AUDELCO Award nominations are in!
The Annual Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Recognition Awards honor excellence in Black Theater and it is about to be that time of year. On Monday, Nov. 18, the 52nd AUDELCO Awards will acknowledge the productions from the past season; 37 shows received nominations. The place to be will be the Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem (2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.).
The AUDELCO Awards are an unforgettable Black theater family reunion and always a divine experience. The productions nominated deserve these kudos. Let's get right to the list of this year's nominees.
Topping the lists with 11 nominations are "Buena Vista Social Club," presented by the Atlantic Theater Company, and "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," presented by PAC NYC.
"Buena Vista Social Club" is nominated for best musical; Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, choreography; Saheem Ali, director of a musical; Marco Paguia, outstanding musical director; Renesito Avich, lead actor in a musical; Natalie Venetia Belcon, lead actress in a musical; Mel Seme, featured actor in a musical; Kenya Browne, featured actress in a musical; Danaya Esperanza, featured actress in a musical; Tyler Micoleau, lighting design; and Dede Ayite, costume design.
"Cats: The Jellicle Ball" is nominated for best musical; Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, director of a musical; William Waldrop, outstanding musical director; Arturo Lyons & Oman Wiles, choreographer; Andre De Shields, featured actor in a musical; Sydney James Harcourt, featured actor in a musical; Antwayn Hopper, featured actor in a musical; Robert Silk Mason, featured actor in a musical; Tempress Chasity Moore, featured actress in a musical; Bebe Nicole Simpson, featured actress in a musical; and Qween Jean, costume design.
Receiving 10 nominations are "Hell's Kitchen," presented by the Public Theater, and "Sally & Tom," presented by the Public Theater & Guthrie Theater.
"Hell's Kitchen" is up for best musical; Michael Greif, director of a musical; Camille A. Brown, choreography; Maleah Joi Moon, lead actress in a musical; Chris Lee, lead actor in a musical; Brandon Victor Dixon, featured actor in a musical; Kecia Lewis, featured actress in a musical; Dede Ayite, costume design; and Gareth Owen, sound design.
"Sally & Tom" is nominated for best play; Suzan-Lori Parks, playwright; Steve H. Broadnax III, director of a play; Sheria Irving, lead actress in a play; Alano Miller, featured actor in a play; Kristolyn Lloyd, featured actress in a play; Alan C. Edwards, lighting design; Riccardo Hernandez, set design; Rodrigo Munoz, costume design; and Dan Moses Schreier, sound design.
Being spotlighted with nine nominations are "Zooman and the Sign" from the Negro Ensemble Company and "The Refuge Plays" from Roundabout Theatre Company & New York Theatre Workshop.
"Zooman and the Sign" is nominated for best revival of a play; Phyllis Yvonne Stickney, director of a play; Isaiah Joseph, lead actor in a play; Benjamin Rowe, featured actor in a play; Reggie Wilson, featured actor in a play; Constance S. Thompson, featured actress in a play; Melody A. Beal, lighting design; Patrice Davidson, set design; and Twan Howard, sound design.
"The Refuge Plays" is nominated for best play; Nathan Alan Davis, playwright; Patricia McGregor, director of a play; Nicole Ari Parker, lead actress in a play; Daniel J. Watts, lead actor in a play; Jon Michael Hill, featured actor in a play; Lizan Mitchell, featured actress in a play; Jessica Frances Dukes, featured actress in a play; and Arnulfo Maldonado, set design.
The Classical Theatre of Harlem's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has nominations in eight categories: best revival of a play; Dell Howlett, choreographer; Jaylen D. Eashmond, featured actor in a play; Mykal Kilgore, featured actor in a play; Noah Michal, featured actress in a play; Christopher & Justin Swader, set design; Mike Eubanks, costume design; and Frederick Kennedy, sound design.
MCC Theater's "Table 17" is nominated in seven categories: best play; Douglas Lyons, playwright; Zhailon Levingston, director of a play; Kara Young, Biko Eisen-Martin, and Michael Rishawn, outstanding ensemble performance; Ben Stanton, lighting design; Devario D. Simmons, costume design; and Christopher Darbassie, sound design.
"Covenant" from the Roundabout Theatre Company and "The World According to Micki Grant" from the New Federal Theatre earned six nominations each.
"Covenant" is up for best play; York Walker, playwright; Tiffany Nichole Greene, director of a play; Crystal Dickinson, Chaundre Hall-Broomfield, Ashley N. Hildreth, Jade Payton, and Lark White, outstanding ensemble performance; Cha See, lighting design; and Justin Ellington, sound design.
"The World According to Micki Grant" is nominated for best musical; Nora Cole, director of a musical; Tom Spahn, outstanding musical director; Brian Davis, lead actor in a play; Matelyn Alicia, April Armstrong, and Patrice Bell, lead actress in a musical; and Ali Turns, costume design.
"(pray)," presented by Ars Nova and the National Black Theatre, earned five nominations: best musical; nicHi douglas, director of a musical; STARR Busby, outstanding musical director; nicHi douglas, choreographer; and Mikaal Sulaiman, sound design.
"Gun & Powder," presented by the Paper Mill Playhouse, received five nominations: best musical; Stevie Walker-Webb, director of a musical; Liisi La Fontaine, lead actress in a musical; Ciara Renee, lead actress in a musical; and Jeanette Bayardelle, featured actress in a musical.
