Maiesha McQueen in "Chasin' Dem Blues" at True Colors Theatre. CONTRIBUTED BY JOSH LAMKIN

Outstanding Production of a Musical

Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company

Evita at Serenbe Playhouse

Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Rent at Actor's Express

Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Freddie Ashley for Rent at Actor's Express
Brian Clowdus for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Tom Key for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Casey Nicholaw for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Kevin Ramsey for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company

Outstanding Musical Direction

Rob Berman for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Jeremy Cohen for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Chris Brent Davis for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Alli Lingenfelter for Rent at Actor's Express
Ann-Carol Pence for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Choreography of a Musical

Joshua Bergasse for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Bubba Carr for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Dell Howlett for The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre
Waverly Lucas for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Casey Nicholaw for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Georgia Ensemble Theatre's production of "My Fair Lady" starred Carey Curtis Smith (Henry Higgins), William S. Murphey (Colonel Pickering), Jackie Prucha (Mrs. Higgins) and Molly Coyne (Eliza Doolittle). CONTRIBUTED BY DAN CARMODY/STUDIO 7
Georgia Ensemble Theatre's production of "My Fair Lady" starred Carey Curtis Smith (Henry Higgins), William S. Murphey (Colonel Pickering), Jackie Prucha (Mrs. Higgins) and Molly Coyne (Eliza Doolittle). CONTRIBUTED BY DAN CARMODY/STUDIO 7

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical

Molly Coyne for My Fair Lady at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Randi Garza for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Sarah Charles Lewis* for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Naima Carter Russell* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Julissa Sabino* for Rent at Actor's Express
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Charlie Brady* for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Carey Curtis Smith for My Fair Lady at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Travis Smith* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Will Swenson for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Jeremy Varner* for Rocket Boys at The Legacy Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

Jennifer Alice Acker for Rent at Actor's Express
Shannon Eubanks* for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Jeanette Illidge* for Rent at Actor's Express
Beth Leavel* for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Megan McFarland* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

Mark Cabus* for My Fair Lady at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Eric Moore* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Eugene Russell IV* for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Austin Tijerina for Rent at Actor's Express
Cecil Washington Jr* as Delray Jones for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
"Hands on a Hardbody" at Aurora Theatre. CONTRIBUTED BY CHRIS BARTELSKI
"Hands on a Hardbody" at Aurora Theatre. CONTRIBUTED BY CHRIS BARTELSKI

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Musical

The cast of Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company (M. McQueen*, B. Raymond, A. David, Jeremy Cohen*, S. Bean, C. Marshall)
The cast of Hands on a Hardbody at Aurora Theatre (Rob Lawhon*, Matt Lewis, Randi Garza, Ben Davis, Ricardo Aponte, Jeremy Wood, Laura Floyd, Wendy Melkonian*, Jeremy Aggers, Jessica Meisel, Diany Rodriguez*, Jill Hames, Steve Hudson, Eric Moore*, Matthew Sidney Morris)
The cast of Murder Ballad at Actor's Express (Kristen Alyson Browne*, Jessica De Maria, Jeremy Harrison, Kevin Harry)
The cast of Pump Boys & Dinettes at Georgia Ensemble Theatre (Dolph Amick, Molly Coyne, Chris Damiano*, Lyndsay Ricketson, Mark Schroeder, Jeremy Wood, Eric Moore*, Matthew Sidney Morris)
The cast of Ring of Fire at The Legacy Theatre (Amanda Bridgette, Daniel Burns, Paul Glodfelter, Mike Parker, Jeremy Varner*)

Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical

Gregg Barnes for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Shilla Benning for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Emmie Childers for My Fair Lady at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Toni-Leslie James for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Erik Teague and Abby Parker for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical

André Allen for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Jeff Croiter for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Kevin Frazier for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Joseph Futral for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Kenneth Posner for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre

Outstanding Scenic Design for a Musical

Kat Conley for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay for Evita at Serenbe Playhouse
Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay for Murder Ballad at Actor's Express
Derek McLane for Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre
Walt Spangler for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre

O utstanding Sound Design for a Musical

Angie Bryant for Rent at Actor's Express
Bobby Johnston for Chasin' Dem Blues at Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company
Brian Ronan for Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre
Leon Smith for Black Nativity at Dominion Entertainment Group
Daniel Terry for Memphis at Aurora Theatre & Theatrical Outfit
Cynthia D. Barker and Anthony Manough in Horizon Theatre's "Uprising, " by Gabrielle Fulton. CONTRIBUTED BY JAY BOWMAN
Cynthia D. Barker and Anthony Manough in Horizon Theatre's "Uprising, " by Gabrielle Fulton. CONTRIBUTED BY JAY BOWMAN

Outstanding World Premiere

Bull Durham at Alliance Theatre

The C.A. Lyons Project at Alliance Theatre

Edward Foote at Alliance Theatre

Tuck Everlasting at Alliance Theatre

Uprising at Horizon Theatre Company

Outstanding Production – Theatre for Young Audiences

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type at Center for Puppetry Arts

James and the Giant Peach at Alliance Theatre

Knuffle Bunny at Alliance Theatre

The Lizard and El Sol at Alliance Theatre

The 3 Little Pigs at Aurora Theatre

Outstanding Direction – Theatre for Young Audiences

Courage at Alliance Theatre, Director Rosemary Newcott

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type at Center for Puppetry Arts, Director – Jon Ludwig, Music Director – Dolph Amick

