Angels in America leads Jessie nominations

The Arts Club Theatre Company’s recent production of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches — one of the 20th century’s most revered plays — leads the nominations for the 35th annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards with nine nods, including outstanding production.

Part one of the Tony Kushner written play (part two debuts this fall) also scored acting nominations for Damien Atkins, Ryan Beil, Craig Erickson and Gabrielle Rose.

Overall, the Arts Club lead in the large theatre category, earning nominations for eight productions and another 24 for individuals.

Aside from the large theatre category, the annual Vancouver event bestows awards in the small theatre and theatre for the young categories. The honours will be handed out at the Commodore Ballroom on Monday, June 26. Other productions pulling in multiple nominations include The Piano Teacher, Men in White, The Flick and Bard on the Beach’s Pericles, Brothel #9, Moonlodge and Théâtre la Seizième.

In the small theatre category, a whopping 20 theatre companies were recognized. Three of those companies each received six nominations; they include Walt Whitman’s Secret by the frank theatre company, Green Lake by Solo Collective and Redpatch by Hardline Productions.

Under the theatre for young audiences category, the Little Onion Puppet Company topped the list with five nominations, including outstanding production, for their production of Freddie in the Neighbourhood. Randi Edmundson and Jess Amy Shead are each nominated for both outstanding performance and outstanding design for their puppet creation.

— DAVID COOPER Damien Atkins, left, as Prior and Celine Stubel star as Harper in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, which has nine nominations, including one for Outstanding Production.