The nominees for the 21st Annual Black Theater Alliance/Ira Aldridge Awards have been announced. The awards, founded in 1995, honor African Americans who achieve excellence in theater, dance and all areas of the performing arts in the Chicagoland area. The nominees listed here were involved with productions presented between Aug. 1, 2014 through July 31, 2015.
The winners will be named at the BTA Awards, to be held Oct. 19 at Northeastern Illinois University’s Jacob Carruthers Center for Inner-City Studies, 700 East Oakwood Blvd. A reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the BTA Awards presentation at 6:30 p.m. For tickets ($40 for BTAA nominees and $50 for guest of nominees and the general public), call (773) 624-5729, or email btaainc@hotmail.com.
Here is a complete list of the nominations:
+ The Negro Ensemble Company Award for Outstanding Stage Production:
“Genesis” – Definition Theatre Company
“Lest We Forget “– Muntu Dance Theatre Of Chicago
“Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“Twisted Melodies” – Congo Square Theatre Company
“Why Not Me? A Sammy Davis Jr. Story” – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
+ The Target Community Relations Award for Best Ensemble:
“Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“The Projects” – The American Theater Company
“Waiting For Godot” – Court Theatre
+ The Lloyd Richards Award for Best Direction of a Play (Drama or Comedy)
Robert O’Hara – “Marie Antoinette” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Ron OJ Parson – “Waiting For Godot” – Court Theatre
Chuck Smith – “Two Trains Running” – Goodman Theatre
Regina Taylor – “Stop. Reset.” – Goodman Theatre
+ The Oscar Brown, Jr. Award for Best Direction of a Play (Musical or Revue):
Daryl Brooks – “Men of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Lili-Anne Brown – “Princess Mary Demands Your Attention” – Bailiwick Chicago
Tim Rhoze – “Why Not Me? A Sammy Davis, Jr. Story” – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
Samuel G. Roberson, Jr. – “Twisted Melodies” – Congo Square Theatre Company
+ The Lorraine Hansberry Award for Best Writing of a Play:
Marcus Gardley – “An Issue Of Blood” – Victory Gardens Theater
Aaron Holland – “Princess Mary Demands Your Attention” – Bailiwick Chicago
Tim Rhoze – “Why Not Me? A Sammy Davis, Jr. Story” – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
Kelvin Roston, Jr. – “Twisted Melodies” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Regina Taylor – “Stop. Reset.” – Goodman Theatre
+ The Sidney Poitier Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play (Drama or Comedy):
Anthony Conway – “Mud, River, Stone” – Eclipse Theatre Company
Jerod Haynes – “Native Son” – Court Theatre
Kenn E. Head – “The Projects” – American Theatre Company
Eugene Lee – “Stop. Reset”. – Goodman Theatre
Tyrone Phillips – “Genesis” – Definition Theatre Company
+ The Ossie Davis Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (Drama or Comedy:
Terry Bellamy – “Two Trains Running” – Goodman Theatre
Allen Gilmore – “Waiting For Godot” – Court Theatre
Chester M. Gregory – “Two Trains Running” – Goodman Theatre
Michael Pogue – “Stickfly” – Windy City Playhouse
Edgar Miquel Sanchez – “Stop. Reset.” – Goodman Theatre
Travis Turner – “The Upstairs Concierge” – Goodman Theatre
+ The Sammy Davis, Jr. Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play (Musical or Revue):
Sean Blake – “Why Not Me? A Sammy Davis, Jr. Story” – Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre
Armand Fields – “Princess Mary Demands Your Attention” – Bailiwick Chicago
Kelvin Roston, Jr. – “Twisted Melodies” – Congo Square Theatre Company
+ The Bill Bojangles Robinson Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (Musical or Revue):
Matthew Hunter – “Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Donterrio Johnson – “Jesus Christ Superstar” – Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Randolph Johnson – “The Full Monty” – Kokandy Productions
