SpeakEasy Stage and The Huntington
Tie With Four Honors Each
At 27th Annual Elliot Norton Awards

Boston's theater community gathered on May 11 for the annual Elliot Norton Awards, recognizing excellence in Greater Boston theater.  Hosted by Joyce Kulhawik, the 27th annual ceremonies were held at Sanders Theatre on the campus of Harvard University.

Playing to a packed house, the evening got underway with a performance by two of the cast members from "Spring Awakening," currently playing at The Colonial Theatre.  Blake Bashoff and Steffi D sang their "I Don't Do Sadness / Blue Wind" duet.

The first celebrity thrill of the evening came via Al Pacino, who was in the house to accept a special posthumous Norton on behalf of his friend, Paul Benedict.  Just as Pacino has called Boston his second home, Benedict maintained a long and happy relationship with the Boston theater world.   Despite being described by Theatre Company of Boston's Harold Wheeler as "shy," Pacino was an affable guest, reminiscing about first meeting Paul at the TCB and sharing stories of their friendship through the years. 

As Benedict was also a lover of good jokes, Pacino shared two of his favorites, one about an actor entering the Pearly Gates and the second about a birthday party for a baby octopus.  Following his acceptance, Pacino made a quick retreat that mirrored the speedy way he had previously taken his front row seat as the house lights dimmed (and the cameras flashed).

The other two special awards of the evening went to Joyce Kulhawik and Rick Lombardo, respectively. 

Kulhawik (at left) was presented with StageSource's Theatre Hero Award for her long standing commitment to covering the arts in Boston, while the Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence was presented to Lombardo, former Artistic Director of New Repertory Theatre (since relocated to California to accept a similar position at San Jose Rep). 

While Kulhawik offered a touching acceptance that obviously came from the heart, Lombardo gave the longest speech of the night, going on without any real direction for almost 20 minutes.  This was the final award of the evening, and while Lombardo's initial comments were interesting enough, the sermon began to wear thin when he shared a self-serving story about battling with his first Managing Director at New Rep, who, in an unnecessary moment, he mentioned by name. He later transitioned into the dire state of the economy.  From theater company budget cuts to the financial plight of actors only being made worse, he brought a previously joyful celebration to a restless finish as the audience shifted in their seats.

The other winners, to their credit, were gracious and succinct. Acclaimed actress Kate Burton, who has become a regular member of the community through her work in Williamstown and at the Huntington, delivered a lovely thank you after being named Best Actress for her work in "The Corn Is Green."  She also accepted the Best Director award on behalf of Nicholas Martin.

When all the numbers were tallied, SpeakEasy Stage Company and The Huntington Theatre Company tied with four awards each. That's Director Scott Edmiston and SpeakEasy's Artistic Director Paul Daigneault at left. Edmiston was named Best Director for his work on "The History Boys" and "The Light in the Piazza" at SpeakEasy Stage as well as "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" at Lyric Stage Company of Boston.

The full list of winners (highlighted in red) is as follows.

OUTSTANDING VISITING PRODUCTION
"Aurelia’s Oratorio," American Repertory Theatre
"Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell," Institute of Contemporary Art
"Wishful Drinking," Huntington Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING DESIGN, SMALL/MIDSIZE COMPANY
David R. Gammons (set), "The Duchess of Malfi" (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)
Janie E. Howland (set), "Eurydice" (New Repertory Theatre) and "The History Boys" (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Susan Zeeman Rogers (set), "The Light in the Piazza" (SpeakEasy Stage Company)

OUTSTANDING DESIGN, LARGE COMPANY
James Noone (set), "The Corn Is Green" (Huntington Theatre Company)
Francis O’Connor (set and costumes), "Two Men of Florence" (Huntington Theatre Company)
Douglas W. Schmidt (set), "Rock ’n’ Roll" (Huntington Theatre Company, in association with American Conservatory Theater)