James and the Giant Peach at Alliance Theatre, Director – Rosemary Newcott, Choreographer – Ricardo Aponte, Music Director – Christopher Cannon

The Lizard and El Sol at Alliance Theatre, Director – Rosemary Newcott, Choreographer – Ricardo Aponte

The Secret Garden at Serenbe Playhouse, Director – Ryan Oliveti

Outstanding Design – Theatre for Young Audiences

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type at Center for Puppetry Arts, Puppet Designer – Jason Hines, Scenic Designer – Ryan Sbaratta, Lighting Designer – Liz Lee, Sound Designer – Gregory Montague, Costume Designer – Angela Malone

James and the Giant Peach at Alliance Theatre, Set Design – Kat Conley, Costume Design – Sydney Roberts, Lighting Design – Pete Shinn, Sound Design – Clay Benning

Lyle the Crocodile at Synchronicity Theatre, Scenic & Properties Design – Ryan Blackburn, Costume & Puppet Design – Scottie Rowell, Lighting & Sound Design – Kevin Frazier

The Secret Garden at Serenbe Playhouse, Garden Design – Cameron Watkins, Costume Design – Erik Teague, Sound Design – Daniel Pope

The 3 Little Pigs at Aurora Theatre, Set & Costume Designers – Isabel and Mariah Curley-Clay, Lighting Designer – Mike Post, Sound Designer – Thom Jenkins, Props Designer – Suzanne Cooper Morris

Outstanding Performance – Theatre for Young Audiences

Courage at Alliance Theatre, Ensemble - Lauren Boyd, Matt Felton, Stephanie Lloyd, J.L. Reed

James and the Giant Peach at Alliance Theatre, Ensemble - Caleb Clark, Molly Coyne, Benjamin Harding, Wendy Melkonian, Brandon O'Dell, Julissa Sabino, Googie Uterhardt, Jeremy Varner, Minka Wiltz

Knuffle Bunny at Alliance Theatre, Devon Hales

The Lizard and El Sol at Alliance Theatre, Julissa Sabino

Lyle the Crocodile at Synchronicity Theatre, Matt Baum

Devon Hales and Jeremiah Parker Hobbs in "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical" at the Alliance Theatre. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM
Devon Hales and Jeremiah Parker Hobbs in "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical" at the Alliance Theatre. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Special awards

The Suzi Bass Awards also presents four awards that are nominated by members or participating theaters: the Spirit of Suzi Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, the Callboard Award and the Volunteer of the Year award. The organization also names the publicly voted Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Season. And lastly, the Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award goes to an Atlanta playwright produced in the past season, and is decided by a special committee of educators, playwrights and theater professionals.

Nominations by theater company

Alliance Theatre – 51

Theatrical Outfit – 24

Actor’s Express – 21

Aurora Theatre – 20

Serenbe Playhouse – 11

Georgia Ensemble Theatre – 8

Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre – 8

Horizon Theatre – 5

Center for Puppetry Arts – 3

The Legacy Theatre – 2

Synchronicity Theatre – 2

Dominion Entertainment Group - 1

New American Shakespeare Tavern -1

Stage Door Players – 1

Nominations by production

Memphis

– 13

Tuck Everlasting – 12

Evita – 9

Rent – 8

Chasin' Dem Blues – 7

Edward Foote – 7

Silent Sky – 7

Blues for an Alabama Sky – 6

Bull Durham – 6

The C.A. Lyons Project – 5

The Whale – 5

James and the Giant Peach – 4

My Fair Lady – 4

Uprising – 4

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type – 3

The Elephant Man – 3

The Lizard and El Sol – 3

Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet – 3

My Children! My Africa!  – 3

The 3 Little Pigs – 2

A Christmas Carol – 2

Courage – 2

Clybourne Park – 2

The Explorers Club – 2

Knuffle Bunny – 2

Les Liaisons Dangereuses – 2

Lyle the Crocodile –2

Murder Ballad – 2

The Secret Garden – 2

Bad Jews – 1

Black Nativity – 1

Detroit – 1

Hands on a Hardbody – 1

How I Learned What I Learned – 1

Native Guard – 1

Pericles, Prince of Tyre – 1

Pump Boys and Dinettes – 1

Ring of Fire  - 1

Rocket Boys - 1

Steel Magnolias – 1

Storefront Church – 1

Sylvia – 1

Nominations by artist

Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay – 6

Clay Benning – 4

Ricardo Aponte – 3

Kat Conley – 3

Molly Coyne – 3

Rosemary Newcott – 3

Julissa Sabino – 3

Erik Teague – 3

Dolph Amick – 2

Freddie Ashley — 2

Jeremy Cohen – 2

David Crowe – 2

Danielle Deadwyler – 2

Matt Felton – 2

Kevin Frazier – 2

Randi Garza – 2

Steve Hudson – 2

Thom Jenkins – 2

Liz Lee – 2

Wendy Melkonian – 2

Eric Moore – 2

Matthew Sidney Morris– 2

Casey Nicholaw – 2

Mike Post – 2

Elizabeth Rasmusson -2

Jeremy Varner – 2

Jeremy Wood – 2

About the Author

hpousner

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