For more than 50 years, the CCC has provided support and recognition for professional theaters in our community and for the talented individuals who create and stage their productions. Each year, the Cleveland Critics Circle (CCC) honors outstanding local productions as well as select performers, directors, designers, and playwrights. Eligible plays include those staged by Cleveland-area professional theaters during the 2022 calendar year.
CCC members are local theater critics who write for print and/or online publisher(s); or who have established a distinct, credible, and consistent online presence (blog, etc.) for their reviews. Members of the CCC who voted for the 2022 Awards are:
Roy Berko (Broadwayworld.com, CoolCleveland.com, Theatre Criticism, www.royberko.info)
Kerry Clawson (Akron Beacon Journal)
Howard Gollop (Chronicle-Telegram)
Sheri Gross (Cleveland Jewish News, The Lorain Journal, The News Herald)
Mark Horning (WIX blog)
Christine Howey (Cleveland Scene)
Laura Kennelly (CoolCleveland.com)
NOTE: Participation in these awards does not preclude individual critics from offering their own recognitions.
The envelopes, please!
(Honorable Mention designees are listed in alphabetical order.)
BEST MUSICAL PRODUCTION
* Something Rotten @ Beck Center
Honorable Mentions
Lizzie @ Baldwin Wallace University/Beck Center
West Side Story @Porthouse Theatre
BEST NON-MUSICAL PRODUCTION
* Describe the Night @ Ensemble Theatre
Honorable Mentions
The Agitators @ Rubber City Theatre
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time @ Beck Center
Insurrection: Holding History @ Convergence-Continuum
BEST ACTOR, MUSICAL
* Matthew Wright, Something Rotten @Beck Center
Honorable Mentions
Eric Fancher, Something Rotten @Beck Center
Zach Palumbo, The Spongebob Musical @ Blank Canvas Theatre
BEST ACTOR, NON-MUSICAL
* David Peacock, The Weir @ None Too Fragile
Honorable Mentions
Scott Esposito, Buyer & Cellar @ Beck Center
Joe Pine, Describe the Night @ Ensemble Theatre
BEST ACTRESS, MUSICAL
* Alexa Lopez, West Side Story @ Porthouse Theatre
Honorable Mentions
Theresa Kloos, Something Rotten @ Beck Center
Kris Lyons, Lizzie @ Baldwin Wallace University/Beck Center
Maya Nicholson, Cinderella @ Ohio Shakespeare Festival
BEST ACTRESS, NON-MUSICAL
* Amiee Collier, Hurricane Diane @ Dobama Theatre
Honorable Mentions
Jess Hughes, The Agitators @ Rubber City Theatre
Laura Perrotta, Describe the Night @ Ensemble Theatre
RISING STARS
Male
Maurice Kimball IV, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time @ Beck Center
Female
Jordyn Freetage, The Land of Oz @ Dobama Theatre
BEST DIRECTOR, MUSICAL
* Patrick Ciamacco, The Spongebob Musical @ Blank Canvas Theatre
Honorable Mentions
Joanna May Cullinan, School of Rock @ Cain Park
Terri Kent, West Side Story @ Porthouse Theatre
BEST DIRECTOR, NON-MUSICAL
* Sean Derry, The Weir @ None Too Fragile
HONORABLE MENTION
Celeste Cosentino, Describe the Night @ Ensemble Theatre
William Roudebush, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time @ Beck Center
BEST CHOREOGRAPHER
* Martin Cespedes, West Side Story @ Porthouse Theatre
Honorable Mention
Liz Baumgartner, The Spongebob Musical @ Blank Canvas Theatre
BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION
* Mathew Webb, Lizzie @ Baldwin Wallace University/Beck Center
Honorable Mentions
Larry Goodpaster, Something Rotten @ Beck Center
Bradley Wyner, One Man, Two Guvnors @ Blank Canvas Theatre
BEST SCENIC DESIGN
* Nolan O’Dell, West Side Story, @ Porthouse Theatre
Honorable Mentions
Efren Delgadillo, Romeo & Juliet @ Great Lakes Theater
Yu Shibagaki, The Great Leap @ Cleveland Play House
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
* Jeremy Paul, The Thin Place @ Dobama Theatre
Honorable Mention
Andrew McDaniels, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time @ Beck Center
BEST PROJECTION DESIGN
* Perren Hedderson, The Spongebob Musical @ Blank Canvas Theatre
Honorable Mention
Neil Sudhakaran, Angry Fags @ Convergence-Continuum
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
* Tesia Dugan Benson, The Land of Oz @ Dobama Theatre
Honorable Mentions
Jennifer Sparano, The Spongebob Musical @ Blank Canvas Theatre
Charlotte M. Yetman, Lizzie @ Baldwin Wallace University/Beck Center
BEST SOUND DESIGN
* Angie Hayes, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time @ Beck Center
Honorable Mention
Curtis Craig, The Three Musketeers @ Cleveland Play House
BEST TOURING PROUDCTION
* American Moor @ Karamu
Honorable Mention
To Kill a Mockingbird @ Playhouse Square
Best New Play by a Local Playwright
* Steve Willensky, Elliot & Me @ Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Honorable Mention
George Brant, The Land of Oz @ Dobama Theatre
BEST CHORUS/ENSEMBLE IN A MUSICAL
* West Side Story @ Porthouse Theatre
Honorable Mentions
School of Rock @ Cain Park
One Man, Two Guvnors @ Blank Canvas Theatre
BEST WORLD PREMIERE IN THE CLEVELAND AREA
* The Land of Oz @ Dobama Theatre
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Gina Vernaci: For her brilliant 37-year career with Playhouse Square, starting as an intern and rising to executive producer and ultimately CEO, providing leadership for the largest performing arts center in the U.S. outside of New York City.
Laura Kepley: For her wise, innovative and creative guidance as artistic director of the Cleveland Play House for nine years.
Charlotte Yetman: For her years of outstanding, award-winning costume designs.
Tom Hanks: For his acknowledgement of his early training at Great Lakes Theater during his emotional acceptance of the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2020 Golden Globes.
[Compiled by Chris Howey and Roy Berko]