"Watch Night," presented by PAC NYC, received four nominations, for Bill T. Jones, choreographer; Brandon Michael Nase, lead actor in a musical; Danyel Fulton, lead actress in a musical; and Arn Lawton Simon, featured actor in a musical.
Seven productions received AUDELCO nods with three nominations each. "Telling Tales Out of School" from New Federal Theatre is up for Woodie King Jr., director of a play; Richarda Abrams, June Ballinger, Petronia Paley and Elizabeth Van Dyke, outstanding ensemble performance; and Chris Cumberbatch, set design.
"Sunset Baby" from the Signature Theatre Company is nominated for Dominique Morisseau, playwright; best revival of a play; and Russell Hornsby, Moses Ingram, and J. Alphonse Nicholson, outstanding ensemble performance.
"Redwood," presented by the Ensemble Studio Theatre, is up for best play; Brittany K. Allen, playwright; and Brittany K. Allen, Denny Dale Bess, Bryn Carter, Tyrone Mitchell Henderson, Drew Lewis. Portia, Kate Siahaan-Rigg, and Eric R. Williams, outstanding ensemble performance.
"Fences," presented by Gallery Players, is nominated for best revival of a play; Reggie Wilson, lead actor in a play; Gina Simone Pemberton, lead actress in a play; and Jamar Arthur, featured actor in a play.
"Cross that River," presented by Love Productions Records, received nominations for Arcoiris Sandoval, outstanding musical director; Allan Harris, lead actor in a musical; and Jeffrey Lewis, lead actor in a musical.
"I Can Get it for You Wholesale," presented by Classic Stage Company, is up for Jacinth Greywoode, outstanding musical director; Rebecca Naomi Jones, lead actress in a musical; and Joy Woods, featured actress in a musical.
"Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine," presented by the Billie Holiday Theatre, is nominated for best revival of a play; Felicia Curry, lead actress in a play; and Sharon Hope, featured actress in a play.
The next seven productions are nominated in two categories. "Broken Mirror," presented by HBS/New Heritage, received nods for Luther D. Isler, solo performance, and S. Jordan Ford-Isler, lighting design.
"Unentitled," presented by the Negro Ensemble Company, is nominated for best revival of a play and Chris Cumberbatch & Angel Smith, set design.
"The Last Block Association," presented by the Black Spectrum Theatre Company, is nominated for best play and Harlan Penn, set design.
"A Sign of the Times," presented by York Theatre Company, received nominations for Akron Lanier Watson, lead actor in a musical and Crystal Lucas-Perry, lead actress in a musical.
"Fences," presented by the Crossroads Theatre Company, is nominated for best revival of a play and Keith Hamilton Cobb, lead actor in a play.
"SIX Characters," presented by Lincoln Center, received nominations for Seret Scott, featured actress in a play; and Seven F.B. Duncombe, featured actress in a play.
"Scrambled Eggs," presented by Faith Steps Productions and 24 Bond Arts Center, received nominations for Reggie Wilson, lead actor in a play; and Lucky Perato, light design.
Multiple productions received one nomination this season, but in major categories.
"Fish," presented by Keen Company & Working Theater, is up for outstanding ensemble performance — Toree Alexandre, Morgan Siobhan Green, Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew, Margaret Odette, Rachel Leslie, Josiah Gaffney, and Christopher B. Portley.
"Coping Mechanism," from the wild project, is also nominated for outstanding ensemble performance — Gerrard James, Erick Ruffin, DeShawn White, and Jes Washington.
Three actors were nominated in the category of solo performance: Laurence Fishburne in "Like They Do in the Movies," presented by Perelman Performing Arts Center; Beverly Johnson for "In Vogue," presented by the 59e59 Theatre; and Tami Tyree for "Colored Silk: A Civil War Odyssey."
"Sizwe Bansi is Dead," presented by the Caribbean American Repertory Theatre, is up for best revival of a play. "The Bleeding Class," presented by Undiscovered Works, has one nomination, for Reginald L. Barnes, lead actor in a play. "American Rot," presented by La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, has a nomination for Count Stovall, lead actor in a play. "Ella — The Ungovernable," presented by the Theater for the New City, received a nomination for Christian Neal, lead actress in a play. "Teeth," presented by Playwrights Horizons, received a nomination for Raja Feather Kelly, choreography.
The AUDELCO also presents special awards. This year, those honorees are:
Board of Directors Award to New Heritage Theater, Voza Rivers (60 years), and Black Berry Productions; Stephanie Berry and John-Martin Green (40 years)
Special Achievement — Marishka S. Phillips and Reginald L Wilson
Outstanding Achievement — Daniel Beaty, Layon Gray, and Alyson Williams
Pioneer Award — Obediah Wright, Ralph Carter, and Michael Dinwiddie
Lifetime Achievement — Trezana Beverley, George Faison, A. Dean Irby, and Lizan Mitchell. Legacy Award — June Terry
Rising Star Award — Chistopher Woodley.
Be sure to make plans to be in the room where it all happens. For ticket information, call 949-291-8266, leave a message at 212-368-6906, or visit www.audelco.org. It is an evening you will long cherish. See you there!
