The nominations for this year’s Black Theater Alliance Awards have been announced, and, as always, the list serves as a potent reminder of the breadth and depth of African American talent and activity in this city.
Following is the complete list of nominees for the 22nd annual awards, which honor African Americans who have achieved excellence in theater, dance and all areas of the performing and technical arts in the Chicagoland area. The winners will be named at the BTA Awards on Oct. 17 at the eta Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave. Tickets are $25. For additional information call (773) 624-5729.
And this note: Although most of the nominated shows have completed their runs, the Raven Theatre production of “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys,” which is among the nominees for best ensemble, has been remounted and is running through Aug. 27. It is a must-see.
+ The Negro Ensemble Company Award for Outstanding Stage Production:
“Dynamite Divas: A Tribute to Women of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
“Maya’s Last Dream” – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
“Migration”– eta Creative Arts Foundation
“Supreme Love” – Tapman Productions
“What I Learned In Paris” – Congo Square Theatre Company
+ The Target Community Relations Award for Best Ensemble:
“Direct From Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening of Vaudeville and Sorrow)” – Raven Theatre Company
“Fabulation, Or The Re-Education of Undine” – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago
“The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre
“The House That Will Not Stand” – Victory Gardens Theatre
“Migration” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
The cast of “Direct from Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening of Vaudeville and Sorrow).” (Photo: Dean La Prairie)
+ The Lloyd Richards Award for Best Direction of a Play:
Monty Cole – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre
Ron OJ Parson – “Sunset Baby” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Kemati Porter – “Migration”– eta Creative Arts Foundation
Aaron Mitchell Reese – “Fabulation, Or The Re-Education of Undine” – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago
Tim Rhoze – “Maya’s Last Poem” – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
+ The Lorraine Hansberry Award for Best Playwright:
Michael Bradford – “Migration” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Kevin Douglas – “Thaddeus and Slocum” – Lookingglass Theatre Company
Marcus Gardley – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Victory Gardens Theater
Ike Holter – “Prowess” – Jackalope Theatre Company
Dominique Morisseau – “Sunset Baby”– TimeLine Theatre Company
Roy Williams – “Sucker Punch” – Victory Gardens Theater
+ The Sidney Poitier Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play (Drama or Comedy):
Maurice Demus – “Sucker Punch” – Victory Gardens Theater
Osiris Khepera – “Bars and Measures” – Prop Theatre Company
Julian Parker – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre
Marc Rogers – “Sins of the Father” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Namir Smallwood – “The Grapes of Wrath” – The Gift Theatre Company
Eamonn Walker – “Between Riverside and Crazy” – Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Dexter Zollicofer – “Charm” – Northlight Theatre
+ The Ossie Davis Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (Drama or Comedy):
David Alan Anderson – “Gem of the Ocean” – Court Theatre
Bernard Gilbert – “Our Lady of 121 Street” – Eclipse Theatre Company
Denzel Love – “Sucker Punch” – Victory Gardens Theater
Kevin Patterson – “Direct From Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening of Vaudeville and Sorrow)” –Raven Theater Co.
Kelvin Roston, Jr. – “Sunset Baby” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Phillip Edward Van Lear – “Sunset Baby” – TimeLine Theatre Company
+ The Ben Vereen Award or Best Performance By An Actor In A Musical:
Kenny Davis – “Those Sensational Soulful Sixties” – Black Ensemble Theater
Direoce Junirs – “Doo Wop Shoo Bop” – Black Ensemble Theater
Eric Lewis – “Dreamgirls” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Evan Tyrone Martin – “Dreamgirls” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Travis Turner – “Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure” – Lookingglass Theatre Co.
