2010 Elliot Norton Award Winners

Boston's theater community gathered last night at the newly restored Paramount Theatre for the 2010 Elliot Norton Awards. Recognizing excellence in Boston theater, the awards are presented annually by The Boston Theatre Critics Association.

In a nod to the Tonys , the festivities included musical numbers from the three nominees for Outstanding Musical Production. The evening kicked off with the sassy "Masquerade" from "Phantom of the Oprah" by the Gold Dust Orphans. Selections from "Adding Machine: A Musical" (SpeakEasy Stage) and "Best of Both Worlds" (A.R.T.) followed, with "Adding Machine" ultimately walking away with the prize.

Among the top winners of the night: SpeakEasy Stage with a total of five awards covering "Adding Machine" and "Savannah Disputation;" Elevator Repair Service with three for their production of "Gatz" at the A.R.T; and Publick Theatre, which took home two awards for "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" and one for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Two "special" Norton Awards bookended the evening. Husband and wife actors Tony Shalhoub and Brooke Adams were in the spotlight as "Guests of Honor," while The Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence went to Karen MacDonald who was praised as "an actress of phenomenal versatility, who for three decades has enriched our stages with indelible characterizations."

As the first honorees, Shalhoub and Adams gave a funny speech that began with a deadpanning Adams questioning why they were in Boston instead of Chicago since the awards were named for Elliot Ness. With a history at the A.R.T., the couple is currently appearing on Broadway in "Lend Me A Tenor." (Photo above, Brooke Adams, Cherry Jones, Tony Shalhoub and Karen MacDonald.)

As the final honoree of the night, MacDonald gave a touching tribute to the many friends, mentors and colleagues who've played an integral part in her life and work.

A Special Citation went to Gamm Theatre "which, celebrating its 25th anniversary, has firmly established itself as a theatrical jewel in our region."

As well, StageSource presented their "Hero Award" to Michael Maso, managing director of the Huntington Theatre Company.

The always welcoming Joyce Kulhawik served as host for the night and kept the evening moving through the 23 presentations. Award categories are listed below, with the winners highlighted in blue.

OUTSTANDING VISITING PRODUCTION
“Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater
“Spring Awakening,” Broadway Across America
“Waiting for Godot,” Classical Theatre of Harlem at Institute of Contemporary Art

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION
“Adding Machine: A Musical,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
“Best of Both Worlds,” American Repertory Theater
“Phantom of the Oprah,” Gold Dust Orphans

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A LARGE COMPANY
"All My Sons,” Huntington Theatre Company
“Fences,” Huntington Theatre Company
“Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A MIDSIZE COMPANY
“Much Ado About Nothing,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project
“Reckless,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
“The Savannah Disputation,” SpeakEasy Stage Company

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A SMALL COMPANY
“Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” Publick Theatre Boston
“4:48 Psychosis,” Gamm Theatre Company
“The Life of Galileo,” Catalyst Collaborative@MIT and Underground Railway Theater

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A FRINGE COMPANY
“After the Quake,” Company One
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” Orfeo Group
“The Overwhelming,” Company One

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, LARGE COMPANY
John Collins, “Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater
Kenny Leon, “Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company
Diane Paulus, “The Donkey Show,” American Repertory Theater

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, MIDSIZE COMPANY
Paul Daigneault, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Scott Edmiston, “Reckless,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Paul Melone, “Adding Machine: A Musical,” SpeakEasy Stage Company

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, SMALL OR FRINGE COMPANY
Steven Barkhimer, “Complete Works of Wm Shakespeare (Abridged),” Orfeo Group
Larry Coen, “Phantom of the Oprah,” Gold Dust Orphans
Eric C. Engel, “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” Publick Theatre Boston

OUTSTANDING DESIGN, LARGE COMPANY
“The Comedy of Errors,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
“Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater
“Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING DESIGN, MIDSIZE, SMALL, OR FRINGE COMPANY
“Adding Machine: A Musical,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
“Island of Slaves,” Orfeo Group
“Phantom of the Oprah,” Gold Dust Orphans

