FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON, the Alliance and Aurora theaters dominate nominations for the annual Suzi Bass Awards (Atlanta’s version of Broadway’s Tonys). The Alliance scored 25 nominations and the Aurora, in Lawrenceville, 22. Aurora’s recent Les Miserables alone earned 15 nods.
The awards are named for the late Suzi Bass, a force of nature who appeared on stages all over town from the late 1970s until her death in 2002.
The winners will be announced Nov. 4 at the ninth annual awards ceremony, one of the biggest parties in town. They’ll again be held at the Porter Sanford III Performing Arts Center in Decatur.
In all, 17 metro companies were nominated for awards in 26 categories. Aurora’s Les Miz earned nods for musical production, director Justin Anderson, lead actress Natasha Drena (Fantine), lead actors Bryant Smith (Valjean) and Kevin Harry (Javert), featured actresses Leslie Bellair (Eponine) and Marcie Millard (Madame Thenardier), featured actors Anthony P. Rodriguez (Thenardier) and Michael Stiggers (Marius), musical direction by Ann-Carol Pence, choreography by Sarah Turner Sechelski, costumes by Alan Yeong, lighting design by Mike Post, scenic design by Phillip Male and sound design by Daniel Terry.
Three performers each earned two nominations: lead actor Harry for Les Miserables and Atlanta Lyric Theatre’s Ragtime (Coalhouse Walker Jr.); Suehyla El-Attar as featured actress in a play for 7 Stages’ Angry Fags and Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s Swell Party; and Bryant Smith as lead actor for Les Miserables and Kiss of the Spider Woman at Actor’s Express.
Playwright Topher Payne is nominated twice in the world premiere category for Angry Fags and Swell Party. Lighting designer Liz Lee earned three nominations for work at the Alliance and the Center for Puppetry Arts. In addition to his Les Miz nod, Anderson also is nominated for his direction of Angry Fags.
Every season worthy nominees are left out, it’s the nature of awards. Did Assassins at Fabrefaction Theatre not happen, for instance? At least three of its actors — Steve Hudson (Charles Guiteau), Jeremy Wood (Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald) and Brian Clowdus (John Wilkes Booth) — warranted nominations. What about the Alliance’s Bike America? Other notable oversights include Hudson’s Man in Chair in Aurora’s The Drowsy Chaperone, Stacy Melich as the main character in Lady Lay at 7 Stages. There’s plenty to debate until Suzi night arrives.
Here’s a complete list of nominees:
Musical production
- The Ghastly Dreadfuls: The Last Ghast at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Next to Normal at Alliance Theatre
- Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Zorro at Alliance Theatre
Play production
- Equus at Actor’s Express
- Fly at Theatrical Outfit
- Time Stands Still at Horizon Theatre
- A Walk in the Woods at Serenbe Playhouse
- The Whipping Man at Alliance Theatre
World premiere production
- Angry Fags by Topher Payne at 7 Stages
- The Great McAnigan by Dave Lauby at The Collective Project
- Shakin’ the Rafters by Robert Deason at True Colors Theatre Company
- Swell Party by Topher Payne at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
- Wolves by Steve Yockey at Actor’s Express
Theater for Youth production
- The Adventures of Mighty Bug at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Brer Rabbit and Friends at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Petite Rouge at Aurora Theatre and Synchronicity Theatre
- Unnecessary Monsters at Aurora Theatre
- The Velveteen Rabbit at Serenbe Playhouse
Director/musical
- Alan Kilpatrick for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Anne Towns for The Drowsy Chaperone at Aurora Theatre
- Jon Ludwig for The Ghastly Dreadfuls: The Last Ghast at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Justin Anderson for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Scott Schwartz for Next to Normal at Alliance Theatre
Lead actress/musical
- Alison Brannon Wilhoit for Legally Blonde at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Catherine Porter for Next to Normal at Alliance Theatre
- Christy Baggett for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Liberty Cogan for Kiss of the Spider Woman at Actor’s Express
- Natasha Drena for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
Lead actor/musical
- Adam Jacobs for Zorro at Alliance Theatre
