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TheatreLAB’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ wins big at 2019 RTCC awards

At the 12th annual Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Awards, TheatreLAB’s “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” emerged as the big winner, taking home seven awards, including Best Musical.

The black-tie event, hosted by local actors Bianca Bryan and Jerold Solomon, took place Sunday evening at Virginia Rep’s November Theatre. Nicknamed the Artsies, the awards show honors excellence within the Richmond theater scene and serves as a fundraiser for the Theatre Artist Fund of Greater Richmond, which provides financial assistance to individuals in the local theater community during times of need. With the theme of “All the World’s a Stage,” this year’s event aimed to recognize the sometimes itinerant nature of working in professional theater.

In addition to Best Musical, “Sweeney Todd” garnered wins for TheatreLAB artistic director Deejay Gray in the Best Direction – Musical category, Alexander Sapp for Best Actor in a Leading Role – Musical, Audra Honaker for Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Musical, and JS Fauquet for Best Musical Direction, among others.

The award for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Musical went to Susan Sanford for her portrayals of both Big Edie and Little Edie in Richmond Triangle Players’ “Grey Gardens”; the musical is based off Albert and David Maysles’ 1975 documentary about a formerly wealthy and mother and daughter living in squalor in East Hampton.

In the Best Play category, there were two winners: Richmond Triangle Players’ “The Laramie Project,” which concerns the 1998 slaying of Matthew Shepard and its aftermath; and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ workplace drama “Gloria,” produced by Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Rep. “The Laramie Project” also garnered awards for Best Direction – Play for Lucian Restivo, and the Best Acting Ensemble Award for its cast.

“The Wiz,” Virginia Rep’s musical journey down the Yellow Brick Road, picked up three awards, including a Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Musical for Brandon LeReau’s portrayal of the Cowardly Lion, a Best Choreography award for director Kikau Alvaro, and a win for Outstanding Costume Design – Musical for Jeanne Nugent. Best Actor in a Leading Role – Play award went to Jamar Jones for his work in TheatreLAB’s staging of Jacobs-Jenkins’ meta melodrama “An Octoroon.” The award for Best Actress in a Leading Role – Play went to Haliya Roberts for her work in 5th Wall Theatre’s one-woman show “Pretty Fire.”

For her own one-woman show “In My Chair,” local actress Eva DeVirgilis won for Best Original Work. The show, which was produced by Cadence Theatre in partnership with Virginia Rep, concerns global beauty standards, female empowerment and self-acceptance.

“The local theater scene continues to produce impressive work well beyond what one might expect from a market this size,” said Rich Griset, RTCC president and event chair. “We’re glad to be able to recognize the city’s embarrassment of riches. Congratulations to both the winners and the nominees.”

Best Musical
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
TheatreLAB

Best Direction – Musical
Deejay Gray
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Best Actor in a Leading Role – Musical
Alexander Sapp
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Musical
Susan Sanford
“Grey Gardens”

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Musical
Brandon LeReau
“The Wiz”

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Musical
Audra Honaker
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Best Musical Direction
JS Fauquet
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Best Choreography
Kikau Alvaro
“The Wiz”

Outstanding Costume Design – Musical
Jeanne Nugent (“The Wiz”) AND Alex Valentin (“Lizzie the Musical”)

Outstanding Lighting Design – Musical
Michael Jarett
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Outstanding Set Design – Musical
Jason Sherwood
“Atlantis”

Outstanding Sound Design – Musical
Joey Luck
“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

Best Play
“The Laramie Project” (Richmond Triangle Players) AND “Gloria” (Cadence Theatre in partnership with Virginia Rep)

Best Direction – Play
Lucian Restivo
“The Laramie Project”

Best Actor in a Leading Role – Play
Jamar Jones
“An Octoroon”

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Play
Haliya Roberts
“Pretty Fire”

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Play
Jeremy V. Morris
“Oedipus: A Gospel Myth”

Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Play
Amber Marie Martinez
“Dance Nation”

Outstanding Costume Design – Play
Sue Griffin
“The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays”

Outstanding Lighting Design – Play
BJ Wilkinson
“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”

Outstanding Set Design – Play
Chris Raintree
“Songs from Bedlam”

Outstanding Sound Design – Play
Roger Price
“Talk Radio”

Most Promising Newcomer
Joel Ashur
“Gloria”

Best Original Work
“In My Chair”
Cadence Theatre in partnership with Virginia Rep