Daniel Phillips – “Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Kyle Phillips – “Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Rashawn Thompson – “Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
+ The Ruby Dee Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play (Drama or Comedy):
Alana Arenas – “Marie Antoinette” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Lizan Mitchell – “An Issue Of Blood” – Victory Gardens Theater
Tawny Newsome – “The Upstairs Concierge” – Goodman Theatre
Penelope Walker – “The Projects” – The American Theater Company
Mercedes White – “Genesis” – Definition Theatre Company
+ The Hattie McDaniel Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (Drama or Comedy)
Tracey Bonner – “Native Son” – Court Theatre
Paige Collins – “Stickfly” – Windy City Playhouse
Celeste Cooper – “Stickfly” – Windy City Playhouse
Nambi E. Kelley – “Two Trains Running” – Goodman Theatre
Mildred Langford – “The Royale” – American Theater Company
Brittany Love Smith – “Xtigone” – Chicago Danz Theatre Ensemble
+ The Diahann Carroll Award for Best Performance By An Actress in a Play (Musical or Revue):
Dawn Bless – “Sounds So Sweet” – Black Ensemble Theater
Candace C. Edwards – “At Last: A Tribute To Etta James” – Black Ensemble Theater
Arzula Maxine Gardner – “At Last: A Tribute To Etta James” – Black Ensemble Theater
Rhonda Preston – “Sounds So Sweet” – Black Ensemble Theater
Yahdina U’Deen – “At Last: a Tribute To Etta James” – Black Ensemble Theater
+ The Denzel Washington Award for Most Promising Actor:
Matthew Hunter; Kyle Smith; Jamarr Tillman; Korey White.
+ The Phylicia Rashad Award for Most Promising Actress:
Charlee Cotton; Anna Dauzvardis; Kamille Dawkins; Cherise Thomas.
+ The Duke Ellington Award for Best Musical Direction:
Jaret Landon – “A Nativity Story : More Than A Miracle” – Congo Square Theater Company
Robert Reddrick – “Men Of Sou” – Black Ensemble Theater
Clifton Robinson – “Lest We Forget” – Muntu Dance Theatre Of Chicago
Michael Weatherspoon – “Twisted Melodies” – Congo Square Theatre Company
+ The Ruth E. Carter Award for Best Costume Design:
Christine Pascual – “A Nativity Story: More Than A Miracle” – Congo Square Theater Co.
Karen Perry – “Stop. Reset.” – Goodman Theatre
Belena Redmond – “The Color Purple” – Theatre 47/John Ruffin Entertainment
Ruthanne Swanson – “Men Of Soul “– Black Ensemble Theater
+ Award for Best Lighting Design:
Dustin Derry – “Healing Hearts” – Muntu Dance Theatre Of Chicago
Jared Gooding – “Stickfly” – Windy City Playhouse
Joe Walker – “The Color Purple” – Theater 47/John Ruffin Entertainment
Denise Karczewski – “Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
+ Award for Best Set Design:
Moon Jung Kim – “Genesis” – Definition Theatre Company
Coco Ree Lemry – “Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Andrei Onegin – “Twisted Melodies” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Jacqueline Penrod – “Stickfly” – Windy City Playhouse
+ Award for Best Sound Design:
Darryl Goodman – “Liberty City” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Aaron Quick – “Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Rick Sims – “Twisted Melodies” – Congo Square Theater Company
Bemaji Tillman – “Love and Heroes” – Harold Washington Cultural Center
+ The Katherine Dunham Award for Best Choreography:
Amansu Eason – “Legend”– Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
Rueben Echoles – “Men Of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Nimely Napla – “Mother’s Only Child” – Muntu Dance Theatre Of Chicago
Babacar N’Diaye – “N’Dage Mandingo” – Muntu Dance Theatre Of Chicago
+The Alvin Ailey Award for Best Choreography (Non-Resident):
David Rousseve – “Stardust” – Dance Center Of Columbia College Chicago
Matthew Rushing – “Odetta” – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Jawole Willa Jo Zollar – “30th Anniversary Mash Up” – Dance Center Of Columbia College Chicago