OUTSTANDING NEW SCRIPT
Lydia R. Diamond, “Harriet Jacobs”
John Kuntz, “The Salt Girl”
Ryan Landry, “Phantom of the Oprah”

OUTSTANDING ACTOR, LARGE COMPANY
Seth Fisher, “Becky Shaw,” Huntington Theatre Company
Will Lyman, “All My Sons,” Huntington Theatre Company
Scott Shepherd, “Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, LARGE COMPANY
Crystal Fox, “Fences,” Huntington Theatre Company
Amber Iman, “Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company
Karen MacDonald, “All My Sons,” Huntington Theatre Company

OUTSTANDING ACTOR, SMALL, MIDSIZE, OR FRINGE COMPANY
Ross Bennett Hurwitz, “The Taming of the Shrew,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project
Jack Cutmore-Scott, “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” Publick Theatre Boston
Nigel Gore, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Publick Theatre Boston

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, SMALL, MIDSIZE, OR FRINGE COMPANY
Anne Gottlieb, “Not Enough Air,” Nora Theatre Company
Angie Jepson, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Publick Theatre Boston
Sandra Shipley, “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” Publick Theatre Boston

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Luke Grooms, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Liz Hayes, “Adding Machine: A Musical,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
Jeffery Roberson, “Phantom of the Oprah,” Gold Dust Orphans

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE
“The Savannah Disputation,” SpeakEasy Stage Company
“Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company
“Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater

SPECIAL CITATION FOR AN OUTSTANDING THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE
“Sleep No More,” Punchdrunk and American Repertory Theater

The affable Barry Rocklin once again provided piano accompaniment from the stage. A reception in the Black Box Theater capped the evening and allowed guests, nominees and winners to mix, mingle and bask in the glow of the festivities.

The awards are, of course, named for venerable theater critic Elliot Norton.

