Monday, June 6, 2022

‘Falsettoland,’ ‘The Chinese Lady,’ and ‘Lost in Yonkers’ Top Connecticut Critics Circle Nominations

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


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