The nominations for the 19th annual Black Theater Alliance Awards (BTAA), which honor African Americans who achieve excellence in theater, dance and other areas of the performing arts in the Chicagoland area, have been announced. Nominees were drawn from productions staged between Aug. 1, 2012 and Aug. 1, 2013.
Award winners will be named at a ceremony scheduled for 7 p.m.-10 p.m. on Oct. 21 at Columbia College Chicago. General tickets are $35; nominee tickets are $25. There will be a reception before the awards presentation. For additional information visit www.btaawards.org.
Following is a complete list of the nominees. One glaring omission is the lack of even a single nomination for the superb Congo Square production of Walter Mosley’s vibrantly written play, “The Fall of Heaven.”
± PRODUCTION:
“Ceremonies In Dark Old Men,” eta
“Leaves, Trees, Forest,” MPAACT
“One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
± ENSEMBLE:
“Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Harold Washington Cultural Center
“One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
“Reality Check,” MPAACT
± PLAY (WRITING):
Kevin Douglas, “Reality Check,” MPAACT
Rueben Echoles, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
Reginald Edmund, “Southbridge,” Chicago Dramatists
McKinley Johnson, “Clara,” Open Door Repertory Company
Paul Notice, “Leaves, Trees, Forest,” MPAACT
± DIRECTION (DRAMA OR COMEDY):
Artisia Green, “Hoodoo Love,” eta
Vaun Monroe, “Ceremonies In Dark Old Men,” eta
Ron OJ Parson, “Jitney,” Court Theatre
± DIRECTION (MUSICAL OR REVUE):
Cassandra Bell, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Harold Washington Cultural Center
Rueben Echoles, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
McKinley Johnson, “Clara,” Open Door Repertory Company
± LEADING ACTOR (DRAMA OR COMEDY):
Kamal Angelo Bolden, “The Opponent,” A Red Orchid Theatre
Manny Buckley, “Southbridge,” Chicago Dramatists
Amos Ellis, “Ceremonies In Dark Old Men,” eta
Trigney Morgan, “Leaves, Trees, Forest,” MPAACT
Travis Turner, “Bud, Not Buddy,” Chicago Children’s Theater
± FEATURED ACTOR (DRAMA OR COMEDY)
Mickey Grayer, “Hoodoo Love,” eta
Robert Hardaway, “Ceremonies In Dark Old Men,” eta
Parrish Morgan, “Ceremonies In Dark Old Men,” eta
Lance Newton, “Southbridge,” Chicago Dramatists
A.C. Smith, “Jitney,” Court Theatre
± LEADING ACTOR (MUSICAL OR REVUE):
Marcus E. Dickens, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Harold Washington Cultural
Aramie Payton, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Harold Washington Cultural
Rashawn Thompson, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
Lawrence Williams, “The Other Cinderella,” Black Ensemble
Byron Glenn Willis, “Dreamgirls,” Marriott Theatre
± FEATURED ACTOR (MUSICAL OR REVUE)
T J Crawford, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Andre De Shields, “The Jungle Book,” Goodman Theatre
Randolph Johnson, “Clara,” Open Door Repertory Company
Jaymes Osborne, “Smokey Joe’s Café,” Theo Ubique Cabaret
Eric LaJuan Summers, “Dreamgirls,” Marriott Theatre
± LEADING ACTRESS (DRAMA OR COMEDY)
Cheryl Lynn Bruce, “Head of Passes,” Steppenwolf Theatre
Felisha McNeal , “Jar The Floor,” eta
Dael Orlandersmith, “Black N Blue Boys/Broken Men,” Goodman
Tamberla Perry, “Meet Vera Stark,” Goodman Theatre
Lynn Wactor, “Hoodoo Love,” The Collective Theatre
± FEATURED ACTRESS (DRAMA OR COMEDY):
Alana Arenas, “Head of Passes,” Steppenwolf Theatre
Caren Blackmore, “Jitney,” Court Theatre
Olivia Charles, “Hoodoo Love,” eta
Ashley Honore, “Southbridge,” Chicago Dramatists
Ebony Joy, “Ceremonies In Dark Old Men,” eta
± LEADING ACTRESS (MUSICAL OR REVUE)
Lisa Beasley, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
Toni Lynice Fountain, “Clara,” Open Door Repertory Co.
Alexis Rogers, “Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” Porchlight
Raena White, “Dreamgirls,” Marriott
Ta-Tynisha Wilson, “The Other Cinderella,” Black Ensemble
± FEATURED ACTRESS (MUSICAL OR REVUE):
Dawn Bless, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
Robin K. Dasilva, “Smokey Joe’s Café,” Theo Ubigue Cabaret
Candace C. Edwards, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble
A’rese Emokpae, “The Other Cinderella,” Black Ensemble
Tierra Whetstone, “Clara,” Open Door Repertory Company
± MOST PROMISING ACTOR:
Brian Keys
Trigney Morgan
Aramie Payton
Reginald Simmons
Raymond Wise
± MOST PROMISING ACTRESS:
Phallon Antoinette Boyd
Omani Ade Harris
Joshlyn Camille Lomax
Krystal V. McNeil
Kreenee A. Tolson
± CHOREOGRAPHY:
Bril Barrett, Star Dixon, and Jumanne Taylor, “Heartbreaks, Freestyles, Rhythm Symphonies, & an African Mailman,” Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Cassandra Bell, “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Harold Washington Cultural Center
Joel Hall, “Conversations With Charles Heath,” Joel Hall Dancers and Center
± MUSICAL DIRECTION:
Jaret Landon, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” Porchlight
Robert Reddrick, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
Eric Troy, “Clara,” Open Door Repertory Company
± SOUND DESIGN:
Daniel Carlyon, “Hoodoo Love,” The Collective Theatre
Ilesa Duncan and Darryl Goodman, Sr., “Jar The Floor,” eta
Rick Sims, “Bulrusher,” Congo Square Theatre Company
Les Spires and Mike Pierce, “The Other Cinderella,” Black Ensemble
± SET DESIGN
Henry Behel, “Hoodoo Love,” The Collective Theatre
David Ferguson, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
Moon Jung Kim, “Hoodoo Love,” eta
Andrei Onegin, “Bulrusher,” Congo Square Theatre Company
± COSTUME DESIGN
Cheikhi Geuye and Amaniyea Payne, “The Journey,” Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
Noel Huntzinger, “Hoodoo Love,” The Collective Theatre
June Saito, “The Other Cinderella,” Black Ensemble Theater
Andrea Washington-Brown, “Hoodoo Love,” eta
± LIGHTING DESIGN:
Denise Karczewski, “One Name Only,” Black Ensemble Theater
Kathy A. Perkins, “Hoodoo Love,” eta
Cat Wilson, “Hoodoo Love,” The Collective Theatre
