NEWS: 2022 Cleveland Critics Circle Theater Awards Announced

Ensemble Theatre’s “Describe the Night”

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]

 

 

 

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