-- OnStage Boston

-- Photo: Leo Gozbekian

05/18/10

			SpeakEasy Stage Company Wins Big At 28th Annual Elliot Norton Awards By R. J. Donovan Boston's theater community gathered last night at the newly restored Paramount Theatre for the 2010 Elliot Norton Awards. Recognizing excellence in Boston theater, the awards are presented annually by The Boston Theatre Critics Association. In a nod to the Tonys , the festivities included musical numbers from the three nominees for Outstanding Musical Production. The evening kicked off with the sassy "Masquerade" from "Phantom of the Oprah" by the Gold Dust Orphans. Selections from "Adding Machine: A Musical" (SpeakEasy Stage) and "Best of Both Worlds" (A.R.T.) followed, with "Adding Machine" ultimately walking away with the prize. Among the top winners of the night: SpeakEasy Stage with a total of five awards covering "Adding Machine" and "Savannah Disputation;" Elevator Repair Service with three for their production of "Gatz" at the A.R.T; and Publick Theatre, which took home two awards for "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" and one for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Two "special" Norton Awards bookended the evening. Husband and wife actors Tony Shalhoub and Brooke Adams were in the spotlight as "Guests of Honor," while The Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence went to Karen MacDonald who was praised as "an actress of phenomenal versatility, who for three decades has enriched our stages with indelible characterizations." As the first honorees, Shalhoub and Adams gave a funny speech that began with a deadpanning Adams questioning why they were in Boston instead of Chicago since the awards were named for Elliot Ness. With a history at the A.R.T., the couple is currently appearing on Broadway in "Lend Me A Tenor." (Photo above, Brooke Adams, Cherry Jones, Tony Shalhoub and Karen MacDonald.) As the final honoree of the night, MacDonald gave a touching tribute to the many friends, mentors and colleagues who've played an integral part in her life and work. A Special Citation went to Gamm Theatre "which, celebrating its 25th anniversary, has firmly established itself as a theatrical jewel in our region." As well, StageSource presented their "Hero Award" to Michael Maso, managing director of the Huntington Theatre Company. The always welcoming Joyce Kulhawik served as host for the night and kept the evening moving through the 23 presentations. Award categories are listed below, with the winners highlighted in blue. OUTSTANDING VISITING PRODUCTION “Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater “Spring Awakening,” Broadway Across America “Waiting for Godot,” Classical Theatre of Harlem at Institute of Contemporary Art OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION “Adding Machine: A Musical,” SpeakEasy Stage Company “Best of Both Worlds,” American Repertory Theater “Phantom of the Oprah,” Gold Dust Orphans OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A LARGE COMPANY "All My Sons,” Huntington Theatre Company “Fences,” Huntington Theatre Company “Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A MIDSIZE COMPANY “Much Ado About Nothing,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project “Reckless,” SpeakEasy Stage Company “The Savannah Disputation,” SpeakEasy Stage Company OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A SMALL COMPANY “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” Publick Theatre Boston “4:48 Psychosis,” Gamm Theatre Company “The Life of Galileo,” Catalyst Collaborative@MIT and Underground Railway Theater OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION BY A FRINGE COMPANY “After the Quake,” Company One “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” Orfeo Group “The Overwhelming,” Company One SPECIAL CITATION Gamm Theatre OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, LARGE COMPANY John Collins, “Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater Kenny Leon, “Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company Diane Paulus, “The Donkey Show,” American Repertory Theater OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, MIDSIZE COMPANY Paul Daigneault, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” SpeakEasy Stage Company Scott Edmiston, “Reckless,” SpeakEasy Stage Company Paul Melone, “Adding Machine: A Musical,” SpeakEasy Stage Company OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR, SMALL OR FRINGE COMPANY Steven Barkhimer, “Complete Works of Wm Shakespeare (Abridged),” Orfeo Group Larry Coen, “Phantom of the Oprah,” Gold Dust Orphans Eric C. Engel, “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” Publick Theatre Boston OUTSTANDING DESIGN, LARGE COMPANY “The Comedy of Errors,” Commonwealth Shakespeare Company “Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater “Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company OUTSTANDING DESIGN, MIDSIZE, SMALL, OR FRINGE COMPANY “Adding Machine: A Musical,” SpeakEasy Stage Company “Island of Slaves,” Orfeo Group “Phantom of the Oprah,” Gold Dust Orphans OUTSTANDING NEW SCRIPT Lydia R. Diamond, “Harriet Jacobs” John Kuntz, “The Salt Girl” Ryan Landry, “Phantom of the Oprah” OUTSTANDING ACTOR, LARGE COMPANY Seth Fisher, “Becky Shaw,” Huntington Theatre Company Will Lyman, “All My Sons,” Huntington Theatre Company Scott Shepherd, “Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, LARGE COMPANY Crystal Fox, “Fences,” Huntington Theatre Company Amber Iman, “Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company Karen MacDonald, “All My Sons,” Huntington Theatre Company OUTSTANDING ACTOR, SMALL, MIDSIZE, OR FRINGE COMPANY Ross Bennett Hurwitz, “The Taming of the Shrew,” Actors’ Shakespeare Project Jack Cutmore-Scott, “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” Publick Theatre Boston Nigel Gore, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Publick Theatre Boston OUTSTANDING ACTRESS, SMALL, MIDSIZE, OR FRINGE COMPANY Anne Gottlieb, “Not Enough Air,” Nora Theatre Company Angie Jepson, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” Publick Theatre Boston Sandra Shipley, “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,” Publick Theatre Boston OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PERFORMANCE Luke Grooms, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” SpeakEasy Stage Company Liz Hayes, “Adding Machine: A Musical,” SpeakEasy Stage Company Jeffery Roberson, “Phantom of the Oprah,” Gold Dust Orphans OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE “The Savannah Disputation,” SpeakEasy Stage Company “Stick Fly,” Huntington Theatre Company “Gatz,” Elevator Repair Service at American Repertory Theater SPECIAL CITATION FOR AN OUTSTANDING THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE “Sleep No More,” Punchdrunk and American Repertory Theater The affable Barry Rocklin once again provided piano accompaniment from the stage. A reception in the Black Box Theater capped the evening and allowed guests, nominees and winners to mix, mingle and bask in the glow of the festivities. The awards are, of course, named for venerable theater critic Elliot Norton. -- OnStage Boston -- Photo: Leo Gozbekian 05/18/10

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