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Elizabeth Aspenlieder, "Bad Dates" (Merrimack Repertory Theatre)
Nancy E. Carroll, "The Year of Magical Thinking" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)
Ken Howard, "According to Tip" (New Repertory Theatre)

OUTSTANDING NEW SCRIPT
Dick Flavin, "According to Tip" (New Repertory Theatre)
Ryan Landry (book and lyrics), Ryan Landry and Billy Hough (music), "Whizzin’" (Gold Dust Orphans)
Joyce Van Dyke, "The Oil Thief" (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, SMALL/FRINGE COMPANY
Akiba Abaka, "In the Continuum" (Up You Mighty Race)
Judy Braha, "The Oil Thief" (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
Summer L. Williams, "Voyeurs de Venus" (Company One)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, MIDSIZE COMPANY
Scott Edmiston, "The History Boys" and "The Light in the Piazza" (SpeakEasy Stage Company) and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)
David R. Gammons, "Blackbird" (SpeakEasy Stage Company) and "The Duchess of Malfi" (Actors’ Shakespeare Project)
Carmel O’Reilly, "The Seafarer" (SpeakEasy Stage Company)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, LARGE COMPANY
Nicholas Martin, "She Loves Me" and "The Corn Is Green" (Huntington Theatre Company)
Carey Perloff, "Rock ’n’ Roll" (Huntington Theatre Company, in association with American Conservatory Theater)
Marcus Stern, "Endgame" (American Repertory Theatre)

OUTSTANDING ACTOR, SMALL/MIDSIZE COMPANY
Will Lyman, "Exits and Entrances" (New Repertory Theatre) and "The Oil Thief" (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre)
Richard Snee, "November" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)
Spiro Veloudos, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, SMALL/MIDSIZE COMPANY
Marianna Bassham, "Blackbird" (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
Georgia Lyman, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston) and "Look Back in Anger" (Orfeo Group)
Annette Miller, "Martha Mitchell Calling" (Nora Theatre Company)

OUTSTANDING ACTOR, LARGE COMPANY
Brooks Ashmanskas, "She Loves Me" (Huntington Theatre Company)
Larry Coen, "As You Like It" (Free Shakespeare, presented by Citi Performing Arts Center)
Fred Sullivan, Jr., "As You Like It" (Free Shakespeare, presented by Citi Performing Arts Center) and "Blithe Spirit" (Trinity Repertory Company)

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, LARGE COMPANY
Kate Burton, "The Corn Is Green" (Huntington Theatre Company)
Karen MacDonald, "Endgame" and "The Seagull" (American Repertory Theatre)
Cigdem Onat, "The Cry of the Reed "(Huntington Theatre Company)

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE
"The History Boys" (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
"The Seafarer" (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
"Speech & Debate" (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A FRINGE COMPANY
"In the Continuum," Up You Mighty Race
"Look Back in Anger," Orfeo Group
"Voyeurs de Venus," Company One

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A SMALL COMPANY
"Awake and Sing!," Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre
"Faith Healer," Publick Theatre
"QED," Catalyst Collaborative @ MIT and Underground Railway Theater

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A MIDSIZE COMPANY
"The History Boys," SpeakEasy Stage Company
"The Seafarer," SpeakEasy Stage Company
"Speech & Debate," Lyric Stage Company of Boston

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A LARGE COMPANY
"The Corn Is Green," Huntington Theatre Company
"Endgame," American Repertory Theatre
"Rock ’n’ Roll," Huntington Theatre Company, in association with American Conservatory Theater

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION
"The Light in the Piazza," SpeakEasy Stage Company
"She Loves Me," Huntington Theatre Company
"Show Boat," North Shore Music Theatre

SPECIAL CITATION
The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, housed at Boston University

NORTON PRIZE FOR SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE
Rick Lombardo

Throughout the ceremonies, musical accompaniment was provided by Barry Rocklin. The celebration was capped with a lobby reception with goodies provided by the kind folks at Upstairs On The Square.

-- Photos: Leo Gozbekian

-- OnStage Boston