2019 Ernie McClintock
Best Acting Ensemble Award

For their notable performance as a cohesive and compelling ensemble,
the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle honors the cast members of

“The Laramie Project”
Richmond Triangle Players

Rachel Dilliplane
Annella Kaine
Amber Marie Martinez
Cole Metz
Jacqueline O’Connor
Stevie Rice
Adam Turck
Scott Wichmann

 

The nominees were:

 

Best Musical

Grey Gardens, Richmond Triangle Players (RTP)

Once, Virginia Repertory Theatre (Virginia Rep)

Sondheim on Sondheim, RTP

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, TheatreLAB

The Wiz, Virginia Rep

 

Best Direction (Musical)

Kikau Alvaro, The Wiz

Debra Clinton, Grey Gardens

Deejay Gray, Sweeney Todd

Nathaniel Shaw, Once

Tom Width, Bright Star, Swift Creek Mill Theatre

 

Best Actor (Musical)

Paul Major, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Quill Theatre

Ken Allen Neely, Once

Alexander Sapp, Sweeney Todd

Cooper Sved, Girlfriend, RTP

Robert Throckmorton, Miss Gulch Returns, RTP

 

Best Actress (Musical)

Bianca Bryan, Sweeney Todd

Felicia Curry, Sister Act, Virginia Rep

Katherine Fried, Once

Desiree Roots, The Wiz

Susan Sanford, Grey Gardens

 

Best Supporting Actor (Musical)

Trevor Lindley Craft, Once

Dylan Jackson, The Wiz

Brandon LaReau, The Wiz

Matt Polson, Sweeney Todd

Matt Shofner, Sweeney Todd

 

Best Supporting Actress (Musical)

Kelsey Cordrey, Sister Act

Grey Garrett, Grey Gardens

Audra Honaker, Sweeney Todd

Jessi Johnson, The Wiz

Gwynne Wood, Sister Act

 

Best Musical Direction

Paul Deiss, Bright Star

JS Fauquet, Sweeney Todd

Starlet Knight, Lizzie the Musical, 5th Wall Theatre (5th Wall)

Anthony Smith, The Wiz

Michael Zygo, Once

 

Best Choreography

Kikau Alvaro, The Wiz

Kikau Alvaro, Atlantis, Virginia Rep

Nicole Morris-Anastasi, Dance Nation, TheatreLAB

Nathaniel Shaw, Once

Megan Tatum, Bright Star

 

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design (Musical)

Maura Lynch Cravey, Bright Star

Ruth Hedberg, Sweeney Todd

Ruth Hedberg, Grey Gardens

Jeanne Nugent, The Wiz

Alex Valentin, Lizzie

 

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design (Musical)

Paul Black, The Wiz

Erin Barclay, Lizzie

Joe Doran, Once

Michael Jarett, Sweeney Todd

BJ Wilkinson, Atlantis

 

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design (Musical)

William James Mahoney, Once

Kimberly V. Powers, The Wiz

Chris Raintree, Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Jason Sherwood, Atlantis

Tom Width, 1940s Radio Christmas Carol

 

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design (Musical)

Derek Dumais, Once

Derek Dumais, Forever Plaid, Virginia Rep

Joey Luck, Sweeney Todd

Joey Luck, Sondheim on Sondheim

Joey Luck, Lizzie

 

Best Play

Dance Nation, TheatreLAB

Gloria, Cadence Theatre in partnership with Virginia Rep (Cadence)

The Laramie Project, RTP

An Octoroon, TheatreLAB

Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England, RTP

 

Best Direction (Play)

Chelsey Burke, The Taming of the Shrew, Quill

Anna Senechal Johnson, Gloria

Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, An Octoroon

Carol Piersol, Pretty Fire, 5th Wall

Lucian Restivo, The Laramie Project

 

Best Actor (Play)

Jamar Jones, An Octoroon

Jamar Jones, Red Velvet, Quill

Michael Manocchio, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Virginia Rep

Matt Polson, Gloria

David Emerson Toney, Between Riverside and Crazy, Cadence

Scott Wichmann, Talk Radio, 5th Wall

 

Best Actress (Play)

Bianca Bryan, The Taming of the Shrew

Kimberly Jones Clark, Who’s Holiday, RTP

Eva DeVirgilis, In My Chair, Cadence

Katrinah Carol Lewis, A Doll’s House, TheatreLAB

Haliya Roberts, Pretty Fire

 

