THEATER Connecticut Critics Circle to honor state's best

Tim Leininger, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·7 min read

Jun. 24—Music Theatre of Connecticut, Long Wharf Theatre, Westport Country Playhouse, and Hartford Stage each have shows leading the nominees this year for the 30th annual Connecticut Critics Circle awards, scheduled for Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven.

This is the first time the Critics Circle has hosted a gathering of professional theaters in the state to recognize excellence in the arts since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

"We're looking forward to our first in-person awards ceremony in three years," Connecticut Critics Circle President Stuart Brown said. "It's a great chance for the theater community to get together to celebrate theater in Connecticut."

Leading nominees for musicals are Music Theatre of Connecticut's production of "Falsettoland" with six nominations and Westport Country Playhouse's production of "Next to Normal" with five.

"Falsettoland" is about a gay psychiatrist, his son, and their motley group of friends and family as they address the AIDS crisis, and healing for families after divorce.

"Next to Normal" is about a woman suffering from severe depression and bipolar disorder who is haunted by her dead son.

Both shows are nominated for best musical along with A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut's production of "Smokey Joe's Café" and Playhouse on Park's production of "Five Guys Named Moe."

Long Wharf Theatre's production of "The Chinese Lady," about Afong Moy, a real person who was put on display at carnivals as a curiosity for her cultural habits during the turn of the 20th century, which has gone on to further success off-Broadway at the Public Theater, is nominated for eight awards, as is the Hartford Stage production of the Neil Simon play "Lost in Yonkers," about two brothers taking residence with their crotchety grandmother during World War II.

Both "The Chinese Lady," and "Lost in Yonkers" are nominated for best play along with Westport Country Playhouse's production of "Doubt," TheaterWorks Hartford's production of "Walden," and Playhouse on Park's production of "The Agitators.

There are two special awards this year as well. Kevin Connors, artistic director of Music Theatre of Connecticu will receive the Tom Killen Memorial Award for his life-time of excellence in theater. TheaterWorks Hartford will also receive a special award, for its innovative and diligent efforts to keep bringing theater to people in Connecticut when live theater wasn't an option, through streaming services and professional cinematography to bring theater to people's homes.

The complete list of nominees are:

Outstanding Solo Performance

Cloteal L. Horne, "Fires in the Mirror" at Long Wharf Theatre

Matt Densky, "Fully Committed" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Alaudin Ullah, "Dishwasher Dreams" at Hartford Stage

Outstanding Debut

Ari Sklar, "Falsettoland" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Avanthika Srinivasan, "Queen" at Long Wharf Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble

"Five Guys Named Moe" at Playhouse on Park

"Smokey Joe's Café" at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

"The Porch on Windy Hill" at Ivoryton Playhouse

"It's a Wonderful Life" at Hartford Stage

"A Grand Night for Singing" at Goodspeed Musicals

Outstanding Projections

RJ Romeo, "The Mountaintop" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Camilla Tassi, "Fires in the Mirror" at Long Wharf Theatre

Mark Holthusen, "Dream Hou$e" at Long Wharf Theatre

Outstanding Sound

Hao Bai, "Walden" at TheaterWorks Hartford

Fabian Obispo, "The Chinese Lady" at Long Wharf Theatre

Jay Hilton, "A Grand Night for Singing" at Goodspeed Musicals

Noel Nichols and Uptown Works, "Today is My Birthday" at Yale Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Costume Design

Kara Harmon, "Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous" at Hartford Stage

Linda Cho, "The Chinese Lady" at Long Wharf Theatre

An-Lin Dauber, "Lost in Yonkers" at Hartford Stage

Harry Nadal, "Zoey's Perfect Wedding" at TheaterWorks Hartford

Haydee Zelideth, "Dream Hou$e" at Long Wharf Theatre

Outstanding Lighting

Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, "Walden" at TheaterWorks Hartford

Jiyoun Chang, "The Chinese Lady" at Long Wharf Theatre

Porsche McGovern, "Fires in the Mirror" Long Wharf Theatre

Christopher Chamber, "Nickel Mines" A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

Cory Pattak, "Next to Normal" at Westport Country Playhouse

Outstanding Set Design

You-Shin Chen, "Walden" at TheaterWorks Hartford

Collette Pollard, "Angry, Raucous & Shamelessly Gorgeous" at Hartford Stage

Junghyun Georgia Lee, "The Chinese Lady" at Long Wharf Theatre

Stephanie Osin Cohen, "Dream Hou$e" at Long Wharf Theatre

Daniel Nischan, "Native Gardens" at Ivoryton Playhouse

Outstanding Choreography

Stephanie Pope Lofgren, "Smokey Joe's Café" at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

