On pause for a pandemic, but not forgotten
53 Vancouver productions honoured online at this year’s Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards
For the first time in the 38-year history of the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards, the 2020 ceremony will be held online.
A total of 53 productions are represented, with awards divided between three categories: large theatre, small theatre and theatre for young audiences.
There are also some special category awards.
Leading the large theatre category is Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre’s production Kuroko, which scored nine nominations, including one for outstanding production.
Kuroko writer Tetsuro Shigematsu was nominated for outstanding original script. Kuroko designer Christine Reimer was a double nominee, as her creations for both Kuroko and Noises Off were nominated for costume design.
The Arts Club Theatre Company
received a dozen nominations for four productions — Noises Off received eight of these — and also acquired another 11 nominations for five productions that were partnered with other companies, including Matilda The Musical (with Citadel Theatre and Manitoba Theatre Centre).
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival also received a dozen nominations for its season, including five nominations for Coriolanus. Actor Moya O’Connell’s performance in that play was nominated for outstanding lead performance.
Pacific Theatre’s Best of Enemies earned seven nominations, and the company’s productions of The Cake and Mother of the Maid each had a nomination for performances. Other companies that received nominations included Alley Theatre and Touchstone Theatre in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre and Community Partnership with Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre; Théâtre la Seizième; Le NoShow Vancouver; Zee Zee Theatre; and the Cultch.
The small theatre category saw Slamming Door Artist Collective’s period piece The Sea and The Search Party’s
The Father both get eight nominations. Ensemble Theatre Company also took eight nominations spread over three productions, including Superior Donuts.
Patrick Street Productions’ musical cabaret Herringbone secured five nominations, including one each for lead actors Peter Jorgensen and Luisa Jojic, who alternated performances in the show. Raincity Theatre’s musical production of Sondheim’s Company nabbed four nods. Four other small companies each received a trio of nominations — rice and beans theatre (in partnership with Playwrights Theatre Centre), Saint FiFi Collective, Third Wheel Productions, and Sol Theatre Collective. Nine other small theatre category productions also received nominations.
Carousel Theatre for Young People’s production of Bad Hats Theatre’s Peter Pan led the theatre for young audiences category with five nominations.
Both actors Marlene Ginader and Kelli Ogmundson were singled out for performances, as was Chelsea Rose in Axis Theatre Company’s Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish. Green Thumb Theatre, Beach House Theatre and Vancouver International Children’s Festival/Boca del Lupo also received category nominations.
Additional awards include Vancouver Now Representation and Inclusion Award, Patron of the Arts Award, Mary Phillips Prize, the Ray Michal Prize for Emerging Director, the Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, the John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award, the Critics’ Choice Innovation Award, and the GVPTA Career Achievement Award.