22nd Annual Norton Awards Presented

Edward Albee Special Guest at Ceremonies

The 22nd annual Elliot Norton Awards were handed out last night at ceremonies held at Boston's Cutler Majestic Theatre.  WBZ-TV's Joyce Kulhawik once again served as affable host for the proceedings.

Honoring excellence in Boston theatre, the evening coincided with what would have been Elliot Norton's 101st birthday.

This year's special guest was award-winning playwright Edward Albee.  In an eloquent address to the gathered theater community, he spoke of the responsibility of theatre criticism and fondly remembered Elliot Norton's respect for the theater.

This year's winners included:

Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence
Paula Plum

Outstanding Production by a Visiting Company
“As You Like It”
Theatre Royal Bath
Presented by Broadway in Boston in association with Huntington Theatre

Outstanding Production by a Large Resident Company
“The Long Christmas Ride Home”
Trinity Repertory Company

Outstanding Production by a Small Resident Company
“Collected Stories”
Gloucester Stage Company

Outstanding Musical Production by a Large Resident Company
“Pacific Overtures”
North Shore Music Theatre

Outstanding Musical Production by a Small Resident Company
“Sweeney Todd”
New Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Production by a Local Fringe Company
“Jesus Hopped The A Train”
Company One

Outstanding Production by a Local Fringe Company
“Pussy On The House”
The Gold Dust Orphans

Outstanding Director, Large Company
Kevin Moriarty
“The Merry Wives of Windsor”
Trinity Repertory Company

Outstanding Director, Small Company
Rick Lombardo
“Sweeney Todd”
New Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Set Design
Yi Li Ming
“Snow In June”
American Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Actress, Large Company
Julie White
“Bad Dates”
Huntington Theatre Company

Outstanding Actress, Small Company
Leigh Barrett
“Jacques Brel”
“Sweeney Todd”
“Threepenny Opera”
“Follies”

Outstanding Actor, Large Company
Paxton Whitehead
“What The Butler Saw”
Huntington Theatre Company

Outstanding Actor, Small Company
Vincent E. Siders
“Jesus Hopped The A Train”
“Monticel”
“Our Lady of 121st Street”
Special Citation

Special Citation
Overture Productions
“Follies In Concert”

Special Citation
Puppet Showplace Theatre

The Norton Awards are selected and presented by the Boston Theatre Critics Association, consisting of Joyce Kulhawik, Ed Siegel, Terry Byrne, Jon Lehman, Carolyn Clay, Titicomb Cladwell, Bill Marx and Iris Fanger. 

-- OnStage Boston

5/18/04