And the 2019 “Gypsy Rose Lee Award” Nominees Are!

Fire Season (Truman Buffett)

The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion (John McClellan)

For the ninth year in a row, theater critics in Seattle have banded together to honor excellent theater in town over the past year. Anyone who is on the “inside” of this small industry knows that there are fewer and fewer places where people can write about theater, unless they establish a blog or other online outlet! However, there are still a few of us left trying to help audiences find great work.

To that end, the annual critics’ award still chugs along, at least for one more year. Spanning dozens of theater companies and productions, from large and prominent to small and humble, the Gypsy Rose Lee Awards honor the excellence found in as much professional theater as we reviewers can attend in a year. Named in honor of the famed theater entrepreneur and Seattle native, Gypsy Rose Lee, and in a nod to the vast numbers of theater practitioners forced to travel the country to earn their living, the Gypsys seek to acknowledge the excellence of the Seattle theater community. (The group’s online presence is at www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters.)

This year’s changes include the abolishment of “male” and “female” acting categories in favor of all-in-one “actors.” Each year, the reviewers seek to refine the awards to better reflect inclusivity and clarity.

The winners will be announced January 31, 2020. ​

And without further ado, the 2019 Gypsy Rose Lee Award Nominees are (by category, in alpha order by name):

Excellence in Production of a Play:

(Large ​Theaters): 

Indecent - Seattle Repertory Theatre

Nina Simone: Four Women - Seattle Repertory Theatre

Pass Over - ACT Theatre

Take Me Out - Strawberry Theatre Workshop

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time - Village Theatre

(Small​ Theaters): 

Citizen - Sound Theatre Company

Fire Season - Seattle Public Theater

Sheathed - Macha Theatre Works

The Christians - Pony World Theatre

White - Theatre22

Excellence in Production of a Musical:

Head Over Heels - ArtsWest

Million Dollar Quartet - Village Theatre

The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion - ArtsWest

The Light in the Piazza - Showtunes Theatre

Urinetown - The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT Theatre

Excellence in Direction of a Play:

(Large​ Theaters): 

Tim Bond - Pass Over (ACT Theatre)

Greg Carter - Take Me Out (Strawberry Theatre Workshop)

Valerie Curtis-Newton - Nina Simone: Four Women (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Sheila Daniels - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Jerry Dixon - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

(Small Theaters): 

Julie Beckman - The Revolutionists (Theater22)

Corey McDaniel and Tayo Talabi -White (Theatre22)

Anita Montgomery - Dry Land (Seattle Public Theater)

Jay O'Leary - Citizen (Sound Theatre Company and The Hansberry Project)

Amy Poisson - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Excellence in Direction of a Musical:

Bill Berry - Urinetown (The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT Theatre)

Karen Lund - Bright Star (Taproot Theatre)

Scott Weinstein - Million Dollar Quartet (Village Theatre) Mathew Wright - The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion (ArtsWest) Mathew Wright - Head Over Heels (ArtsWest)

Excellence in Performance in a Play as a Lead Actor:

(Large Theaters): 

Andi Alhadeff - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Ian Bond - American Junkie (Book-It Repertory Theatre)

Bradford Farwell - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Gin Hammond - Returning the Bones (Book-It Repertory Theatre)

Michael Krenning - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

Lamar Legend - Take Me Out (Strawberry Theatre Workshop)

Treavor Lovelle - Pass Over (ACT Theatre)

Ayo Tushinde - Bulrusher (Intiman Theatre)

Shontina Vernon - Nina Simone: Four Women (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

James Yi - Kims Convenience (Taproot Theatre)

(Small Theaters): 

Libby Barnard - Dry Land (Seattle Public Theater)

Allyson Lee Brown - Citizen (Sound Theatre Company and The Hansberry Project)

Sunam Ellis - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Aishé Keita - Sunset Baby (ArtsWest)

Teri J. Lazzara - Trevor (MAP Theatre)

Shermona Mitchell - White (Theatre22)

Christian Quinto - Office Hour (ArtsWest)

Brandon Ryan - Trevor (MAP Theatre)

Kathryn Van Meter - Fire Season (Seattle Public Theater)

Erika Vetter - Lungs (Really Really Theatre Group)

Excellence in Performance in a Musical as a Lead Actor:

John Countryman - Million Dollar Quartet (Village Theatre)

Rachel Guyer-MaFuné – Howl’s Moving Castle (Book-It Repertory Theatre)

Olivia Hernandez - Austen's Pride (The 5th Avenue Theatre) Corinna Lapid Munter - The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion (ArtsWest) Billie Wildrick - The Light in the Piazza (Showtunes Theatre)

Excellence in Performance of a Play as a Supporting Actor - any non-lead:

(Large Theaters):

Carol Dennis - Shout Sister Shout! (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Sunam Ellis - Uncle Vanya (The Seagull Project and ACTLab)

