Music Theatre of Connecticut’s production of “Falsettoland” and Long Wharf Theatre’s “The Chinese Lady” and Hartford Stage’s “Lost in Yonkers” lead the shows nominated for the 30th annual Connecticut Critics Circle Awards.
The awards event, which celebrates the best in professional theater in the state, will be held Monday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. Kenneth Gartman, s New York City based singer, music director, and producer, will preside over the show which is free and open to the public.
“Falsettoland” earned six nominations, including outstanding actor in a musical, best director, and best musical. “The Chinese Lady” and “Lost in Yonkers” each received eight nods, including best actress, best director and best play.
Other outstanding play nominees are Westport Country Playhouse’s “Doubt,” Theaterworks Hartford’s “Walden,” and Playhouse on Park’s production of “The Agitators.”
Also earning outstanding musical nods are Playhouse on Park’s “Five Guys Named Moe,” Westport Country Playhouse’s “Next to Normal,” and A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut’s production of “Smokey Joe’s Café.”
In addition to the nominees, there will be two special awards presented at the ceremony. This year’s Tom Killen Memorial Award, presented for a lifetime of dedication to the theater and to theater in Connecticut, will be presented to Executive Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC), Kevin Connors. The award is named after Tom Killen, a talented young critic who died at the age of 33 in August 1989 and who helped found the Connecticut Critics Circle. Mr. Connors was also instrumental in leading MTC to become one of only three theaters in the country to have permission from Actors Equity and the CDC to open for live audiences after COVID-19 restrictions began to be lifted.
Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero and Theaterworks Hartford will receive a special award for the company’s tireless efforts and innovative means to bring streamed plays to Connecticut theater-goers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a time when audiences were not permitted in the theater, Theaterworks Hartford consistently produced high-quality streaming productions.
The 30th Annual Awards Ceremony is free and open to the public. To RSVP, visit the Connecticut Critics Circle website at http://www.ctcritics.org.
Other nominees are:
Outstanding Solo Performance
Cloteal L. Horne - Fires in the Mirror – Long Wharf
Matt Densky - Fully Committed – Music Theatre of CT
Alaudin Ullah – Dishwasher Dreams – Hartford Stage
Outstanding Debut
Ari Sklar – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT
Avanthika Srinivasan - Queen – Long Wharf
Outstanding Ensemble
Five Guys Named Moe – Playhouse on Park
Smokey Joe’s Cafe - ACT of CT
The Porch on Windy Hill – Ivoryton Playhouse
It’s a Wonderful Life – Hartford Stage
A Grand Night for Singing – Goodspeed Opera House
Outstanding Projections
RJ Romeo - The Mountaintop – Music Theatre of CT
Camilla Tassi - Fires in the Mirror – Long Wharf
Mark Holthusen - Dream House – Long Wharf
Outstanding Sound
Hao Bai - Walden – Theaterworks Hartford
Fabian Obispo - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf
Jay Hilton - A Grand Night for Singing – Goodspeed Opera House
Noel Nichols and Uptown Works - Today is My Birthday – Yale Rep
Outstanding Costume Design
Kara Harmon - Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous – Hartford Stage
Linda Cho - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf
An-Lin Dauber - Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage
Harry Nadal – Zoey’s Perfect Wedding – Theaterworks Hartford
Haydee Zelideth - Dream House – Long Wharf
Outstanding Lighting
Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew – Walden - Theaterworks Hartford
Jiyoun Chang - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf
Porsche McGovern - Fires in the Mirror – Long Wharf
Christopher Chamber - Nickel Mines – ACT of CT
Cory Pattak - Next to Normal – Westport Country Playhouse
Outstanding Set Design
You-Shin Chen – Walden - Theaterworks Hartford
Collette Pollard - Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous – Hartford Stage
Junghyun Georgia Lee - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf
Stephanie Osin Cohen - Dream House – Long Wharf
