2015 has been a delightfully unsettling year for the Boston theatre scene. As a critic, I was always kept pleasantly off-kilter. I’ve been on football fields and in fairy tales. I’ve seen Shakespeare plays in courthouses, parks, and churches. I’ve seen fantastic shows directed by, staged by, and wonderfully performed by women. The latter was particularly gratifying to witness, given the sexist biases that persist in audiences, critics, and even in random passerby. I’m proud to have witnessed and written about the work produced by this vibrant community, and look forward to an even more kick-ass year in 2016. For now, it’s time to celebrate the best of 2015.
Any production that a My Entertainment World reviewer saw between January 1st and December 31st of 2015 is qualified for an award, so I have reviewed my notes to find the best productions, performances and other theatrical contributions of the year.
All nominees are invited to join our annual Nominee Interview Series. Please email boston@myentertainmentworld.ca for more information.
Be sure to check out our nominations for the MyTV Awards, MyCinema Awards and MyTheatre Awards in Toronto, London and New York and don’t forget to submit your votes for Fan Favourite in the comment section below, on Facebook and on Twitter using the hashtag #MyTheatreAwards.
Here are the nominees:
Best Dramaturgical Notes
Ramona Ostrowski, for Colossal (Company One Theatre)
Kirsten Bowen, notes reprinted with permission for appropriate (SpeakEasy Stage Company)
David N. Rogers, for Radium Girls (Flat Earth Theatre)
Molly FitzMaurice, for A Little Night Music (Huntington Theatre Company)
David N. Rogers, for The Farnsworth Invention (Flat Earth Theatre)
Best Lighting Design
Chris Bocchiaro, for Terra Nova (Flat Earth Theatre)
Stephen Petrilli, for Julius Caesar (Bridge Repertory Theatre)
PJ Strachman, for Six Degrees of Separation (Bad Habit Productions)
Mary Ellen Stebbins, for A Number (New Rep Theatre)
Chris Bocchiaro, for Kerplop! The Tale of the Frog Prince (imaginary beasts)
Best Scenic Design
Santo Loquasto, for The Second Girl (Huntington Theatre Company)
Alexander Grover, for Muckrakers (New Repertory Theatre)
Kathryn Lieber, for Colossal (Company One Theatre)
Kevin Deane Parker, for Six Degrees of Separation (Bad Habit Productions)
Courtney Nelson, for Dry Land (Company One Theatre)
Best Sound Design
Brad Smith, for Terra Nova (Flat Earth Theatre)
Kyle Serino, for The Farnsworth Invention (Flat Earth Theatre)
Andrew Duncan Will, for Dry Land (Company One Theatre)
Andrew Duncan Will, for Fufu and Oreos (Bridge Repertory Theatre)
Darby Smotherman, for Colossal (Company One Theatre)
Best Costume Design
Tyler Kinney, for appropriate (SpeakEasy Stage)
Liz Fenstermaker, for Orlando (Bad Habit Productions)
Robert Morgan, for A Little Night Music (Huntington Theatre Company)
Chelsea Kerl, for Taming of the Shrew (Brown Box Theatre)
Coriana Hunt Swartz, for Terra Nova (Flat Earth Theatre)
Best Ensemble
Kerplop! The Tale of the Frog Prince (imaginary beasts)
Terra Nova (Flat Earth Theatre)
Orlando (Bad Habit Productions)
Colossal (Company One Theatre)
The Winter’s Tale (Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company)
Best Actor
Brandon G. Green, for Intimate Apparel (Lyric Stage)
Chris Chiampa, for Terra Nova (Flat Earth Theatre)
Alex Molina, for Colossal (Company One Theatre)
Chris Larson, for The Farnsworth Invention (Flat Earth Theatre)
Nael Nacer, for A Number (New Repertory Theatre)
Best Actress
Obehi Janice, for Fufu and Oreos (Bridge Repertory Theatre)
Bridgette Hayes, for Radium Girls (Flat Earth Theatre)
Kamela Dolinova, for Terra Nova (Flat Earth Theatre)
Caroline Rose Markham, for Chalk (Fresh Ink Theatre)
Cassandra Meyer, for The Winter’s Tale (Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company)
Best Director
Jake Scaltreto, for Terra Nova (Flat Earth Theatre)
Sarah Gazdowicz, for The Winter’s Tale (Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company)
Jim Petosa, for Broken Glass (New Repertory Theatre)
Olivia D’Ambrosio, for Julius Caesar (Bridge Repertory Theatre)
Summer L. Williams, for Colossal (Company One Theatre)
Best Production
Terra Nova (Flat Earth Theatre)
Colossal (Company One Theatre)
The Farnsworth Invention (Flat Earth Theatre)
The Winter’s Tale (Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company)
Kerplop! The Tale of the Frog Prince (imaginary beasts)