Jessie nominations reflect bustling local theatre scene

The nominees for the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards were announced Tuesday at the Vancouver TheatreSports League Improv Centre on Granville Island.

The awards, which will be handed out at a ceremony at the Commodore Ballroom on June 22, are divided into three categories: large theatre, small theatre, and theatre for young audiences.

Seven companies earned nominations in the large theatre category. The Arts Club Theatre Company led the large category with 19 nominations, with seven of those going to St. Joan, including nominations in the lead and supporting role categories for Meg Roe and Dean Paul Gibson, respectively.

Pacific Theatre followed the Arts Club with 11 nominations, with eight of those nods to The Whipping Man, including lead and supporting roles for Tom Pickett and Robert Salvador, respectively.

Theatre la Seizieme picked up a total of 16 nominations, split down the middle between the large and young audiences categories.

The busiest category for nominations has been for small theatres, with 21 theatre companies collecting selections.

Of the 23 productions nominated, Pi Theatre’s production of Blasted received eight nominations followed by Itsazoo Productions’ presentation of The Competition is Fierce, with seven nods.

Finally, leading the nominations in the theatre for young audiences category with five each are Carousel Theatre for Young People for James and the Giant Peach and The Little Prince by Monster Theatre.

Additional awards that will be presented at the June 22 Jessie ceremony include the Patron of the Arts Award, the Mary Phillips Prize, the Ray Michal Prize for Emerging Director, the Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer and the GVPTA Career Achievement Award.

For more information and tickets ($29.50) for the awards show, call Ticketmaster at 1-855-985-5000 or visit ticketmaster.ca.