Monika Jolly - People of the Book (ACT Theatre)

Jon Lutyens - Take Me Out (Strawberry Theatre Workshop)

Craig Peterson - Take Me Out (Strawberry Theatre Workshop)

Shaunyce Omar - Nina Simone: Four Women (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Jéhan Ósanyín - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

Peter Sakowicz - Everything Is Illuminated (Book-It Repertory Theatre)

Michael Winters - Everything Is Illuminated (Book-It Repertory Theatre)

Amy Thone - Romeo and Juliet (ACT Theatre)

(Small Theaters): 

Shanna Allman - The Revolutionists (Theatre22)

Mike Dooly - Fire Season (Seattle Public Theater)

Sunam Ellis - The Christians (Pony World Theatre)

Kathy Hsieh - Washer/Dryer (Pratidhwani and SiS Productions)

Suzy Hunt - John (ArtsWest) Shermona Mitchell - B (Washington Ensemble Theatre) Marianne Owen - John (ArtsWest) Abhijeet Rane - Language Rooms (Pony World Theatre) Funé Tautala - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Excellence in Performance of a Musical as a Supporting Actor - any non-lead:

Nik Hagen - Rock of Ages (The 5th Avenue Theatre)

Kataka Corn - Head Over Heels (ArtsWest)

Michael Krenning - The Light in the Piazza (Showtunes Theatre) Arika Matoba - Urinetown (The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT Theatre) Rafael Molina - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Village Theatre) Mari Nelson - Urinetown (The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT Theatre) Brandon O'Neill - Urinetown (The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT Theatre) Alex Sturtevant - Head Over Heels (ArtsWest)

Excellence in Performance as an Ensemble:

(Large Theaters):

As You Like It (Public Works) - Seattle Repertory Theatre

Indecent - Seattle Repertory Theatre (Bradford Farwell, Julie Briskman, Ron Orbach, Cheyenne Casebier, Nathaniel Tenenbaum, Andi Alhadeff, Antoine Yared, Alexander Sovronsky, Kate Olson, Jamie Maschler)

Million Dollar Quartet - Village Theatre (Skye Scott, Brian Grey, Jason Kappus, John Countryman, Matt Wade, Cayman Ilika, James 'Rif' Reif, Chris Jones)

Nina Simone: Four Women - Seattle Repertory Theatre (Shontina Vernon, Shaunyce Omar, Britney Nicole Simpson, Porscha Shaw)

Pass Over - ACT Theatre (Treavor Lovelle, Preston Butler III, Avery Clark)

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Village Theatre (Justin Huertas, Sarah Russell, Rafael Molina, MJ Sieber, Arika Matoba, Taylor Niemeyer, Jessica Skerritt, Brian Lange, Nicholas Japaul Bernard)

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time - Village Theatre (Michael Krenning, Jéhan Òsanyìn , James D. Sasser, Kathryn Van Meter, Anne Allgood, Eric Polani Jensen, William Shindler, Rob Burgess, Keiko Green, Cheryl Massey-Peters)

(Small Theaters):

Citizen - Sound Theatre Company and The Hansberry Project (Shermona Mitchell, Allyson Lee Brown, Naa Akua, Nicholas Japaul Bernard, Rebecca Cort, Richard Sean Glen)

Head Over Heels - ArtsWest (Mila Jam, Louis Hobson, Ann Cornelius, Rheanna Atendido, Kataka Corn, Eric Dobson, Alex Sturtevant, Joseph Tancioco, Will Chadek, Maddi Chancey, Yena Han, Maleah Haverly, Cherisse Martinelli, Drew O’Donnell, Adrian Renon, Malcom “MJ” Smith, Spencer Stromberg, Brandon Weglin)

Peeling - Sound Theatre Company (Michelle Mary Schaefer, Sydney Maltese, Carolyn Agee)

Salty - ReAct Theatre (Varinique Davis, Angela DiMarco, Annelih Hamilton, David S. Hogan, Lia Lee, Tony Magana Jr., Kenon Veno)

Sheathed - Macha Theatre Works (Ayo Tushinde, Sunam Ellis, Funé Tautala, Maile Wong, Natalie Berg, Isis King, Dylan Smith)

The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion - ArtsWest (Rachel Guyer-MaFuné, Corinna Lapid Munter, Christian Quinto, Tyler Rogers, Porscha Shaw)

Trevor - MAP Theatre (Teri J. Lazzara, Brandon Ryan, Michael D. Blum, Jesse Calixto, Danielle Daggerty, Zenaida Rose Smith)

Excellence in Scenic Design:

(Large Theaters): 

Martin Christoffel - Urinetown (The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT Theatre)

L.B. Morse - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Matthew Smucker - Dracula (ACT Theatre)

Julia Hayes Welch - Pass Over (ACT Theatre)

Mark Wendland - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

(Small Theaters): 

