2019 CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE THEATER AWARDS
The Cleveland Critics Circle each year honors local theaters, performances, writers, performers and technicians of plays staged by Cleveland area professional theaters during the January 1-December 31 2019 year.
Award Committee Voters: Roy Berko, Kerry Clawson, Howard Gollop, Mark Horning, Laura Kennelly and Andrea Simakis. Participation in these awards does not preclude individual critics from preparing their own recognitions.
Those recognized for Superior Achievement are listed alphabetically, not by order of achievement.
Best Musical Production
ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Honorable Mention:
KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, Blank Canvas
MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse
THE MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater
Best Non-Musical Production
TWO, none-too-fragile
Honorable Mention:
AN ILIAD, Cleveland Play House
BY THE BOG OF CATS, Ensemble
HAMLET, Ohio Shakespeare Festival
INTO THE BREECHES, Cleveland Play House
STUPID FUCKING BIRD, Dobama
Best Actor – Musical
Fabio Polanco, MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse
Honorable Mention
Alex Syiek, THE MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater
Jake Slater, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Patrick Ciamacco, THE TOXIC AVENGER, Blank Canvas
Scott Esposito, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, Blank Canvas
Best Actors – Non-Musical
David Peacock, TWO, none-too-fragile
Robert Hawkes, KING LEAR, Beck
Honorable Mention
Alex Brightwell, EVERY BRILLIANT THING, Cleveland Play House
Christopher M. Bohan, GLENGARRY, GLEN ROSS, Beck Center
Kieron Cindric, HOMOS OR EVERYONE IN AMERICA, convergence-continuum
Best Actress – Musical
Nicole Sumlin, LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL, Beck Center
Honorable Mention
Jillian Kates, THE MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater.
Kelsey Brown, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre
Program
Mary-Francis R. Miller, AIDA, Karamu
Best Actress – Non-Musical
Tarah Flanagan, AN ILIAD, Cleveland Play House
Honorable Mention
Amy Fritsche, THE PINELOPIAD, Ensemble
Derdriu Ring, TWO, none-too-fragile
Laura Perotta, STUPID FUCKING BIRD, Dobama
Tess Burgler, HAMLET, Ohio Shakespeare Festival
Rising Stars
Male
Jake Spencer, RAGTIME, Cain Park
Female
Calista Zajac, NETHER, Dobama
Best Director – Musical
Victoria Bussert, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre
Honorable Mention
Patrick Ciamacco, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, Blank Canvas
Terri Kent, MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse
Victoria Bussert, MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater
Best Director – Non-Musical
Nathan Motta, STUPID FUCKING BIRD, Dobama
Honorable Mention
Robert Barry Fleming, NATIVE GARDENS, Cleveland Play House
Sara Brunner, JULIUS CAESAR, Great Lakes Theater
Sean Derry, TWO, none-too-fragile
Tarah Flanagan and Andrew Carlson, AN ILIAD, Cleveland Play House
Best Choreographer
Martin Céspedes, MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse
Honorable Mention
Gregory Daniels, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Imani Jackson, RAGTIME, Cain Park
Martin Cespedes, MATILDA, Beck
Best Musical Direction
Mathew Webb, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Honorable Mention
Ed Ridley, LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL, Beck Center
James Barry, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, Great Lakes Theater
Jonathan Swoboda, MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse
Best Scenic Design
Arnulfo Maldonado, TINY HOUSES, Cleveland Play House
Honorable Mention
Jason Ardizzone-West, NATIVE GARDENS, Cleveland Play House
Jordan Janota, ONCE, Beck Center/Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program
Richard H. Morris, Jr., PARADISE BLUE, Karamu
Best Lighting Design
Rick Martin, JULIUS CAESAR, Great Lakes Theater
Honorable Mention
Michael Boll, NATIVE GARDENS, Cleveland Play House
Cynthia Stillings, MAN OF LA MANCHA, Porthouse
Ian Hinz THE PENELOPIAD, Ensemble
Best Projection Design
Katherine Freer, PIPELINE, Cleveland Play House
Honorable Mention
Benjamin Gantose, RASTUS AND HATTIE, Cleveland Public Theatre
T. Paul Lowry, AIDA, Karamu
T. Paul Lowry, NETHER, Dobama
Trad Burns and Jason Taylor, MATILDA, Beck Center
Best Costume Design
Angela Calin, INTO THE BREECHES, Cleveland Play House
Honorable Mention
Leah Piehl, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Great Lakes Theater
Inda Blatch-Geib, AIDA, Karamu
Best Sound Design
Mathew Webb, JULIUS CAESER, Great Lakes Theater
Honorable Mention
Patrick Ciamacco, LOBBY HERO, Blank Canvas
Richard Ingraham, STUPID FUCKING BIRD, Dobama
Best Touring Production
THE BAND’S VISIT, Key Bank Broadway Series
Best New Play by a Local Playwright
Lisa Langford, RUSTUS AND HATTIE, Cleveland Public Theatre
Honorable Mention
THE HAT BOX, Eric Coble
LIVE BODIES FOR SALE, Christopher Johnson
Best Ensemble in a Musical:
ONCE, BW/Beck
Honorable Mention
MAN OF LAMANCHA, Porthouse
AIDA, Karamu
THE MUSIC MAN, Great Lakes Theater
Best World Premiere in The Cleveland Area:
RUSTUS AND HATTIE, Cleveland Public Theatre
Honorable Mention
LIVE BODIES FOR SALE, Playwrights Local
MAID MARION: AN ADVENTURE WITH MUSIC, Ohio Shakespeare Festival
TINY HOUSES, Cleveland Play House
Special Mention:
Co-production of THE IMPACT OF SHUFFLE ALONG by Karamu and The Musical Theater Project for placing a spotlight on the story of the first all African American written, produced and performed hit Broadway musical
None too fragile…for finding a permanent home
Baldwin Wallace Music Theatre Program for producing the national Collegiate Premiere of KINKY BOOTS
Cleveland Public Theatre’s Teatro Publico de Cleveland and Y-Haven Theater for giving a voice to minority performers and playwrights
Scott Campbell for his original music and lyrics in the world premiere of Sarah Coon's MAID MARION: AN ADVENTURE WITH MUSIC, Ohio Shakespeare Festival
Fight director Ryan Zarecki for the exceptional stage combat in HAMLET at Ohio Shakespeare Festival
Eva Rose Scholz-Carlson, for her original cello compositions and performance in AN ILLIAD, Cleveland Play House