- Bryant Smith for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Craig Waldrip for Kiss of the Spider Woman at Actor’s Express
- Kevin Harry for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Kevin Harry for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
Featured actress/musical
- Adrienne Reynolds for Shakin’ the Rafters at True Colors Theatre Company
- Leslie Bellair for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Marcie Millard for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Mary Nye Bennett for Legally Blonde at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Natascia Diaz for Zorro at Alliance Theatre
Featured actor/musical
- Anthony P. Rodriguez for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Bryant Smith for Kiss of the Spider Woman at Actor’s Express
- Geoff Uterhardt for Next to Normal at Alliance Theatre
- Jimi Kocina for Sweet Charity at Aurora Theatre
- Michael Stiggers for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
Ensemble/musical
- Beehive at Atlanta Lyric Theatre (Mary Nye Bennett, Christy Clark, Jamie Wood Katz, Lisa Manuli, Chimere Scott and Kayce Grogan-Wallace)
- The Fabulous Lipitones at Theatrical Outfit (Daniel Hilton, Tom Key, William S. Murphey, and Glenn Rainey)
- The Ghastly Dreadfuls: The Last Ghast at Center for Puppetry Arts (Scott DePoy, Kristin Haverty, Reay Kaplan, Jon Ludwig, Spencer G. Stephens, Robert Strickland and Jason von Hinezmeyer)
- The Gifts of the Magi at Theatrical Outfit (Nick Arapoglou, Caroline Freedlund, Jeff McKerley, Bernardine Mitchell, Glenn Rainey and Adrienne Reynolds)
- I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Stage Door Players (Laura Floyd, Erin Meadows, Craig Waldrip and Jeremy Wood)
Music direction
- Ann-Carol Pence for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- BJ Brown for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Boko Suzuki for Next to Normal at Alliance Theatre
- Fred Lassen for Zorro at Alliance Theatre
- Michael Monroe for The Fabulous Lipitones at Theatrical Outfit
Choreography
- Bethany Hayes Smith for Tarzan at Legacy Theatre
- Jevares C. Myrick for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Karen Hebert for Anything Goes at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Rafael Amargo for Zorro at Alliance Theatre
- Sarah Turner Sechelski for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
Costume design/musical
- Alan Yeong for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Amanda McGee for Tarzan at Legacy Theatre
- Jamie Bullins and Stephanie Kaskel Bogle for The Ghastly Dreadfuls: The Last Ghast at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Lindsey Goodson Paris for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Tom Piper for Zorro at Alliance Theatre
Lighting design/musical
- Ben Ormerod for Zorro at Alliance Theatre
- Liz Lee for The Ghastly Dreadfuls: The Last Ghast at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Mary Parker for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Mike Baldassari for Next to Normal at Alliance Theatre
- Mike Post for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
Scenic design/musical
- Joshua Flannigan for The Ghastly Dreadfuls: The Last Ghast at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Kat Conley for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Kevin Rigdon for Next to Normal at Alliance Theatre
- Phillip Male for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Tom Piper for Zorro at Alliance Theatre
Sound design/musical
- Bobby Johnston for Hair at Serenbe Playhouse
- Bobby Johnston for Ragtime at Atlanta Lyric Theatre
- Daniel Terry for Les Miserables at Aurora Theatre
- Gregory Montague, Kristin von Hinezmeyer & Mimi Epstein for The Ghastly Dreadfuls: The Last Ghast at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Kai Harada for Zorro at Alliance Theatre
Director/play
- Alexander Greenfield for The Whipping Man at Alliance Theatre
- David Crowe for Equus at Actor’s Express
- Justin Anderson for Angry Fags at 7 Stages
- Lisa Adler for Time Stands Still at Horizon Theatre
- Melissa Foulger for Wolves at Actor’s Express
- Patdro Harris for Fly at Theatrical Outfit
Lead actress/play
- Carolyn Cook for Time Stands Still at Horizon Theatre
- Crystal Fox for What I Learned in Paris at Alliance Theatre
- Kate Buddeke for Good People at Alliance Theatre
- Minka Wiltz for Every Tongue Confess at Horizon Theatre
- Veronika Duerr for The Summer of Daisy Faye at Marietta Theatre
Lead actor/play