Lex Marcos - Lungs (Really Really Theatre Group)

Pete Rush - Feathers and Teeth (Washington Ensemble Theatre)

Burton Yuen - John (ArtsWest)

Parmida Ziaei - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Parmida Ziaei and Margaret Toomey - White (Theatre22)

Excellence in Costume Design:

(Large Theaters):

Melanie Taylor Burgess - Urinetown (The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT Theatre)

Beth Goldenberg - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Kelly McDonald - The Tempest (Seattle Shakespeare Company)

Cathy Meacham Hunt - Guys and Dolls (Village Theatre)

Emilio Sosa - Shout Sister Shout! (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

(Small Theaters): 

Jocelyne Fowler - Head Over Heels (ArtsWest)

Jocelyne Fowler - The Revolutionists (Theatre22)

Jocelyne Fowler - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Ricky German - Is God Is (Washington Ensemble Theatre)

Parmida Ziaei and Taya Pyne - Peeling (Sound Theatre Company)

Excellence in Lighting Design:

(Large  Theaters): 

Robert J. Aguilar - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Amiya Brown - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

Thorn Michaels - The Tempest (Seattle Shakespeare Company)

Tristan Roberson - American Junkie (Book-It Repertory Theatre)

Andrew D. Smith - Dracula (ACT Theatre)

(Small Theaters):

Ahren Buhmann - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Ryan Dunn - Feathers and Teeth (Washington Ensemble Theatre)

Carolina Johnson - The Brothers Paranormal (Pork Filled Productions)

Thorn Michaels - Fire Season (Seattle Public Theater)

Richard Schaefer - Citizen (Sound Theatre Company and The Hansberry Project)

Excellence in Sound Design:

(Large Theaters): 

Erin Bednarz - The Tempest (Seattle Shakespeare Company)

Sharath Patel - Pass Over (ACT Theatre)

Paul James Prendergast - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Brent Warwick - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

Robertson Witmer - Dracula (ACT Theatre)

(Small Theaters):

Dominic CodyKramers - John (ArtsWest)

Johanna Melamed - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Maggie Rogers - Feathers and Teeth (Washington Ensemble Theatre)

Troy Lund - The Brothers Paranormal (Pork Filled Productions)

Excellence in Musical Direction:

Claire Marx - The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion (ArtsWest)

Brandon Peck - Cabaret (Gilbert & Sullivan Society)

Alexander Sovronsky - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

R.J. Tancioco - Head Over Heels (ArtsWest)

Nathan Young - The Light in the Piazza (Showtunes Theatre)

Excellence in Choreography or Movement:

(Large Theaters):

Sonia Dawkins - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

Tanya Lockyer - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Nikki Long - Guys and Dolls (Village Theatre) William Carlos Angulo - Shout Sister Shout! (Seattle Repertory Theatre) (Small Theaters): Alyza DelPan-Monley (movement) and May Nguyen Lee (fight director) - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works) Alyza DelPan-Monley - Office Hour (ArtsWest) UJ Mangune - Head Over Heels (ArtsWest)

Excellence in Local Playwriting:

Kelleen Conway Blanchard – The Neverborn (Annex Theatre)

Justin Huertas - The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion (ArtsWest)

Maggie Lee - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Myra Platt - Behold the Dreamers (Book-It Repertory Theatre)

Aurin Squire - Fire Season (Seattle Public Theater)

Excellence in Local Composing:

Justin Huertas - The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion (ArtsWest)

Leanna Keith - Sheathed (Macha Theatre Works)

Curtis Moore - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

Malex Reed - The Tempest (Seattle Shakespeare Company)

Robertson Witmer and Rachael Beaver - Dracula (ACT Theatre)

Excellence in Video Design:

Ahren Buhmann - White (Theatre22)

Bryce Bartl-Geller and Broom Cupboard Studio - Feathers and Teeth (Washington Ensemble Theatre)

Jared Norman - Peeling (Sound Theatre Company)

L.B. Morse - Indecent (Seattle Repertory Theatre)

Gregory W. Towle - The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Village Theatre)

The participants in this year’s award process were Chase Anderson (www.nwtheatre.org), Miryam Gordon (Seattle Gay News and miryamstheatermusings.blogspot.com), and Michael Strangeways (www.seattlegayscene.com).

To support the reviewers’ nominations, STW has established an Auxiliary of theater-going members, some of whom are also theater practitioners and all of whom are ardent fans of theater. All members go to multiple dozens of productions per year, most attend over 100 theater events per year. The Auxiliary supports our Round Two (of the three “round” process) in the selection process where points are given to the dozens of nominees and individuals select their top five in each category. The Auxiliary points are used to support STW members’ choices as we pick our nominees and winners.

For more information, go to www.facebook.com/SeattleTheaterWriters. The Notes section of the Facebook page shows the evolution of the awards.