Best of local theatre’s shortened season still in line for recognition
Although the season was cut short, Calgary theatre critics didn’t want to let all of the good productions go unnoticed.
So Calgary Herald theatre critic Louis B. Hobson, CBC’S Jonathan Love and Caroline Russell-king of The YYSCENE gathered in the time of the plague to come up with a list of nominations for the Calgary Theatre Critics Awards 2019-20 season. The awards, affectionally called “Critters,” will be virtual this year, streaming live on June 15 at 7 p.m. Organizers hope to present a full award show for 2021.
BEST TOURING SHOW
■ Let’s Run Away — Hpr/reworks Productions
■ No Change in the Weather — A Terra Bruce Production
■ Queer Blind Date — Hpr/spontaneous Theatre Production
■ We Will Rock You — Annerin Prwwwwoductions
BEST DIRECTION
■ Christian Berry — Old Stock, A Refugee Love Story
■ Paul Muir — A Christmas Story
■ Carey Perloff — The Merchant of Venice
■ Anita Rochon — Strangers on a Train
■ Nigel Shawn Williams — Disgraced
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
■ Denise Clarke — Strangers on a Train
■ Tyrell Crews — Noises Off
■ David Haysom — The Merchant of Venice
■ Bruce Horak — The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
■ Karen Johnson-diamond — Noises Off
■ Robert Kline — Last Christmas
BEST LEADING PERFORMANCE
■ Praneet Akilla — Iceland
■ Elinor Holt — The Pink Unicorn
■ Nathan Kay — Strangers on a Train
■ Evan Kinnane — The Louder We Get
■ Seana Mckenna — The Merchant of Venice
■ Zach Running Coyote — Snowblind
BEST ORIGINAL PLAY
■ Bliss — Jamie Dunsdon
■ Snowblind — Zach Running Coyote
■ Men Express Their Feelings — Sunny Drake
■ The Dinner Party — Christopher Duthie
■ Sherlock Holmes and the Raven’s Curse — R. Hamilton Wright
BEST DESIGN
■ Brian Ball — A Christmas Story
■ Anton de Groot — Noises Off
■ Terry Gunvordahl — Matilda the Musical
■ Hanne Loosen — The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
■ Scott Reid — A Christmas Carol
BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
■ The Louder We Get — Theatre Calgary
■ Mamma Mia! — Stage West
■ Naughty But Nice (Six in the City)
— Forte Musical Theatre Guild
■ Old Stock, A Refugee Love Story
— ATP
BEST PLAY PRODUCTION
A Christmas Story — Rosebud Theatre
■ Disgraced — ATP
■ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — ATP
■ Noises Off — TC
■ Strangers on a Train — Vertigo
In addition to the nominations, the Calgary Theatre Critics are giving honorary awards to Joyce Doolittle and John Murrell for their inestimable contributions to theatre in Calgary.