- Allen Edwards for A Walk in the Woods at Serenbe Playhouse
- Andrew Benator for Seminar at Actor’s Express
- Nick Arapoglou for My Name Is Asher Lev at Theatrical Outfit
- Rob Cleveland for Master Harold … and the Boys at Aurora Theatre
- Theo Harness for Visiting Mr. Green at Stage Door Players
Featured actress/play
- Ann Marie Gideon for Time Stands Still at Horizon Theatre
- Bernardine Mitchell for Every Tongue Confess at Horizon Theatre
- Suehyla El-Attar for Angry Fags at 7 Stages
- Suehyla El-Attar for Swell Party at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
- Tess Malis Kincaid for Swell Party at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Featured actor/play
- Barrett Doyle for Seminar at Actor’s Express
- Brian Kurlander for My Name Is Asher Lev at Theatrical Outfit
- Chris Kayser for Time Stands Still at Horizon Theatre
- J.C. Long for The Tempest at the New American Shakespeare Tavern
- John Stewart for The Whipping Man at Alliance Theatre
Ensemble/play
- The Book Club Play at Horizon Theatre (John Benzinger, Bryan Brendle, Danielle Deadwyler, Wendy Melkonian, Maria Rodriguez-Sager and Dan Triandiflou)
- Fly at Theatrical Outfit (John E. Doyle, Fenner Eaddy, Joel Ishman, Brian Kurlander, Eric J. Little, J.C. Long and Doc Waller)
- Lark Eden at Aurora Theatre (Rachel Garner, Naima Carter Russell and Minka Wiltz)
- Tales of Edgar Allan Poe at Center for Puppetry Arts (Luis R. Hernandez, Reay Kaplan and Rudy Roushdi)
- Wolves at Actor’s Express (Brian Crawford, Kate Donadio, Clifton Guterman and Joe Sykes)
Costume design/play
- Alexandra Matthews for The Great McAnigan at The Collective Project
- Anne Carole Butler for The Tempest at the New American Shakespeare Tavern
- Jamie Bullins for Tales of Edgar Allan Poe at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Lex Liang for What I Learned in Paris at Alliance Theatre
- Linda Patterson for Swell Party at Georgia Ensemble Theatre
Lighting design/play
- Andre C. Allen for The Mountaintop at True Colors Theatre Company
- Ben Tilley for Wolves at Actor’s Express
- Liz Lee for Tales of Edgar Allan Poe at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Liz Lee for The Whipping Man at Alliance Theatre
- Mary Parker & Rob Dillard for Fly at Theatrical Outfit
Scenic design/play
- Collette Pollard for Good People at Alliance Theatre
- F. Elaine Williams for Tales of Edgar Allan Poe at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Isabel A. Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay for Betrayal at Aurora Theatre
- Isabel A. Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay for Time Stands Still at Horizon Theatre
- Jason Sherwood for The Whipping Man at Alliance Theatre
Sound design/play
- Atlanta Shakespeare Company for The Tempest at the New American Shakespeare Tavern
- Dan Bauman for It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at Stage Door Players
- Dan Bauman for Wolves at Actor’s Express
- Gregory Montague & Brian Kettler for Tales of Edgar Allan Poe at Center for Puppetry Arts
- Jonathan Summers for Fly at Theatrical Outfit
Nominations by theater company
- Alliance — 24
- Aurora — 22
- Center for Puppetry Arts —15
- Atlanta Lyric — 14
- Actor’s Express — 12
- Theatrical Outfit — 10
- Horizon Theatre — 9
- Georgia Ensemble Theatre — 4
- Serenbe Playhouse — 4
- 7 Stages — 3
- Stage Door Players — 3
- New American Shakespeare Tavern — 3
- True Colors — 3
- The Collective Project — 2
- Legacy Theatre — 2
- Marietta Theatre (no longer producing) — 1
- Synchronicity Theatre — 1
Another oversight in my opinion is Freddie Ashley for his vision of Spiderwoman at Actor’s Express. With the three principals all receiving nods (Liberty Cogen, Craig Waldrip and Bryant Smith), I can’t help but ask “Does Suzi think they directed themselves?”
Good question, Dan. Thanks for reading and taking the time to respond. Much to debate until the Nov. 4 ceremony. –Kathy
Clifton Guterman’s excellent performance in Wolves was recognized by the Suzi judges. Wolves was nominated for best Ensemble (Play). The Artistic Director of the producing theater makes the call whether a show will be put in as an ensemble or for individual acting awards. In this case, Freddie Ashley put Wolves in as an ensemble and, for that reason, Clifton and the other actors could not be considered for individual acting awards.
I personally thought Pinch n Ouch had some notables first works that deserved consideration – cutting edge and thought provoking.