2017 CT Critics Circle Awards Announced

’The Invisible Hand,’ ‘Next to Normal’ Top Shows at Connecticut Critics Awards

 

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. David Kennedy. Photo by Mara Lavitt, June 26, 2017.

FAIRFIELD — Westport Country Playhouse’s “The Invisible Hand” and TheaterWorks’ “Next to Normal” took top honors at the Connecticut Critics Circle Awards Monday night for best play and musical production of the 2016-17 season.

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Rob Ruggiero. Photo by Mara Lavitt, June 26, 2017.

 

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Bobby Conte Thornton. Photo by Mara Lavitt.  June 26, 2017, Fairfield, CT

The event, which honors the work of the state’s professional theaters, was held at Sacred Heart University’s Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts. Three-time Tony Award-nominee Terrence Mann was master of ceremonies. Performing was Bobby Conte Thornton, star of Broadway’s “A Bronx Tale.”

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Zach Schanne. Photo by Mara Lavitt, June 26, 2017.

Awards for outstanding actors in a musical went to Christiane Noll (“Next to Normal”) and Zach Schanne (“West Side Story,” Summer Theatre of New Canaan).

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Erik Bryant. Photo by Mara Lavitt, June 26, 2017.

Awards for outstanding actors in a play went to Eric Bryant (“The Invisible Hand”) and Vanessa R. Butler (“Queens for a Year,” Hartford Stage).

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Rob Ruggiero. Photo by Mara Lavitt, June 26, 2017.

Top directing awards went to Rob Ruggiero (“Next to Normal”) and David Kennedy (“The Invisible Hand”).

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Joshua Borenstein, managing director Long Wharf Theatre. Photo by Mara Lavitt.  June 26, 2017

Outstanding ensemble award went to the cast of Long Wharf Theatre’s production of Steve Martin’s “Meteor Shower;” debut award, Maya Keleher (“Next to Normal”); solo award, Jon Peterson (“He Wrote Good Songs” at Seven Angels Theatre); and choreography, Doug Shankman (“West Side Story,” Summer Theatre of New Canaan).

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Paulette Haupt. Photo by Mara Lavitt, June 26, 2017.

Paulette Haupt, who is ending her 40-year run this summer as artistic director of the National Music Theater Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, received the Tom Killen Award for lifetime service to the theater.

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Paxton Whitehead. Photo by Mara Lavitt, June 26, 2017.

Receiving special awards were actor Paxton Whitehead and actor-writer-gay youth advocate James Lecesne.

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Rhett Guter. Photo by Mara Lavitt, June 26, 2017.

Outstanding featured actors in a musical went to Rhett Guter for Goodspeed Musicals’ “Bye Bye Birdie” and Kate Simone (“Gypsy,” Music Theatre of Connecticut.

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield. Doug Shankman. Photo by Mara Lavitt.  June 26, 2017.

Outstanding featured actors in a play honors went to Mia Dillon (“Cloud 9” at Hartford Stage) and Cleavant Derricks (“The Piano Lesson,” Hartford Stage).

The Connecticut Critics Circle 27th Annual Awards, held at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield.  Photo by Mara Lavitt.  June 26, 2017.

Design awards went to Jane Shaw for sound (“The Comedy of Errors,” Hartford Stage), Darko Tresnjak for sets (“The Comedy of Errors”), Fabio Toblini (costumes, “The Comedy of Errors”) and John Lasiter for lighting, (“Next to Normal”).

Among the presenters were Obie-winning composer Kirsten Childs, actor-director-producer Jerry Adler, O’Neill Theater Center founder George White, former Goodspeed Musicals exec Michael Price, broadway.com editor-in-chief Paul Wontorek, SiriusXM Broadway radio host Julie James and Tony Award-winning designer Michael Yeargan.