From the Desk of Jim R, Take 2, Column 446, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Direction of a Play, Best Musical Direction, Best Choreography, Best Set Design

 

By James V. Ruocco 

The musical.
The play.
The director.
The musical director.
The choreographer.
The set designer.

Every production needs one.
Every production wants one.

In 2023, LIVE theatre from a Non-Equity perspective was in top form throughout Connecticut.

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts
White Rabbitt Theatre.
Hole in the Wall Theater.
Connecticut Theatre Company.
Castle Craig Players, to name a few.

Who stood out?
Who deserves the recognition?
Who went above and beyond?
Whose talents were award-winning?
Whose work left a lasting impression?
Who was the recipient of theatrical excellence in a certain field?

My choices are as follows:

Best Direction of a Musical

Adam Tortorello and Lena Felix ("Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
David Anctil ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Beth Bonnabeau ("Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Erin Campbell and Becky McLean ("Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Ian Galligan ("Into the Woods") (Castle Craig Players)

Best Direction of a Play

Warren Dutkiewicz ("August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Kirsten Easton-Hazzaa ("Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Terrance J. Peters ("Athena") (Andromeda Theatre Guild)
Teresa Langston ("Mentors") (Backyard Theatre Ensemble)
Pam Amodio ("Night of January 16th") (Castle Craig Players)
Craig David Rosen ("Straight Men Can't Dance") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)

Best Musical Direction

Mark Sokolson ("Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Sarah Fox ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
David Anctil ("Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Nick Stanford ("Spring Awakening") (Connecticut Theatre Company)
Frank Martignetti ("Guys and Dolls") (Fairfield Center Stage)

Best Choreography

Josephine Harding ("Spring Awakening") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Josephine Harding ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Kyle Reynolds and Meghan McDermott ("Sweet Charity") (Kingswood Oxford)
Chantel Martin ("Rent") (White Rabbitt Theatre)
Marissa Follo Perry ("The Music Man") (Seven Angels Theatre)

Best Set Design

David Anctil ("Urinetown: The Musical") (Brookfield Theatre for the Arts)
Bill Arnold ("August: Osage County") (Hole in the Wall Theater)
Mark Laucella and Bill Westermeyer ("Night of January 16th") (Castle Craig Players)
Kimberly Jackson ("The Music Man") (Seven Angels Theatre)
Bill Arnold ("Wife/Worker/Whore") (Hole in the Wall Theater)