Daniel Nischan - Native Gardens – Ivoryton Playhouse
Outstanding Choreography
Stephanie Pope Lofgren – Smokey Joe’s Cafe - ACT of CT
Brittney Griffin – Five Guys Named Moe – Playhouse on Park
Andrew Palermo - Nickel Mines – ACT of CT
Amy Hall Garner - Choir Boy – Yale Rep
Lainie Sakakura - Cabaret – Goodspeed Opera House
Outstanding Actor – Musical
Dan Sklar – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT
David Lutken – The Porch on Windy Hill – Ivoryton Playhouse
Spiff Wiegand - Buddy Holly - Music Theatre of CT
Avionce Hoyles – Jesus Christ Superstar – ACT of CT
Austin Turner – Rent – ACT of CT
Outstanding Actress – Musical
Lisa Helmi Johanson -The Porch on Windy Hill – Ivoryton Playhouse
Susan Haefner – Tenderly – Music Theatre of CT
Dar. Lee. See. Ah. – Next to Normal - Westport Country Playhouse
Ayla Stackhouse - Star of Freedom – Ivoryton Playhouse
Aline Mayagoitia - Cabaret – Goodspeed Opera House
Outstanding Actor – Play
Eric Bryant – Doubt – Westport
Tom Holcomb - This Bitter Earth – Theaterworks Hartford
Damian Thompson - This Bitter Earth - Theaterworks Hartford
Chaz Rose – The Mountaintop – Music Theatre of CT
Gabriel Lawrence – The Agitators – Playhouse on Park
Outstanding Actress – Play
Shannon Tyo - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf
Betsy Aidem – Doubt – Westport Country Playhouse
Andrea Syglowski – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage
Stephanie Janssen – Queen – Long Wharf
Darilyn Castillo - Dream House - Long Wharf
Outstanding Featured Actor – Musical
Jeff Gurner – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT
Daniel J. Maldonado – Next to Normal - Westport Country Playhouse
Richard E. Waits - Star of Freedom – Ivoryton Playhouse
Bruce Landry - Cabaret – Goodspeed Opera House
Gordia Hayes – Rent – ACT of CT
Outstanding Featured Actress – Musical
Jessie Janet Richards – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT
Jennifer Smith – Cabaret – Goodspeed Opera House
Paloma D’Auria – Rent – ACT of CT
Outstanding Featured Actress – Play
Sharina Martin – Doubt – Westport Country Playhouse
Antoinette LaVecchia - Ah, Wilderness – Hartford Stage
Marsha Mason – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage
Liba Vaynberg – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage
Marianna McClellan - Dream House – Long Wharf
Outstanding Featured Actor – Play
Jon Norman Schneider – Chinese Lady – Long Wharf
Francis Jue – Today is My Birthday – Yale Rep
Jeff Skowron – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage
Michael Nathanson – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage
Allen Gilmore - Choir Boy – Yale Rep
Outstanding Director – Musical
Brittney Griffin – Five Guys – Playhouse on Park
Kevin Connors – Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT
Marcos Santana - Next to Normal - Westport Country Playhouse
Sherry Lutken – The Porch on Windy Hill - Ivoryton Playhouse
Outstanding Director – Play
Ralph B. Pena - The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf
Marsha Mason and Rachel Alderman – Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage
Laura Woolery - Dream House – Long Wharf
Mei Ann Teo – Walden - Theaterworks Hartford
Mark Lamos - Straight White Men - Westport Country Playhouse
Outstanding Production – Musical
Smokey Joe’s Cafe - ACT of CT
Five Guys Named Moe – Playhouse on Park
Falsettoland – Music Theatre of CT
Next to Normal – Westport Country Playhouse
Outstanding Production - Play
The Chinese Lady – Long Wharf
Doubt - Westport Country Playhouse
Walden – Theaterworks Hartford
Lost in Yonkers – Hartford Stage
The Agitators – Playhouse on Park
Nominations by Musicals
Falsettoland – 6
Next to Normal – 5
Cabaret – 4
Five Guys Named Moe – 4
The Porch on Windy City = 4
Rent – 3
Smokey Joe’s Café – 3
Nickel Mines – 2
Star of Freedom – 2
A Grand Night for Singing – 2
Tenderly – 1
Jesus Christ Superstar – 1
The Buddy Holly Story – 1
Nominations by Play
The Chinese Lady – 8
Lost in Yonkers – 8
Dream House – 6
Walden – 5
Doubt – 4
Fires in the Mirror – 3
Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous – 2
Choir Boy – 2
The Agitators – 2
Queen – 2
The Mountaintop – 2
This Bitter Earth – 2
Today is My Birthday – 1
Native Gardens – 1
Straight White Men – 1
Zoey’s Perfect Wedding – 1
Ah, Wilderness – 1
Fully Committed – 1
Dishwasher Dreams – 1
It’s a Wonderful Life - 1