Best Supporting Actor (Play)

Jeff Clevenger, Broadway Bound, Virginia Rep

Cole Metz, An Octoroon

Jeremy V. Morris, Oedipus: A Gospel Myth, Firehouse

Stevie Rice, Red Velvet

Adam Turck, The Tempest, Quill

 

Best Supporting Actress (Play)

Rachel Dilliplane, Red Velvet

Anne Michelle Forbes, Gloria

Amber Marie Martinez, Dance Nation

Donna Marie Miller, The Game’s Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays, Virginia Rep

Jill Bari Steinberg, Broadway Bound

 

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design (Play)

Nia Safarr Banks, An Octoroon

Maura Lynch Cravey, Savannah Sipping Society

Cora Delbridge, Red Velvet

Sue Griffin, The Game’s Afoot

Ruth Hedberg, A Doll’s House

 

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Design (Play)

Andrew Bonniwell, Songs from Bedlam, Firehouse

Joe Doran, Count Dracula, Swift Creek Mill

Michael Jarett, The Laramie Project

Michael Jarett, Dance Nation

BJ Wilkinson, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

 

Outstanding Achievement in Set Design (Play)

Vinnie Gonzalez, Oedipus: A Gospel Myth

Rich Mason, Gloria

Terrie Powers, Broadway Bound

Chris Raintree, Songs from Bedlam

Lucian Resitvo, The Laramie Project

TJ Spensieri, Talk Radio

 

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design (Play)

Ryan Dygert, Songs from Bedlam

Derek Dumais, The Game’s Afoot

Robbie Kinter, In My Chair

Joey Luck, Dance Nation

Roger Price, Talk Radio

 

Ernie McClintock Best Ensemble Acting

Dance Nation, TheatreLAB

Gloria, Cadence

Forever Plaid, Virginia Rep

The Laramie Project, RTP

Once, Virginia Rep

 

Promising Newcomer

Joel Ashur, Gloria

Lucy Caudle, Atlantis

Annella Kaine, The Laramie Project

Trinitee Pearson, An Octoroon and Dance Nation

Gwynne Wood, Sister Act

 

Best Original Work

Animal Control by Chandler Hubbard, Firehouse

In My Chair by Eva DeVirgilis, Cadence

Wrong Chopped by Dixon Cashwell and Levi Meerovich, Firehouse

 

HOSTS AND THEME

This year marks the 12th year that the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle has sponsored the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC) Awards, or “Artsies,” the community’s recognition of excellence in Richmond-area theater. The theme of this year’s event – “All the World’s a Stage” – highlights the freedom many professional theater artists have to travel between theater markets. Richmond’s theater community boasts remarkable talent for its size, and the Artsies event celebrates the skills and experience Richmond’s professional theater artists bring to their craft, wherever they were gained.

This year’s celebration will be hosted by two popular Richmond actors with years of noteworthy experience in different markets, Bianca Bryan and Jerold Solomon.

Bryan made an indelible impression on Richmond audiences from her first appearance here. Already sporting a long résumé of successful appearances in New York, she commuted to Richmond for her Artsy-nominated role in Barksdale Theatre’s 2008 production of “A Clean House.” Since then, she’s become a beloved regular on local stages, scoring an Artsy for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Firehouse Theatre’s “Wings” during the 2017-18 season. She was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her role in the Quill Theatre production of “Assassins” and Best Actress in a Play for her performance in TheatreLAB’s production of “Grounded” during the 2016-17 season. She was last seen this spring playing Mrs. Lovett in TheatreLAB’s production of “Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

Solomon had racked up numerous roles both in Richmond and on national tours before landing a spot in the cast of the Tony Award-winning 2008 Broadway revival of “South Pacific,” which ran until 2010. He returned to Richmond and won an Artsy for Best Actor in a Play for his role in Virginia Repertory Theatre’s (Virginia Rep) production of “The Whipping Man” during the 2014-15 season. Solomon also was nominated for the 2015-16 season Artsies in the categories of Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Virginia Rep’s production of “Dreamgirls” and Best Actor in a Play for his role in “The Mountaintop,” produced by Cadence Theatre in partnership with Virginia Rep. Solomon currently appears on stage in the title role of the Virginia Rep production of “The Wiz.”

All proceeds from Artsies ticket sales support the Theatre Artist Fund of Greater Richmond.