+ The Ruby Dee Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play (Drama or Comedy):
Shanesia Davis – “What I Learned In Paris” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Lizan Mitchell – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Victory Gardens Theater Company
Toya Turner – “For Her As A Piano” – Pegasus Theatre Chicago
Anji White – “Sunset Baby” – TimeLine Theatre Company
Jacqueline Williams – “Gem of the Ocean” – Court Theatre
Anji White in “Sunset Baby” at TimeLine Theatre. (Photo: Lara Goetsch)
+ The Hattie McDaniel Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (Drama or Comedy):
Kona N. Burks – “The Grapes of Wrath” – The Gift Theatre Company
Linda Bright Clay – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Victory Gardens Theater Company
Kristin Ellis – “What I Learned In Paris” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Kiki Layne – “Byhalia, Mississippi” – Definition Theatre Company and The New Colony
Katrina Richard – “Direct From Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening of Vaudeville and Sorrow)” – Raven Theatre Co.
Jacqueline Williams – “The House That Will Not Stand” – Victory Gardens Theater Company
+ The Diahann Carroll Award for Best Performance By An Actress In A Musical:
Shari Addison – “Dynamite Divas A Tribute To Women of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Candace C. Edwards – “Dreamgirls” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Kyla Frye – “Those Sensational Soulful Sixties” – Black Ensemble Theater
Donica Lynn – “Dreamgirls” – Porchlight Music Theatre
Alexis J. Rogers – “Don’t Make Me Over In Tribute To Dionne Warwick” – Black Ensemble Theatre
+ The Denzel Washington Award for Most Promising Actor:
Donald Conley
Kai A. Ealy
Gregory Fenner
Jeffery Owen Freelon
Juwan Lockett
+ The Phylicia Rashad Award for Most Promising Actress:
Demetria Drayton
N. LaQuis Harkin
Kiki Layne
Alexis Syncere
Alexis Willis
+ The Duke Ellington Award for Best Musical Direction:
Raji Halim – “Supreme Love” – Tapman Productions
Robert Reddrick – “Doo Wop Shoo Bop” – Black Ensemble Theater
Robert Reddrick – “Dynamite Divas A Tribute to Women of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
Clifton Robinson – “One Root, Many Branches” – Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
+ Best Costume Design:
Jos N. Banks – “Fabulation, Or The Re-Education of Undine” – Pulse Theatre Company Chicago
Andrea Brown – “Migration” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Rueben Echoles – “Don’t Make Me Over In Tribute To Dionne Warwick” – Black Ensemble Theater
Ruthanne Swanson – “Doo Wop Shoo Bop” – Black Ensemble Theater
+ Best Lighting Design:
Jared Gooding – “Maya’s Last Poem” – Fleetwood-Jordain Theatre
Denise Karczewski – “Don’t Make Me Over In Tribute To Dionne Warwick” – Black Ensemble Theater
Richard Norwood – “A Small Oak Tree Runs Red” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Kathy Perkins – “Migration” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
+ Best Set Design:
Phyllis Griffin – “Lines In The Dust” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Justin Longnecker – “Maya’s Last Poem” – Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Andrei Onegin – “What I Learned In Paris” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Tianyu Qui – “Sins of the Father” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
+ Best Sound Design:
Phyllis Curtwright – “Migration”– eta Creative Arts Foundation
Mahmoud Khan – “Repairing A Nation” – eta Creative Arts Foundation
Rick Sims – “What I Learned In Paris” – Congo Square Theatre Company
Aaron Quick – “Dynamite Divas A Tribute to Women of Soul” – Black Ensemble Theater
+ The Katherine Dunham Award for Best Choreography:
Beon Arzell – “The Hairy Ape” – Oracle Theatre
Idy Ciss – “Tomanka/Liberte “– Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
Rueben Echoles – “Don’t Make Me Over – In Tribute To Dionne Warwick” – Black Ensemble Theater
Joel Hall – “Anja: The Unexpected” – Joel Hall Dancers and Center
Jumanne Taylor – “Supreme Love” – Tapman Productions
+ The Alvin Ailey Award for Best Choreography (Non-Resident):
Robert Battle – “No Longer Silent” – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Camille A. Brown – “Black Girl: Linquistic Play” – Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
Samantha Speis and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar – “Walking With Trane” – Dance Center of College Chicago