Brittney Griffin, "Five Guys Named Moe" at Playhouse on Park

Andrew Palermo, "Nickel Mines" at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

Amy Hall Garner, "Choir Boy" at Yale Repertory Theatre

Lainie Sakakura, "Cabaret" at Goodspeed Musicals

Outstanding Actor — Musical

Dan Sklar, "Falsettoland" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

David Lutken, "The Porch on Windy Hill" at Ivoryton Playhouse

Spiff Wiegand, "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Musical" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Avionce Hoyles, "Jesus Christ Superstar" at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

Austin Turner, "Rent" at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

Outstanding Actress — Musical

Lisa Helmi Johanson, "The Porch on Windy Hill" at Ivoryton Playhouse

Susan Haefner, "Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Dar. Lee. See. Ah., "Next to Normal" at Westport Country Playhouse

Ayla Stackhouse, "Star of Freedom" at Ivoryton Playhouse

Aline Mayagoitia, "Cabaret" at Goodspeed Musicals

Outstanding Actor — Play

Eric Bryant, "Doubt" at Westport Country Playhouse

Tom Holcomb, "This Bitter Earth" at TheaterWorks Hartford

Damian Thompson, "This Bitter Earth" at TheaterWorks Hartford

Chaz Rose, "The Mountaintop" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Gabriel Lawrence, "The Agitators" at Playhouse on Park

Outstanding Actress — Play

Shannon Tyo, "The Chinese Lady" at Long Wharf Theatre

Betsy Aidem, "Doubt" Westport Country Playhouse

Andrea Syglowski, "Lost in Yonkers" at Hartford Stage

Stephanie Janssen, "Queen" at Long Wharf Theatre

Darilyn Castillo, "Dream Hou$e" at Long Wharf Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actor — Musical

Jeff Gurner, "Falsettoland" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Daniel J. Maldonado, "Next to Normal" at Westport Country Playhouse

Richard E. Waits, "Star of Freedom" at Ivoryton Playhouse

Bruce Landry, "Cabaret" at Goodspeed Musicals

Gordia Hayes, "Rent" at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

Outstanding Featured Actress — Musical

Jessie Janet Richards, "Falsettoland" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Jennifer Smith, "Cabaret" at Goodspeed Musicals

Paloma D'Auria, "Rent" at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

Outstanding Featured Actress — Play

Sharina Martin, "Doubt" at Westport Country Playhouse

Antoinette LaVecchia, "Ah, Wilderness!" at Hartford Stage

Marsha Mason, "Lost in Yonkers" at Hartford Stage

Liba Vaynberg, "Lost in Yonkers" at Hartford Stage

Marianna McClellan, "Dream Hou$e" at Long Wharf Theatre

Outstanding Featured Actor — Play

Jon Norman Schneider, "The Chinese Lady" at Long Wharf Theatre

Francis Jue, "Today is My Birthday" at Yale Repertory Theatre

Jeff Skowron, "Lost in Yonkers" at Hartford Stage

Michael Nathanson, "Lost in Yonkers" at Hartford Stage

Allen Gilmore, "Choir Boy" at Yale Repertory Theatre

Outstanding Director — Musical

Brittney Griffin, "Five Guys Named Moe" at Playhouse on Park

Kevin Connors, "Falsettoland" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

Marcos Santana, "Next to Normal" at Westport Country Playhouse

Sherry Lutken, "The Porch on Windy Hill" at Ivoryton Playhouse

Outstanding Director — Play

Ralph B. Pena, "The Chinese Lady" at Long Wharf Theatre

Marsha Mason and Rachel Alderman, "Lost in Yonkers" at Hartford Stage

Laura Woolery, "Dream Hou$e" at Long Wharf Theatre

Mei Ann Teo, "Walden" at TheaterWorks Hartford

Mark Lamos, "Straight White Men" at Westport Country Playhouse

Outstanding Production — Musical

"Smokey Joe's Café" at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut

"Five Guys Named Moe" at Playhouse on Park

"Falsettoland" at Music Theatre of Connecticut

"Next to Normal" at Westport Country Playhouse

Outstanding Production — Play

"The Chinese Lady" at Long Wharf Theatre

"Doubt" at Westport Country Playhouse

"Walden" at TheaterWorks Hartford

"Lost in Yonkers" at Hartford Stage

"The Agitators" at Playhouse on Park

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